Checkpoint Security System-3 WC Blog 263
Checkpoint Systems-3
Checkpoint Tags-5
Checkpoint Labels-4
Stop Shoplifting-3
Checkpoint Security Systems Are Key To Your Inventory Control: Part 1
Loss Prevention professionals like to throw around the term inventory control whenever we are discussing merchandise shrinkage and how to prevent it. While the idea of inventory control is valid, there are many facets about it that must be considered when we are making reference to it. Often, I believe we in Loss Prevention start to discuss tactics to control inventory and we can lose sight of the object of those tactics. Here is what I mean; inventory control is the ability to accurately know what is coming into your building, knowing where it is in your building, knowing all that transpires with that merchandise (ie; markdowns, buy backs, vendor credits, etc.) and knowing how it leaves the building (via point of sale, vendor returns, chargebacks, etc.). When you have all that knowledge you have control over inventory. Implementing strategies to control inventory includes such things as Direct to Store Delivery processing, receipt of vendor credits, building alarm controls, key controls, stockroom access controls and so on. Each process can make a significant impact on shortage come inventory time. What I would like to discuss are several strategies a retailer can use to exert more control over their inventory. The first strategy I want to strongly encourage is to invest in a Checkpoint Security System.
By purchasing a Checkpoint Security System you are taking measures to stop shoplifting and you can also deter internal theft and vendor theft as well. Checkpoint systems include electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas in a variety of models, Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint labels, deactivation pads and detachment tools for checkout stands. When used together, Checkpoint Tags and Checkpoint Labels are placed on merchandise to stop shoplifting and when shoplifting is attempted, these devices cause the EAS antennas to sound their alarms and alert employees that merchandise is being removed from the store. Deactivation pads basically “turn off” Checkpoint labels after an item is purchased so the EAS antennas don’t alarm. Removal tools allow cashiers to take the hard Checkpoint tags off of items as they are purchased.
Store goods can be protected with soft Checkpoint Labels that can be applied to a variety of different products, from meat soaker pads to blister packed merchandise and even cosmetics. Hard Checkpoint Tags provide protective solutions for almost any other product carried, including but not limited to clothing, softlines accessories, peg hole protection, the list goes on. My point is, once merchandise is protected it is hard for anyone to sneak products out of a store. Not only do Checkpoint tags stop shoplifting but the employee who wants to steal has a difficult time getting past security measures. I have apprehended dishonest employees who had stolen merchandise that was protected but had to go to significant lengths to try to bypass our Checkpoint Security System. There are also vendors that will try to steal, taking merchandise out in purses, bags, between empty cartons and Checkpoint Systems detect them too making no distinctions between shoplifters, employees or vendors.
Where does inventory control begin with tagging? It begins as soon as merchandise is received. Arrangements can be made through Checkpoint for vendor source tagging of some items and other merchandise a store will be responsible for tagging. Tagging products immediately eliminates most opportunities for any type of theft and store owners/managers have exerted control over how that product will leave their building.
Inventory Control is a simple concept, controlling where your merchandise is or where it is going. Checkpoint Systems can help ensure your merchandise stays in the store until it goes out through a point of sale and drive up profits.
Need information on Checkpoint Security Systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Loss Prevention professionals like to throw around the term inventory control whenever we are discussing merchandise shrinkage and how to prevent it. While the idea of inventory control is valid, there are many facets about it that must be considered when we are making reference to it. Often, I believe we in Loss Prevention start to discuss tactics to control inventory and we can lose sight of the object of those tactics. Here is what I mean; inventory control is the ability to accurately know what is coming into your building, knowing where it is in your building, knowing all that transpires with that merchandise (ie; markdowns, buy backs, vendor credits, etc.) and knowing how it leaves the building (via point of sale, vendor returns, chargebacks, etc.). When you have all that knowledge you have control over inventory. Implementing strategies to control inventory includes such things as Direct to Store Delivery processing, receipt of vendor credits, building alarm controls, key controls, stockroom access controls and so on. Each process can make a significant impact on shortage come inventory time. What I would like to discuss are several strategies a retailer can use to exert more control over their inventory. The first strategy I want to strongly encourage is to invest in a Checkpoint Security System.
By purchasing a Checkpoint Security System you are taking measures to stop shoplifting and you can also deter internal theft and vendor theft as well. Checkpoint systems include electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas in a variety of models, Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint labels, deactivation pads and detachment tools for checkout stands. When used together, Checkpoint Tags and Checkpoint Labels are placed on merchandise to stop shoplifting and when shoplifting is attempted, these devices cause the EAS antennas to sound their alarms and alert employees that merchandise is being removed from the store. Deactivation pads basically “turn off” Checkpoint labels after an item is purchased so the EAS antennas don’t alarm. Removal tools allow cashiers to take the hard Checkpoint tags off of items as they are purchased.
Store goods can be protected with soft Checkpoint Labels that can be applied to a variety of different products, from meat soaker pads to blister packed merchandise and even cosmetics. Hard Checkpoint Tags provide protective solutions for almost any other product carried, including but not limited to clothing, softlines accessories, peg hole protection, the list goes on. My point is, once merchandise is protected it is hard for anyone to sneak products out of a store. Not only do Checkpoint tags stop shoplifting but the employee who wants to steal has a difficult time getting past security measures. I have apprehended dishonest employees who had stolen merchandise that was protected but had to go to significant lengths to try to bypass our Checkpoint Security System. There are also vendors that will try to steal, taking merchandise out in purses, bags, between empty cartons and Checkpoint Systems detect them too making no distinctions between shoplifters, employees or vendors.
Where does inventory control begin with tagging? It begins as soon as merchandise is received. Tagging products immediately eliminates most opportunities for any type of theft and store owners/managers have exerted control over how that product will leave their building.
Inventory Control is a simple concept, controlling where your merchandise is or where it is going. Checkpoint Systems can help ensure your merchandise stays in the store until it goes out through a point of sale and drive up profits.
Need information on Checkpoint Security Systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Checkpoint security system-4 wc blog 235
Retail theft prevention-4
Stop shoplifting- 5
Checkpoint tags-4
A Retail Theft Prevention Strategy Is Incomplete Without A Checkpoint Security System Included
My wife and I were out shopping the other day looking around one of her favorite clothing stores. My wife was interested in the clothing, while I found myself interested in the sign on the door seeking applicants for a Loss Prevention Officer. As I looked around the store I noticed quite a few closed circuit television cameras, or at least domes hanging from the ceiling. I already knew that this store staffs the fitting room with a fitting room attendant, and saw she was diligently counting clothes for patrons as they entered and left the fitting room. But I was surprised that after all the times we have visited this store, I never noticed they do not use a Checkpoint security system to stop shoplifting. In fact they don’t use any retail theft prevention devices on clothes, shoes, or any of the other items they sell. It seems a little curious to me that a store would invest in Loss Prevention staff and CCTV systems, but not go the extra step to use Checkpoint tags or electronic article surveillance antennas. While it is good to want to catch shoplifters, I have found that it is much better if you can deter them in the first place.
How does a Checkpoint security system stop shoplifting? Starting with the electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas positioned at the doors, shoppers entering the store are aware that the store is using retail theft prevention equipment. Criminals also look for this when they are deciding whether or not to target a store. Once in the store the use of Checkpoint tags on merchandise deters casual shoplifters, the people who may only steal for a quick thrill or on an impulse. They don’t necessarily intend to steal before they come to the store, but make a decision based on impulse. This particular group of shoplifters tends to avoid taking too many risks, especially the risk of setting off an EAS alarm at the front doors. Professional shoplifters may also be deterred by Checkpoint tags because they too prefer not to attract unnecessary attention. They desire to remain anonymous so that they can repeatedly return to a store and shoplift. Alarms attract attention so professionals prefer to steal merchandise they do not think is protected with tags or they go to a different store altogether. Store personnel trained to properly respond to EAS alarms also stop shoplifting. They can recover merchandise when an attempted theft occurs. Shoplifters recognize when a store takes alarm activations seriously and this is a retail theft prevention measure in itself.
So returning to my original observation, why is this store not using a Checkpoint security system to stop shoplifting? Is it the perception that it will cost a lot of money or the constant expense of purchasing new hard tags? A Checkpoint system can actually pay for itself over time, eliminating the concern of expense. Reduced shortage due to theft will result in increased profits to the store. Additionally, sales increase when product is available to be purchased by the honest clientele since shoplifters aren’t stealing it. These two factors combine to offset the cost of a system. The expense of hard tags is no excuse. Hard tags from Checkpoint systems are reusable. They are designed to be removed at the point of sale as an item is sold and stored until ready to be attached to new shipments of product. By recycling tags, there is not a constant need to buy more as merchandise is sold.
Having security cameras and Loss Prevention personnel are important to stop shoplifting but they should not be the only tools a store has at its’ disposal. A Retail theft prevention strategy should include a Checkpoint security system, training on the placement of Checkpoint tags, tag removal and employee training on alarm response. Reap the rewards when you use Checkpoint systems.
Need information on a Checkpoint security system? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
My wife and I were out shopping the other day looking around one of her favorite clothing stores. My wife was interested in the clothing, while I found myself interested in the sign on the door seeking applicants for a Loss Prevention Officer. As I looked around the store I noticed quite a few closed circuit television cameras, or at least domes hanging from the ceiling. I already knew that this store staffs the fitting room with a fitting room attendant, and saw she was diligently counting clothes for patrons as they entered and left the fitting room. But I was surprised that after all the times we have visited this store, I never noticed they do not use a Checkpoint security system to stop shoplifting. In fact they don’t use any retail theft prevention devices on clothes, shoes, or any of the other items they sell. It seems a little curious to me that a store would invest in Loss Prevention staff and CCTV systems, but not go the extra step to use Checkpoint tags or electronic article surveillance antennas. While it is good to want to catch shoplifters, I have found that it is much better if you can deter them in the first place.
How does a Checkpoint security system stop shoplifting? Starting with the electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas positioned at the doors, shoppers entering the store are aware that the store is using retail theft prevention equipment. Criminals also look for this when they are deciding whether or not to target a store. Once in the store the use of Checkpoint tags on merchandise deters casual shoplifters, the people who may only steal for a quick thrill or on an impulse. They don’t necessarily intend to steal before they come to the store, but make a decision based on impulse. This particular group of shoplifters tends to avoid taking too many risks, especially the risk of setting off an EAS alarm at the front doors. Professional shoplifters may also be deterred by Checkpoint tags because they too prefer not to attract unnecessary attention. They desire to remain anonymous so that they can repeatedly return to a store and shoplift. Alarms attract attention so professionals prefer to steal merchandise they do not think is protected with tags or they go to a different store altogether. Store personnel trained to properly respond to EAS alarms also stop shoplifting. They can recover merchandise when an attempted theft occurs. Shoplifters recognize when a store takes alarm activations seriously and this is a retail theft prevention measure in itself.
So returning to my original observation, why is this store not using a Checkpoint security system to stop shoplifting? Is it the perception that it will cost a lot of money or the constant expense of purchasing new hard tags? A Checkpoint system can actually pay for itself over time, eliminating the concern of expense. Reduced shortage due to theft will result in increased profits to the store. Additionally, sales increase when product is available to be purchased by the honest clientele since shoplifters aren’t stealing it. These two factors combine to offset the cost of a system. The expense of hard tags is no excuse. Hard tags from Checkpoint systems are reusable. They are designed to be removed at the point of sale as an item is sold and stored until ready to be attached to new shipments of product. By recycling tags, there is not a constant need to buy more as merchandise is sold.
Having security cameras and Loss Prevention personnel are important to stop shoplifting but they should not be the only tools a store has at its’ disposal. A Retail theft prevention strategy should include a Checkpoint security system, training on the placement of Checkpoint tags, tag removal and employee training on alarm response. Reap the rewards when you use Checkpoint systems.
Need information on a Checkpoint security system? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
JM Blog 01 Medical
Key words Tablet theft 4 Classic N10 3
Alpha Thunder Tag 3
21st Century Hospital, 21st Century Risk; Tablet theft, Use And Security In Modern Medicine
With the volume of medical care needed in today’s hospitals and the limited staff of nurses and doctors available to provide it there is precious little time to waste. Patients need treatment and medical professionals need access to that patient’s information, records and history fast. Modern technology has made this a reality with powerful WIFI and the introduction of iPad and tablets to replace the old handwritten patient charts and massive physical files. Modern technology though is a double edged sword. Data, iPad and, tablet theft have become issues that plague hospital administration, medical staff and security alike.
What can be done? In my life as a retail LP professional the solution to merchandise theft is merchandise protection devices. Items like Checkpoint Classic N10 paired with an Alpha Thunder Tag are used as part of an overall strategy to prevent losses. I’ll wager that it isn’t often that you hear of areas where retail and healthcare overlap but this is one.
I worked security in a large hospital for several years dealing with a host of issues, things I never would have imagined. Violent patients and disruptive visitors were a primary concern for our public safety department. The physical security and safety of a facility are vital to its operation but aren’t its only concerns. Sadly, theft was a fairly common occurrence. Visitors, patients and, staff stealing from the facility are realities. I learned people are opportunists and an environment with valuable goods and information paired with a supply of distracted victims unable to protect themselves is too tempting to pass up.
Tablet technology has improved the speed and accuracy of patient care with the added benefit of making HIPAA compliance easier. Security often deals with a “curious” visitors caught snooping at patient’s charts. Patient data is now stored securely, safe from prying eyes and protected from data thieves who would remotely hack these devices.
Physical tablet theft remains a major concern. On the surface it seems unlikely that a device which is carried by staff would be susceptible to being stolen but, it happens. Watching your iPad is not a priority when the alert is raised and a patient is coding. It is in those moments that the opportunists strike. A few seconds of shifted focus and that tablet ends up in a purse or backpack. Not only does that represent a financial loss to the facility but also a massive HIPAA issue as well. Beyond the hospitals exposure is the loss of the patient’s personal information.
Given the nature of the hospital setting it isn’t practical to anchor every device to a person or secure it to an apparatus. Here the medical field can take a lesson from retail and look for a more elegant and portable solution. Companies like Alpha have developed small security tags, like the Alpha Thunder tag, that attach to a tablet or iPad and do not interfere with its portability or use. These sensors work with EAS devices like Classic N10 to provide both a deterrent for would be thieves as well as a means to notify staff and security if someone tries to exit with a secured device.
Tablet theft will remain an issue so long as staff use them and thieves see hospitals and the technology in them as a viable revenue source. The benefits to patient care and service outweigh the risks so the task of protecting these devices falls to security professionals. With vigilance and the implementation of sound security strategies, like an Alpha Thunder Tag and Checkpoint Systems Classic N10 we can allow staff to focus on patient care and give security a chance to prevent these losses. In the end everyone can win, well except the bad guys of course.
Need information on Alpha Thunder Tags or Checkpoint Systems Classic N10? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now
With the volume of medical care needed in today’s hospitals and the limited staff of nurses and doctors available to provide it there is precious little time to waste. Patients need treatment and medical professionals need access to that patient’s information, records and history fast. Modern technology has made this a reality with powerful WIFI and the introduction of iPad and tablets to replace the old handwritten patient charts and massive physical files. Modern technology though is a double edged sword. Data, iPad and, tablet theft have become issues that plague hospital administration, medical staff and security alike.
What can be done? In my life as a retail LP professional the solution to merchandise theft is merchandise protection devices. Items like Checkpoint Classic N10 paired with an Alpha Thunder Tag are used as part of an overall strategy to prevent losses. I’ll wager that it isn’t often that you hear of areas where retail and healthcare overlap but this is one.
I worked security in a large hospital for several years dealing with a host of issues, things I never would have imagined. Violent patients and disruptive visitors were a primary concern for our public safety department. The physical security and safety of a facility are vital to its operation but aren’t its only concerns. Sadly, theft was a fairly common occurrence. Visitors, patients and, staff stealing from the facility are realities. I learned people are opportunists and an environment with valuable goods and information paired with a supply of distracted victims unable to protect themselves is too tempting to pass up.
Tablet technology has improved the speed and accuracy of patient care with the added benefit of making HIPAA compliance easier. Security often deals with a “curious” visitors caught snooping at patient’s charts. Patient data is now stored securely, safe from prying eyes and protected from data thieves who would remotely hack these devices.
Physical tablet theft remains a major concern. On the surface it seems unlikely that a device which is carried by staff would be susceptible to being stolen but, it happens. Watching your iPad is not a priority when the alert is raised and a patient is coding. It is in those moments that the opportunists strike. A few seconds of shifted focus and that tablet ends up in a purse or backpack. Not only does that represent a financial loss to the facility but also a massive HIPAA issue as well. Beyond the hospitals exposure is the loss of the patient’s personal information.
Given the nature of the hospital setting it isn’t practical to anchor every device to a person or secure it to an apparatus. Here the medical field can take a lesson from retail and look for a more elegant and portable solution. Companies like Alpha have developed small security tags, like the Alpha Thunder tag, that attach to a tablet or iPad and do not interfere with its portability or use. These sensors work with EAS devices like Classic N10 to provide both a deterrent for would be thieves as well as a means to notify staff and security if someone tries to exit with a secured device.
T
ablet theft will remain an issue so long as staff use them and thieves see hospitals and the technology in them as a viable revenue source. The benefits to patient care and service outweigh the risks so the task of protecting these devices falls to security professionals. With vigilance and the implementation of sound security strategies, like an Alpha Thunder Tag and Checkpoint Systems Classic N10 we can allow staff to focus on patient care and give security a chance to prevent these losses. In the end everyone can win, well except the bad guys of course.
Need information on Checkpoint Systems Classic N10? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now
I got my inventory results for this past year, and they were a lot worse than I had expected. I just took over this location a few months ago, and I knew the controls were lacking before my arrival, but we missed our shrink budget by over $2,000. I figured out a couple of the worst categories, books and soda, were caused by vendor paperwork errors and those have since been corrected. I can at least look forward to a swell next year. However, we have had some significant thefts in the cosmetics section and of course, that was our worst category for shrink. We had figured out who was in the group that was hitting us and we had to create an action plan to stop shoplifting in that quadrant of the store.
We went through and adhered Checkpoint Labels to our entire stock of foundations and lipsticks over a period of two weeks. I saw the ring leader of the group enter the store about three weeks ago. At the time I didn’t know it was her, but something about her made me suspicious. I even had a feeling right then that she was our makeup thief. I watched her for a bit, and then I got called to the front checkout to assist with a customer. I hated to leave her unattended, but I have to put my paying customers first. I was able to watch her from the front and I could see she was picking up lipsticks and quickly replacing them. I knew right then those Checkpoint Labels were working and I knew that woman was our culprit. She was able to get to a spot where I couldn’t see her, and she stole some eyeliners and mascaras. She did not activate the alarm on the Checkpoint Systems because we had not tagged those items. I was able to verify the theft later via camera footage.
Then last week, exactly two weeks from the day I figured out who the thief was, I was working the evening shift. I was just about to leave to take the deposit to the bank, when someone down one of the aisles caught my eye. You guessed it! It was her. I smiled at her, went back to the front, and told my cashier to call the police. Then I went outside quickly to figure out where the getaway car was. I walked over behind the car and jotted down the license plate number. (There was a dude in the driver’s seat, glaring at me in the mirror! I seriously did not care at that point though. Enough was enough.) Then I went back inside and verified her position in the store. I walked past her and the only thing in her cart was her giant purse. I asked her if she needed help and she said she was fine. Then her phone rang. I walked back toward the front to see if the police had arrived and not long after that she came to the front. She approached me and loudly asked me why I went out and got information from the car. I calmly told her I did it in case she left before the police came; I wanted them to be able to find her. She was not pleased with my answer. In the cart she was pushing were several packages of name brand facial care items. (All that added up to over $400 retail) She left it all and stormed out the door. They pulled out of the parking lot, but were pulled over right afterward.
I would like to point out that all the stuff she had chosen to steal this time were all lacking Checkpoint Labels. Our “stop shoplifting” plan was working in cosmetics so she moved over to a different category. She knew she couldn’t defeat our Checkpoint Systems, so she was carefully choosing items that were not protected.
Get more information on Checkpoint Labels. Contact us or call today 1.770.426.0547
In this second part of a two-part discussion on clothing security tag usage in stores not traditionally thought of as clothing suppliers, I asked readers to think about stores that could benefit from using security tags on clothes. While there are many clothing retailers that obviously would use Checkpoint tags to prevent theft, what other businesses carry clothing that we may not associate with traditional clothing sales? I came up with a brief list of my own:
Lingerie stores
Auto Parts stores
College book stores
Gift Shops
Hardware stores
Swimwear shops
Department stores
Movie/video/music stores
Handbag stores
Men’s suit/tuxedo rental stores
Even pet stores sell clothing items for our furry little friends, such as sweaters and jackets. If you own a business that falls into one of these categories, you may want to consider the benefits you could derive from using clothing security tags.
Not everyone is familiar with what clothing security tags are so I want to take a few moments to describe them and what they do. These tags come in two designs, soft tags that peel off a roll and stick to some type of backing, usually cardboard, cellophane, plastic and non-metal surfaces. The tags are difficult to remove from an item and even when the paper is peeled off, the wire coil that activates an electronic article surveillance antenna (EAS) often remains on the surface. The second style of tag is the hard tag, usually a two-piece device with a pin on one part and a “cap” for the reverse side. This type of tag pins on the clothing item and is not removed until the clothing is brought to the register and purchased.
The soft tag is best to be placed on a hanging manufacturer tag of a garment and the hard tag can be pinned in a seam or in a highly visible location on an item. Visibility is important since it acts as a deterrent to thieves who may be deciding whether or not to shoplift from your store. Both tags will activate EAS antenna alarms when brought into range of the doors where the antennas are located. Most shoplifters know what EAS antennas are and prefer to avoid setting them off so they tend to go to locations where EAS is not in use. Checkpoint tags come in both styles and Checkpoint systems can make recommendations for EAS antennas.
Although the list I have made does include stores that specialize in certain “types” of garments, such as a bridal store or lingerie shop, they are limited in what they carry. In a big box retail store, you find nearly every kind of clothing item and for every person, children to teenagers to adults, everyone can be accommodated. We should not overlook the stores that carry a limited number of softlines merchandise. Video and music stores I visit carry character and novelty t-shirts for the customer. Hardware stores often have ball caps, gardening aprons, gloves and tool belts that can be protected with Checkpoint tags. Gift shops often carry hats and even purses and wallets that can be protected with clothing security tags.
You may be thinking that your store only carries a few clothing items so it isn’t worth the investment in EAS antennas and even the soft Checkpoint tags. I would like to remind the readers that EAS antennas will detect Checkpoint tags that are on clothing and other items. You can use clothing security tags on clothing and enjoy the same level of protection by tagging all of your other merchandise as well.
Clothing security tags aren’t just for clothing stores. Take a look at the merchandise you sell and see if you may carry some items you hadn’t thought about tagging before. If you don’t carry clothes, hats or softlines merchandise now may be a great time to consider expanding your product line and increase sales. Use security tags on clothes in the process and keep theft down and profits up.
Clothing Security Tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
