Alpha Security-5 WC Blog 325
Prevent Shoplifting-4
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-3
Risk Or Reward; Shoplifters Avoid Shoplifting When They See Alpha Security Products
I started out this article with the intent of writing about the problem of Organized Retail Crime and how to deter them from stealing razor blades and other pegged merchandise that tend to be high theft. That was my intent. In preparation for my posting, I came across an interesting article from the University of Florida, UF News, “The Science of Stealing”, by Alisson Clark, February 16, 2016. In the article they discuss shoplifter behaviors and how to prevent shoplifting. The co-director of the Loss Prevention Research Team, Read Hayes, points out that there are three ways to stop theft; “One way is to make stealing an item too difficult. If you’ve bought razor blades and had to twist a knob to extract them from a plastic tube, you’ve experienced this approach firsthand. Another tactic is to make stealing too risky, perhaps sending a signal when an item is removed from the shelf or package. It could be a loud noise or even a photo that goes to store staff. The third type of deterrent renders items useless or undesirable – think of those tags designed splatter ink on stolen clothing.” (sic). I agree with Mr. Hayes on the tactic of making theft risky and I immediately thought of Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices. Retailers have to make the risk of theft outweigh any benefit a criminal sees in trying to steal.
What is it about the article that caused me to think of Alpha Security products? Alpha’s products come in 2 and 3 alarm styles. The 2 alarm style emits a loud noise, as described by Mr. Hayes, when the device is tampered with by a thief. They are also built with radio frequency (rf) technology that can be picked up by electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers and activate those alarms. Most people have at least heard this loud beeping sound at the front doors of a store at one time or another. 3 alarm models have the added benefit of an alarm in the tag that activates if a criminal gets out the door so the crook doesn’t “blend” into the crowd. Where they go, the alarm follows. When it comes to clothing, if an Alpha Security hard tag is forcibly removed from a garment it is going to damage the item it is attached to. In some form or fashion the tag is going to tear or rip a hole in the merchandise, rendering it useless to the perpetrator.
Another point in the article I agreed with was that Mr. Hayes states that none of the three options are effective to prevent shoplifting if the criminal, ”… doesn’t understand what they are.” The writer says Mr. Hayes has a “… theory of See-Get-Fear”. “Criminals have to first see the deterrent, understand what it does, and fear that it will work well enough to land them in jail.” No argument from me. I would point out that some in Loss Prevention feel that tags should be hidden rather than out in the open. I would say hiding a second retail anti-theft device on an item to prevent shoplifting is appropriate in some instances, but not all. I used to hide a second soft label inside a leather coat pocket or an expensive handbag. This was always an exception. I believe the deterrent value of the tag is first in its visibility to shoppers. I also think that there is deterrent value in EAS pedestals at the entrances to stores. Would-be shoplifters immediately see there are security protections in place as soon as they walk in the store.
The only argument I had to the article was towards the end when the writer states, “Deterrents like this don’t just make buying razor blades a little more painful. They also help slow the billions lost to theft and fraud each year…” referring to two razor blade displays that were tested in a contest by twenty criminals to see which was the most difficult to defeat. Locking cases, or “twist/turn/lift” displays may impede shoplifters more than some other retail anti-theft devices but they also have a negative impact on sales. Customers don’t want to fight a display case or wait on help to get a product. They tend to get turned off and not make the purchase or leave. Alpha Security devices give the deterrent protection Mr. Hayes referred to while allowing freedom of shopping for the consumer.
Prevent shoplifting of razor blades and other high theft products by Organized Retail Crime groups and other thieves. Alpha Security products can deter theft and improve profitability for your store.
Get more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
I started out this article with the intent of writing about the problem of Organized Retail Crime and how to deter them from stealing razor blades and other pegged merchandise that tend to be high theft. That was my intent. In preparation for my posting, I came across an interesting article from the University of Florida, UF News, “The Science of Stealing”, by Alisson Clark, February 16, 2016. In the article they discuss shoplifter behaviors and how to prevent shoplifting. The co-director of the Loss Prevention Research Team, Read Hayes, points out that there are three ways to stop theft; “One way is to make stealing an item too difficult. If you’ve bought razor blades and had to twist a knob to extract them from a plastic tube, you’ve experienced this approach firsthand. Another tactic is to make stealing too risky, perhaps sending a signal when an item is removed from the shelf or package. It could be a loud noise or even a photo that goes to store staff. The third type of deterrent renders items useless or undesirable – think of those tags designed splatter ink on stolen clothing.” (sic). I agree with Mr. Hayes on the tactic of making theft risky and I immediately thought of Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices. Retailers have to make the risk of theft outweigh any benefit a criminal sees in trying to steal.
What is it about the article that caused me to think of Alpha Security products? Alpha’s products come in 2 and 3 alarm styles. The 2 alarm style emits a loud noise, as described by Mr. Hayes, when the device is tampered with by a thief. They are also built with radio frequency (rf) technology that can be picked up by electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers and activate those alarms. Most people have at least heard this loud beeping sound at the front doors of a store at one time or another. 3 alarm models have the added benefit of an alarm in the tag that activates if a criminal gets out the door so the crook doesn’t “blend” into the crowd. Where they go, the alarm follows. When it comes to clothing, if an Alpha Security hard tag is forcibly removed from a garment it is going to damage the item it is attached to. In some form or fashion the tag is going to tear or rip a hole in the merchandise, rendering it useless to the perpetrator.
Another point in the article I agreed with was that Mr. Hayes states that none of the three options are effective to prevent shoplifting if the criminal, ”… doesn’t understand what they are.” The writer says Mr. Hayes has a “… theory of See-Get-Fear”. “Criminals have to first see the deterrent, understand what it does, and fear that it will work well enough to land them in jail.” No argument from me. I would point out that some in Loss Prevention feel that tags should be hidden rather than out in the open. I would say hiding a second retail anti-theft device on an item to prevent shoplifting is appropriate in some instances, but not all. I used to hide a second soft label inside a leather coat pocket or an expensive handbag. This was always an exception. I believe the deterrent value of the tag is first in its visibility to shoppers. I also think that there is deterrent value in EAS pedestals at the entrances to stores. Would-be shoplifters immediately see there are security protections in place as soon as they walk in the store.
The only argument I had to the article was towards the end when the writer states, “Deterrents like this don’t just make buying razor blades a little more painful. They also help slow the billions lost to theft and fraud each year…” referring to two razor blade displays that were tested in a contest by twenty criminals to see which was the most difficult to defeat. Locking cases, or “twist/turn/lift” displays may impede shoplifters more than some other retail anti-theft devices but they also have a negative impact on sales. Customers don’t want to fight a display case or wait on help to get a product. They tend to get turned off and not make the purchase or leave. Alpha Security devices give the deterrent protection Mr. Hayes referred to while allowing freedom of shopping for the consumer.
Prevent shoplifting of razor blades and other high theft products by Organized Retail Crime groups and other thieves. Alpha Security products can deter theft and improve profitability for your store.
Get more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
