bottle lock

Don’t “Rum”mage Around For A Solution To Stop Shoplifting Use Sensormatic Hard Tags

Liquor store theft is a problem and if a store owner fails to use Sensormatic hard tags on products they could end up with situations like these:

  • “Foursome sought in theft of liquor at a Cape Coral Publix”, WFTX Digital Team, May 09,2019. This group was believed to have stolen, “…six bottles of Jonnie Walker Black Label, five bottles of Belvedere Vodka, and two bottles of Hennessey.” I did some research and it appears that a total value of $500 would be a middle of the road estimate for the stolen merchandise.
  • “Man walks out of Costco with 24 bottles of Hennessey liquor, police say”, May, 06, 2019 wisn.com. According to this story the suspect took the alcohol and “Officers said he also took a Lorex brand home security system. The goods were worth about $1,500.” The Lorex system could be as much as $999. If this is the unit stolen that means the alcohol was valued at approximately $500.

 

Interestingly enough while reviewing news articles I also happened upon one titled, “23% drop in thefts show strategy to curb shoplifting working: Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries”, cbc.ca, May 30, 2019. I was curious as to what strategies this business has employed to make such an impact. According to the article several strategies are now being used which include adding new Loss Prevention Officers, “checking customers’ ID at the doors of Liquor Marts, using bottle locks (added emphasis mine) and lockable shelf cases, and requiring customers to ask sales staff for high-value bottles.”  While I am not a fan of locking showcases or making merchandise inaccessible I AM in favor of using the Sensormatic systems Bottle Cap Tag to prevent theft.

 

 In my opinion it only makes sense to use alternatives to locking showcases whenever possible. Showcases require too much attention on the part of store employees to assist patrons who want to get something out of lock-up. Employees could be ringing up other transactions, upselling or suggestive selling merchandise to new customers or even be completing tasks. To stop what you are doing simply to unlock merchandise you have locked up to stop shoplifting is poor use of resources. Sensormatic hard tags are an alternative to locking showcases. Shoppers can select what they want and continue to browse a store (which often leads to more sales) without waiting on an employee who may not be able to assist for several minutes. Not only does the patron begin to look at their watch as the minutes tick by they may feel pressured to hurry up and leave. The risk of losing the sales increases and the more time that goes by the less inclined they will be to look around and perhaps add to their shopping basket.

 

Locking up merchandise may stop shoplifting but it also hinders sales. Those stores that use a Sensormatic systems and Sensormatic hard tags have nearly the same level of security as stores that use the display cases but also have better opportunities to increase sales. But you may be wondering how a Bottle Cap Tag on a bottle of Hennessey can be better protection than that lock-up case. The Bottle Cap Tag has electronic article surveillance built in so if a crook attempts to walk out with a stolen bottle the alarm pedestals will alert store employees to the criminal activity. The vast majority of shoplifters are not anxious to set off alarms and be seen. They know that most stores have security cameras and will review them and then contact police. The other thing is the bottle tag covers the top of the bottle. The cap of the bottle cannot be removed without breaking the bottle defeating the purpose of stealing in the first place.

 

 In my Loss Prevention experiences I have worked extensively with Sensormatic systems so I am keenly familiar with how much of a deterrent effect they have on shoplifters. I have recovered merchandise dropped by shoplifters when they have set off alarm pedestals. I have also observed potential thieves look at merchandise and then put it back on a shelf when they find it has an anti-shoplifting tag on it. Tagging merchandise is a tactic proven over time to stop shoplifting where it is implemented.

 

Alcohol theft continues to be a major concern for grocery and alcohol and beverage stores. Failing to protect merchandise only leads to more theft as criminals learn which businesses are easiest to target. That in turn can lead to more serious criminal activity such as robberies and assaults. Using Sensormatic hard tags is the optimum solution for addressing theft and improving sales in the long term.

 

For more information about Sensormatic hard tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

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Alpha Security Can Cure Alcohol Theft Crime

 

Prevent Shoplifting -4                                                                                                                      WC Blog 497
Alpha Security-5
Alpha Security Can Cure Alcohol Theft Crime
     Alcohol theft is a concern for stores that sell beer, wine and spirits and trying to find a solution to prevent shoplifting. You may operate a small retail store and sell alcoholic beverages in your establishment. You may have even experienced a shoplifter trying to steal a bottle or can here or there. As a Loss Prevention Manager for a national retail store that carried wine, I had the experience of stopping a few customers trying to steal alcohol. It was relatively new for our company to carry spirits so I did not see a lot of theft in this department but there was some. I knew a bottle or two could be concealed in a jacket or a purse, and I would even believe a thief could put one down their pants based on other items I had caught people stealing. I was shocked when I came across a story on the internet and confirmed by several websites of a shoplifter who stole 18 bottles of liquor by concealing them in her purse and under various parts of her clothing! http://fox6now.com/2017/08/23/watch-woman-caught-on-video-stealing-18-bottles-of-liquor-in-her-clothes/  The story was posted by Fox 6 now on August 23, 2017and shows a store surveillance video of the woman as she was stealing. This theft as well as several others I found that were interesting may have been prevented if the stores had used electronic article surveillance (EAS) and Alpha Security tags to deter or detect the thefts.
     If you do not use an EAS system in your store or are unfamiliar with it and Alpha Security tags allow me explain what they are and how they prevent theft. EAS systems function by the use of radio frequency waves transmitted by hard and soft tags to activate tower alarms usually located by a store entrance and exit. You have probably observed these towers in stores regularly and simply not known what they are or what they do. If merchandise that is tagged with a hard or soft tag comes too close to a tower an alarm built into the tower is set off. The alarm elicits a response from store employees who conduct receipt checks and recover merchandise to prevent shoplifting (it also helps in recovering merchandise that is missed by a cashier during the checkout process which otherwise leads to operational shortage). Soft tags are peeled from rolls and can be applied to a variety of products and surfaces such as cardboard manufacturer hang tags, plastic blister packs and cellophane and shrink wraps. Hard tags either pin or clip to merchandise or in the case of bottle protection clamp over the bottle cap and part of the neck. In the situations I am describing above involving alcohol bottle thefts, the use of a lock such as the Alpha Security Versa Guard would have deterred the shoplifter or would have caused an alarm at the door as she neared it to leave.
       Lest you think the case of the thirsty thief I discussed above was an isolated incident, in another story from sonomanews.com, November 9, 2017 by Bill Hoban, “Sonoma Market’s wine-stealing trio still at large”, the reporter refers to a case in which, “Sonoma Police are looking for three woman who are suspected of walking out of a Sonoma Market on Nov. 4, with more than $1,150 of high priced wine.” The story goes on to say that employees reported 22 bottles missing. http://www.sonomanews.com/news/7620008-181/wine-stealing-trio-at-large   That is roughly 7 bottles per person to not only conceal but carry out of a store. I have never visited this store but I can say that from the pictures I was able to view it does not appear Alpha Security bottle locks are being used or if they are it is in a limited manner. I will also say that from the picture of the three suspects leaving the store it does not appear there are EAS towers in use but the image could be misleading. If bottle locks are being used they should be used on all alcoholic beverages. Limiting what is tagged in a store only sends a would-be shoplifter to an item of a lower price point but you won’t prevent shoplifting from taking place. Finally, using bottle locks without an EAS system in place severely limits the effectiveness in theft prevention.
     Alcohol theft is nothing to laugh about even if the thought of someone clinking out of a store with eighteen bottles hidden under their clothes and in a purse is amusing to consider. Don’t be a victim yourself, use Alpha Security bottle locks and an EAS system in your store to prevent shoplifting and keep profits up.
 Need information on Alpha Security? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

Alcohol theft is a concern for stores that sell beer, wine and spirits and trying to find a solution to prevent shoplifting. You may operate a small retail store and sell alcoholic beverages in your establishment. You may have even experienced a shoplifter trying to steal a bottle or can here or there. As a Loss Prevention Manager for a national retail store that carried wine, I had the experience of stopping a few customers trying to steal alcohol. It was relatively new for our company to carry spirits so I did not see a lot of theft in this department but there was some. I knew a bottle or two could be concealed in a jacket or a purse, and I would even believe a thief could put one down their pants based on other items I had caught people stealing. I was shocked when I came across a story on the internet and confirmed by several websites of a shoplifter who stole 18 bottles of liquor by concealing them in her purse and under various parts of her clothing! http://fox6now.com/2017/08/23/watch-woman-caught-on-video-stealing-18-bottles-of-liquor-in-her-clothes/. The story was posted by Fox 6 now on August 23, 2017 and shows a store surveillance video of the woman as she was stealing. This theft as well as several others I found that were interesting may have been prevented if the stores had used electronic article surveillance (EAS) and Alpha Security tags to deter or detect the thefts.

If you do not use an EAS system in your store or are unfamiliar with it and Alpha Security tags allow me to explain what they are and how they prevent theft. EAS systems function by the use of radio frequency waves transmitted by hard and soft tags to activate tower alarms usually located by a store entrance and exit. You have probably observed these towers in stores regularly and simply not known what they are or what they do. If merchandise that is tagged with a hard or soft tag comes too close to a tower an alarm built into the tower is set off. The alarm elicits a response from store employees who conduct receipt checks and recover merchandise to prevent shoplifting (it also helps in recovering merchandise that is missed by a cashier during the checkout process which otherwise leads to operational shortage). Soft tags are peeled from rolls and can be applied to a variety of products and surfaces such as cardboard manufacturer hang tags, plastic blister packs and cellophane and shrink wraps. Hard tags either pin or clip to merchandise or in the case of bottle protection clamp over the bottle cap and part of the neck. In the situations I am describing above involving alcohol bottle thefts, the use of a lock such as the Alpha Security Versa Guard would have deterred the shoplifter or would have caused an alarm at the door as she neared it to leave.

Lest you think the case of the thirsty thief I discussed above was an isolated incident, in another story from sonomanews.com, November 9, 2017 by Bill Hoban, “Sonoma Market’s wine-stealing trio still at large”, the reporter refers to a case in which, “Sonoma Police are looking for three woman who are suspected of walking out of a Sonoma Market on Nov. 4, with more than $1,150 of high priced wine.” The story goes on to say that employees reported 22 bottles missing. http://www.sonomanews.com/news/7620008-181/wine-stealing-trio-at-large. That is roughly 7 bottles per person to not only conceal but carry out of a store. I have never visited this store but I can say that from the pictures I was able to view it does not appear Alpha Security bottle locks are being used or if they are it is in a limited manner. I will also say that from the picture of the three suspects leaving the store it does not appear there are EAS towers in use but the image could be misleading. If bottle locks are being used they should be used on all alcoholic beverages. Limiting what is tagged in a store only sends a would-be shoplifter to an item of a lower price point but you won’t prevent shoplifting from taking place. Finally, using bottle locks without an EAS system in place severely limits the effectiveness in theft prevention.

Alcohol theft is nothing to laugh about even if the thought of someone clinking out of a store with eighteen bottles hidden under their clothes and in a purse is amusing to consider. Don’t be a victim yourself, use Alpha Security bottle locks and an EAS system in your store to prevent shoplifting and keep profits up. 

 

Need information on Alpha Security? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

 

 

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Are Loss Prevention Tools Worth The Cost?

LPC-3 , LP ROI Calculator-3 , Can LP Be Free?-3
Are Loss Prevention Tools Worth The Cost?
In the retail world you have to deal with theft.  Some people do it for the thrill of it, just to see if they can get away with it.  Some people steal because they feel entitled.  Others do it because of a real or perceived need.   So you purchase some tools, like a Checkpoint System or some offerings from Alpha Technology.  But, how do you know that what you are buying is actually worth it?  I have an easy solution for you.  There is a loss prevention calculator available for you to utilize and figure up the return on your investment.  Can loss prevention be free?  You have to buy what you need, but it can easily and quickly pay for itself.
Let’s work up some comparisons: 
With a Checkpoint System- A woman comes in shopping for some wrinkle cream.  She really wants it but it’s not in her budget.  She decides she has been a loyal customer long enough, and your store actually owes her this one.  She drops it in her purse and approaches the front door, and suddenly she hears:BING! BING! BING!.. “We’re sorry; you have activated our inventory control system”  She panics and hands it to your cashier, claiming it must have fell in her purse by accident.
Without a Checkpoint System- Same scenario, except she walks out the door undetected, smiling and waving at your cashier that never suspected that regular customer just ripped off the store.  
You don’t need a loss prevention ROI calculator to know you just lost about $50.  
With Alpha Keepers- A shoplifting duo comes in the store.  They have been sent by a vendor at your local flea market.  They were told to scout stores and steal as many packs of razor refill cartridges as they could get.  When they walk into your well stocked shaving section, they immediately see all of your packages are encased in Alpha Keepers.  They turn around and walk back out empty handed.  (The loss prevention calculator would tell you: you just saved about $800-$1,000.)
Without Alpha Keepers-Same scenario, but the two of them loaded up the bags they carried in and when your cashier got distracted with another customer, they ran out the door and your shelves are now empty.  
With Bottle Locks-A teenager comes in to steal a bottle of wine.  He was dared to do it and he is sure he is slick enough to get away with it.  He sees all the bottles have locking caps on them.  He attempts to remove the one from the bottle he chose and it starts alarming.  He quickly puts it back on the shelf and gets out the door as fast as he can.  
Without Bottle Locks- He puts the bottle up the sleeve of his hoodie and slips out the door before your clerk ever noticed he was in the store.   Can loss prevention be free?  Was your inventory of wine and spirits free?  Wouldn’t it be worth protecting? 
Use the loss prevention ROI calculator and plug in the numbers.  How much inventory did you buy and how much did you sell?  How much is left on your shelves?  If you are posting a “shrink”, you need help.  Find out how fast an investment in some real solutions could pay you back with the loss prevention calculator.  So, I’ll ask you one more time..can loss prevention be free?  It can be if it stops your valuable merchandise from being stolen.
Return on investment is important.  Let us help you figure it out.  Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

In the retail world you have to deal with theft. Some people do it for the thrill of it, just to see if they can get away with it. Some people steal because they feel entitled. Others do it because of a real or perceived need. So you purchase some tools, like a Checkpoint System or some offerings from Alpha Technology. But, how do you know that what you are buying is actually worth it? I have an easy solution for you. There is a loss prevention calculator available for you to utilize and figure up the return on your investment. Can loss prevention be free? You have to buy what you need, but it can easily and quickly pay for itself.

 

Let’s work up some comparisons:

With a Checkpoint System– A woman comes in shopping for some wrinkle cream. She really wants it but it’s not in her budget. She decides she has been a loyal customer long enough, and your store actually owes her this one. She drops it in her purse and approaches the front door, and suddenly she hears:BING! BING! BING!.. “We’re sorry; you have activated our inventory control system”  She panics and hands it to your cashier, claiming it must have fell in her purse by accident.

Without a Checkpoint System– Same scenario, except she walks out the door undetected, smiling and waving at your cashier that never suspected that regular customer just ripped off the store. You don’t need a loss prevention ROI calculator to know you just lost about $50.  

 

With Alpha Keepers– A shoplifting duo comes in the store. They have been sent by a vendor at your local flea market. They were told to scout stores and steal as many packs of razor refill cartridges as they could get. When they walk into your well stocked shaving section, they immediately see all of your packages are encased in Alpha Keepers. They turn around and walk back out empty handed. (The loss prevention calculator would tell you: you just saved about $800-$1,000.)

Without Alpha Keepers-Same scenario, but the two of them loaded up the bags they carried in and when your cashier got distracted with another customer, they ran out the door and your shelves are now empty.  

With Bottle Locks-A teenager comes in to steal a bottle of wine. He was dared to do it and he is sure he is slick enough to get away with it. He sees all the bottles have locking caps on them. He attempts to remove the one from the bottle he chose and it starts alarming. He quickly puts it back on the shelf and gets out the door as fast as he can.

Without Bottle Locks– He puts the bottle up the sleeve of his hoodie and slips out the door before your clerk ever noticed he was in the store. Can loss prevention be free? Was your inventory of wine and spirits free? Wouldn’t it be worth protecting? 

 

Use the loss prevention ROI calculator and plug in the numbers. How much inventory did you buy and how much did you sell? How much is left on your shelves? If you are posting a “shrink”, you need help. Find out how fast an investment in some real solutions could pay you back with the loss prevention calculator. So, I’ll ask you one more time..can loss prevention be free? It can be if it stops your valuable merchandise from being stolen.

 

Return on investment is important.  Let us help you figure it out.  Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

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