ALPHA KEEPERS STOP ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME RING FROM STEALING HIGH VALUE MERCHANDISE!
Alpha Keepers: 4 ML Blog 11
Prevent Shoplifting: 3
As a Loss Prevention expert, I am in charge of protecting the assets in my stores. When it comes to merchandise protection, I am always attempting to find the best protection devices! Each year expert thieves find new ways to shoplifter our high value products, so we must remain on high alert in the fight against preventable loss. Hard tags and spider wraps are not enough in many theft scenarios. Alpha keepers are the highest form of technology out there for retailers to prevent shoplifting. I had to learn the hard way, by taking a big loss from boosters in order to get better merchandise protection devices.
I frequently watch my CCTV cameras to analyze high theft trends and the known shoplifter patterns. I was watching cameras one evening, and noticed an organized retail crime group of 4 subjects on our CCTV. They were quickly scoping the store for associates, making sure no one was following them. I recognized this group because they hit my location two other times. The group targeted our high dollar items previously, before we had Alpha Keepers in use. When they hit us before, they were able to get away with $5,785.00 worth of merchandise, from two visits. Two of the subjects selected merchandise from different areas of the store and stage the merchandise, while the other two subjects keep watch for store personnel. Having seen this group previously, I knew their ultimate target would likely be expensive fragrances. Their prior sections were all small value items, but thieves gravitate toward fragrance due to its easy resale. Upon making it to the perfume area for their grand finale, they noted all items encased with Alpha Keepers. I could see on camera they were not used to dealing with these type of devices. They searched for any bottle without an Alpha Keeper, but could not find it. They tried to remove a bottle from its keeper, but could not pry it apart. Their ultimate plans failed and they left all their merchandise. My store lost nothing in this incident, but could have lost $2,012 & not to mention the return trips that would have followed. After this incident, I have not seen them back in my location. The deterrence piece worked, as it should have. The following month, I had 8 more similar cases like this one. Shoplifters coming in, but noticing the merchandise protection so they leave. This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha Keepers to prevent shoplifting. It illustrated the need to continue their use as part of our shrink action plan.
It’s moments like this that make us realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest level possible and evaluating any new techniques or devices on the market the moment they are available for store use. One thing we really liked is that they are available in different sizes; the various sizes lend themselves to products of all sorts in many different departments. We were able to order specific sizes to protect fragrance, electronics, razor products, and other high dollar areas in the store. The customer can also see the product information through the keepers, so it does not inhibit sales. When we analyzed our weekly theft trends in these areas, we noticed a massive decline in these departments. Due to the success rate, we decided to invest in these devices at every location in my district. Improve your bottom line by taking your merchandise protection to the next level. Give boosters the boot as I did, and prevent shoplifting in your business.
Need information on the Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
As a Loss Prevention expert, I am in charge of protecting the assets in my stores. When it comes to merchandise protection, I am always attempting to find the best protection devices! Each year expert thieves find new ways to shoplifter our high value products, so we must remain on high alert in the fight against preventable loss. Hard tags and spider wraps are not enough in many theft scenarios. Alpha keepers are the highest form of technology out there for retailers to prevent shoplifting. I had to learn the hard way, by taking a big loss from boosters in order to get better merchandise protection devices.
I frequently watch my CCTV cameras to analyze high theft trends and the known shoplifter patterns. I was watching cameras one evening, and noticed an organized retail crime group of 4 subjects on our CCTV. They were quickly scoping the store for associates, making sure no one was following them. I recognized this group because they hit my location two other times. The group targeted our high dollar items previously, before we had Alpha Keepers in use. When they hit us before, they were able to get away with $5,785.00 worth of merchandise, from two visits. Two of the subjects selected merchandise from different areas of the store and stage the merchandise, while the other two subjects keep watch for store personnel. Having seen this group previously, I knew their ultimate target would likely be expensive fragrances. Their prior sections were all small value items, but thieves gravitate toward fragrance due to its easy resale. Upon making it to the perfume area for their grand finale, they noted all items encased with Alpha Keepers. I could see on camera they were not used to dealing with these type of devices. They searched for any bottle without an Alpha Keeper, but could not find it. They tried to remove a bottle from its keeper, but could not pry it apart. Their ultimate plan failed and they left all their merchandise. My store lost nothing in this incident, but could have lost $2,012 & not to mention the return trips that would have followed. After this incident, I have not seen them back in my location. The deterrence piece worked, as it should have. The following month, I had 8 more similar cases like this one. Shoplifters coming in, but noticing the merchandise protection so they leave. This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha Keepers to prevent shoplifting. It illustrated the need to continue their use as part of our shrink action plan.
It’s moments like this that make us realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest level possible and evaluating any new techniques or devices on the market the moment they are available for store use. One thing we really liked is that they are available in different sizes; the various sizes lend themselves to products of all sorts in many different departments. We were able to order specific sizes to protect fragrance, electronics, razor products, and other high dollar areas in the store. The customer can also see the product information through the keepers, so it does not inhibit sales. When we analyzed our weekly theft trends in these areas, we noticed a massive decline in these departments. Due to the success rate, we decided to invest in these devices at every location in my district. Improve your bottom line by taking your merchandise protection to the next level. Give boosters the boot as I did, and prevent shoplifting in your business.
Need information on the Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
DW Blog 01
Alpha Keepers – 5, Prevent shoplifting – 3
ALPHA KEEPERS: PROTECTING YOUR PRODUCT WHILE HELPING INCREASE YOUR SALES
One of the most challenging aspects of running a business knows how to react when your inventory starts to disappear. A lot of folks have a gut reaction to pull the items that they are losing to prevent shoplifting and lock them up behind a cage; some other folks may limit quantities. While these reactions can potentially limit your losses, they will most definitely have a negative impact on your sales. Alpha Keepers allow you to both protect those items while allowing for sales growth.
Success of retail business is dependent on being able to drive sales growth. This can be challenging when those items start flying off the shelf before they make it to the register. Alpha Keepers can help you protect you prevent shoplifting. If you haven’t heard of them, they are clear acrylic containers that you place your product in, that activates the alarm on the Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) towers at the stores entrance when nearby.
There are a number of benefits aside from just setting off an alarm. The most important benefit is that you can place your product on the shelf and allow the customer to still interact with that product without having to have someone from your team unlock a display case. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been out shopping and wanted an item and had to wait around for a long time for an employee to get a key and unlock the display case. In many cases customers just walk away, causing another missed sale. Along with availability, the other benefit is that Alpha Keepers are reusable. When a protected item is purchased at the register, the cashier easily removes the product and the keeper is able to be used again and again. They also come in a variety of sizes for different types of product. What’s more is they cannot be accidentally deactivated like some of the EAS labels out there.
In my many years of Loss Prevention experience, I have found that there are two types of shoplifter; the amateur and the professional. Alpha Keepers deter both equally. Your professional thief wants to get in and out as quickly as possible. They are looking to load up as much product as they can in the shortest amount of time possible. Alpha Keepers increase the size of the product they are protecting, which makes it difficult for professional thieves to load up as much product. If they were going to attempt to get the item out of the keeper, they would risk damaging the product as well as waste precious time. The amateur thief is even more deterred, as most amateur shoplifters tend to steal based on opportunity. These devices tell potential shoplifters that getting this product out is no easy task.
Training your team to use Alpha Keepers is also super easy. The device uses a magnet key that matches up to the device and a simple slide of the tab allows for easy entry. This makes it easier for your team to adapt to the changes of the new devices. You don’t need any special equipment to use these devices either. They sit on the shelf just like the product you want protected. You can rest easy knowing that they are there protecting your product, even if you aren’t there.
So if you’re in a situation where you need to prevent shoplifting, just know that there are solutions out there to help you with your problem.
Need information on Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
One of the most challenging aspects of running a business knows how to react when your inventory starts to disappear. A lot of folks have a gut reaction to pull the items that they are losing to prevent shoplifting and lock them up behind a cage; some other folks may limit quantities. While these reactions can potentially limit your losses, they will most definitely have a negative impact on your sales. Alpha Keepers allow you to both protect those items while allowing for sales growth.
Success of retail business is dependent on being able to drive sales growth. This can be challenging when those items start flying off the shelf before they make it to the register. Alpha Keepers can help you protect you prevent shoplifting. If you haven’t heard of them, they are clear acrylic containers that you place your product in, that activates the alarm on the Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) towers at the stores entrance when nearby.
There are a number of benefits aside from just setting off an alarm. The most important benefit is that you can place your product on the shelf and allow the customer to still interact with that product without having to have someone from your team unlock a display case. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been out shopping and wanted an item and had to wait around for a long time for an employee to get a key and unlock the display case. In many cases customers just walk away, causing another missed sale. Along with availability, the other benefit is that Alpha Keepers are reusable. When a protected item is purchased at the register, the cashier easily removes the product and the keeper is able to be used again and again. They also come in a variety of sizes for different types of product. What’s more is they cannot be accidentally deactivated like some of the EAS labels out there.
In my many years of Loss Prevention experience, I have found that there are two types of shoplifter; the amateur and the professional. Alpha Keepers deter both equally. Your professional thief wants to get in and out as quickly as possible. They are looking to load up as much product as they can in the shortest amount of time possible. Alpha Keepers increase the size of the product they are protecting, which makes it difficult for professional thieves to load up as much product. If they were going to attempt to get the item out of the keeper, they would risk damaging the product as well as waste precious time. The amateur thief is even more deterred, as most amateur shoplifters tend to steal based on opportunity. These devices tell potential shoplifters that getting this product out is no easy task.
Training your team to use Alpha Keepers is also super easy. The device uses a magnet key that matches up to the device and a simple slide of the tab allows for easy entry. This makes it easier for your team to adapt to the changes of the new devices. You don’t need any special equipment to use these devices either. They sit on the shelf just like the product you want protected. You can rest easy knowing that they are there protecting your product, even if you aren’t there.
So if you’re in a situation where you need to prevent shoplifting, just know that there are solutions out there to help you with your problem.
Need information on Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
I’ve been in Retail Loss Prevention and retail as a whole for nearly 27 years. During that time I have obviously been involved in many efforts to prevent shoplifting from implementing merchandise protection strategies that use retail anti-theft devices like an Alpha Hang Tag to following and actually catching shoplifters. Over that time I found I changed how I dealt with the people I caught stealing from the stores I was working at. As a young man, even with my military experience, I probably was a bit more aggressive than I needed to be in some of my apprehensions. I didn’t yell or holler often, but in some instances I was a little meaner than I needed to be and that is the point of this article. Do you catch shoplifters, do you deter them and how do you deal with the people if you DO catch them shoplifting from your store?
Before I delve into that conversation I think it is important to discuss what I mean by merchandise protection strategies. Basically every store, regardless of how small or large, should have a merchandise protection plan in place. Is the store going to use lock-up cases or retail anti-theft devices like the electronic article surveillance (EAS) Alpha Hang Tag? The devices work with (EAS) radio frequency pedestals. They can be wraps, hard tags or cables that secure merchandise and prevent theft while allowing customers to walk around the store with the merchandise. As an example I already referenced, the Alpha Hang Tag has two pieces that clip together to reinforce packaging hang tabs and blister pack tabs. Merchandise can no longer be cut from locking peghooks and the EAS protection ensures an alarm will sound at the EAS towers if a thief tries to conceal merchandise and sneak it out the doors. Is the store going to install a closed circuit television system to record potential high theft areas? Perhaps cctv will be used to record cash registers to monitor for internal theft. All of these things need to be considered in a strategy plan to reduce merchandise shortage and improve profitability.
So to return to my point, if you are deciding if you are going to stop shoplifters (or maybe you already do) or have managers or a Loss Prevention Associate detain shoplifters how do you handle them? First, you have to be careful to remember that each situation is different. You must be ready to adapt to the person and how they respond when you stop them. When I started out in the business I was firm with everyone, I wasn’t rude, but I was not friendly with the suspect either. Over the years I modified my approach somewhat, taking into account the situation, the number of people I was dealing with and watching for reaction signals from shoplifters. I learned that the teenager who was alone might be much more compliant with my requests than the teenager with a group of friends. Frequently pulling someone out of a group causes that person to want to show off and present a “tough” image for their friends. That well-dressed “business” man or woman may very well be quiet and not want to be noticed or they may be the person that starts screaming and yelling and acting out in an attempt to embarrass you and hoping that you will back down. I learned over time that sometimes being friendly is a good way to disarm a tense situation. While a Loss Prevention Associate should always identify who they are when the stop someone, a manager can just say hello and offer their first name. Don’t forget, the shoplifter is always on edge when they approach the doors so the shock of being stopped amps up an already tense situation. Using a friendly approach can take the tension down a notch. It may get you your merchandise back even if the suspect chooses to run.
Maybe you are leaning more towards a deterrence approach to prevent shoplifting. Retail anti-theft devices and a prolific number of employees to provide customer service may be your answer to reduce shortage. CCTV cameras and public view monitors can add an additional layer of security so criminals are less inclined to steal.
For those business owners leaning towards the possibility of apprehending shoplifters, in Part 2 of this series I discuss some tips you will want to consider. Theft is not a joke and stopping thieves is serious business. Consider all the facts and consider consulting with Loss Prevention System Inc. Professionals who can provide training seminars that might help in your decision.
Need information on how to prevent shoplifting? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
I’ve been in Retail Loss Prevention and retail as a whole for nearly 27 years. During that time I have obviously been involved in many efforts to prevent shoplifting from implementing merchandise protection strategies that use retail anti-theft devices like an Alpha Hang Tag to following and actually catching shoplifters. Over that time I found I changed how I dealt with the people I caught stealing from the stores I was working at. As a young man, even with my military experience, I probably was a bit more aggressive than I needed to be in some of my apprehensions. I didn’t yell or holler often, but in some instances I was a little meaner than I needed to be and that is the point of this article. Do you catch shoplifters, do you deter them and how do you deal with the people if you DO catch them shoplifting from your store?
Before I delve into that conversation I think it is important to discuss what I mean by merchandise protection strategies. Basically every store, regardless of how small or large, should have a merchandise protection plan in place. Is the store going to use lock-up cases or retail anti-theft devices like the electronic article surveillance (EAS) Alpha Hang Tag? The devices work with (EAS) radio frequency pedestals. They can be wraps, hard tags or cables that secure merchandise and prevent theft while allowing customers to walk around the store with the merchandise. As an example I already referenced, the Alpha Hang Tag has two pieces that clip together to reinforce packaging hang tabs and blister pack tabs. Merchandise can no longer be cut from locking peghooks and the EAS protection ensures an alarm will sound at the EAS towers if a thief tries to conceal merchandise and sneak it out the doors. Is the store going to install a closed circuit television system to record potential high theft areas? Perhaps cctv will be used to record cash registers to monitor for internal theft. All of these things need to be considered in a strategy plan to reduce merchandise shortage and improve profitability.
So to return to my point, if you are deciding if you are going to stop shoplifters (or maybe you already do) or have managers or a Loss Prevention Associate detain shoplifters how do you handle them? First, you have to be careful to remember that each situation is different. You must be ready to adapt to the person and how they respond when you stop them. When I started out in the business I was firm with everyone, I wasn’t rude, but I was not friendly with the suspect either. Over the years I modified my approach somewhat, taking into account the situation, the number of people I was dealing with and watching for reaction signals from shoplifters. I learned that the teenager who was alone might be much more compliant with my requests than the teenager with a group of friends. Frequently pulling someone out of a group causes that person to want to show off and present a “tough” image for their friends. That well-dressed “business” man or woman may very well be quiet and not want to be noticed or they may be the person that starts screaming and yelling and acting out in an attempt to embarrass you and hoping that you will back down. I learned over time that sometimes being friendly is a good way to disarm a tense situation. While a Loss Prevention Associate should always identify who they are when the stop someone, a manager can just say hello and offer their first name. Don’t forget, the shoplifter is always on edge when they approach the doors so the shock of being stopped amps up an already tense situation. Using a friendly approach can take the tension down a notch. It may get you your merchandise back even if the suspect chooses to run.
Maybe you are leaning more towards a deterrence approach to prevent shoplifting. Retail anti-theft devices and a prolific number of employees to provide customer service may be your answer to reduce shortage. CCTV cameras and public view monitors can add an additional layer of security so criminals are less inclined to steal.
For those business owners leaning towards the possibility of apprehending shoplifters, in Part 2 of this series I discuss some tips you will want to consider. Theft is not a joke and stopping thieves is serious business. Consider all the facts and consider consulting with Loss Prevention System Inc. Professionals who can provide training seminars that might help in your decision.
Need information on how to prevent shoplifting? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
10 OF THE BEST USES FOR ALPHA SPIDER WRAPS
When it comes to the cream of the crop of security devices aimed to Prevent Shoplifting, the Alpha Spider Wrap is the top dog in my book. Generally reserved for the most expensive items in your store, the flexibility and ease of use make this my go-to tag for high ticket items. I’ve put some thought into some of the best uses for these tags and I thought I’d share them with you today. Here is what I think gets you the best ROI when using this style of tag.
Televisions
This is a no-brainer. This is a category that you need to get in front of your customers in an open sell environment, but you don’t want them walking out the door. An Alpha Spider Wrap on your boxed product can and will discourage and nearly prevent this from happening.
Speakers
From high end wired speakers to the newest portable Bluetooth speaker, these are hot right now. We need to capture these sales, while striving to Prevent Shoplifting can pose a bit of a merchandising issue. Use this style tag here and don’t fret about an open-sell concept.
Laptops
I know some of you just cringed a bit, since we probably always secure these under lock and key (and that’s alright!). However, there are some very inexpensive lines out there, and if you’re selling in bulk, it’s best to get them easily in the hands of your customers. The trusty Alpha Spider Wrap let you do just that.
Streaming devices
I love my steaming device. Problem is, so do the thieves. There’s a huge re-sell market for these, which makes them an incredibly hot target for your not-so-honest customers. Since most of them come in a box, or other square packaging, they are perfect candidates for an Alpha Spider Wrap.
Electric Toothbrushes
Let your customer’s clean their teeth, not clean you out! Like several other items on my list, there exists a large market to resell these items, which make them a constant target for thieves. Honestly, have you looked at some of the prices in this category? It’s like a mini-dentist bill! With prices that can easily soar into the several-hundreds, it’s easy to see why you have to Prevent Shoplifting. While these are a good candidate for a glass case, we all know that items sell much better when our customers can grab em’ and go without having to find an employee for help.
There are dozens and dozens more items that an Alpha Spider Wrap would pair perfectly with; and I can probably make a list of 100 (maybe I’ll do that one day). I make these lists to bring awareness to products that are often overlooked in our physical security strategies. I hope this helps to bring some of that awareness to you and your team, but also gets you thinking about the specific losses you incur in your own store. What other items can you better secure?
Get more information on Alpha Spider Wrap, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
When it comes to the cream of the crop of security devices aimed to Prevent Shoplifting, the Alpha Spider Wrap is the top dog in my book. Generally reserved for the most expensive items in your store, the flexibility and ease of use make this my go-to tag for high ticket items. I’ve put some thought into some of the best uses for these tags and I thought I’d share them with you today. Here is what I think gets you the best ROI when using this style of tag.
Televisions
This is a no-brainer. This is a category that you need to get in front of your customers in an open sell environment, but you don’t want them walking out the door. An Alpha Spider Wrap on your boxed product can and will discourage and nearly prevent this from happening.
Speakers
From high end wired speakers to the newest portable Bluetooth speaker, these are hot right now. We need to capture these sales, while striving to Prevent Shoplifting can pose a bit of a merchandising issue. Use this style tag here and don’t fret about an open-sell concept.
Laptops
I know some of you just cringed a bit, since we probably always secure these under lock and key (and that’s alright!). However, there are some very inexpensive lines out there, and if you’re selling in bulk, it’s best to get them easily in the hands of your customers. The trusty Alpha Spider Wrap let you do just that.
Streaming devices
I love my steaming device. Problem is, so do the thieves. There’s a huge re-sell market for these, which makes them an incredibly hot target for your not-so-honest customers. Since most of them come in a box, or other square packaging, they are perfect candidates for an Alpha Spider Wrap.
Electric Toothbrushes
Let your customer’s clean their teeth, not clean you out! Like several other items on my list, there exists a large market to resell these items, which make them a constant target for thieves. Honestly, have you looked at some of the prices in this category? It’s like a mini-dentist bill! With prices that can easily soar into the several-hundreds, it’s easy to see why you have to Prevent Shoplifting. While these are a good candidate for a glass case, we all know that items sell much better when our customers can grab em’ and go without having to find an employee for help.
There are dozens and dozens more items that an Alpha Spider Wrap would pair perfectly with; and I can probably make a list of 100 (maybe I’ll do that one day). I make these lists to bring awareness to products that are often overlooked in our physical security strategies. I hope this helps to bring some of that awareness to you and your team, but also gets you thinking about the specific losses you incur in your own store. What other items can you better secure?
Get more information on Alpha Spider Wrap, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
