Clothing security tags-4 WC Blog 545
Checkpoint Tags-4
Checkpoint Tags Improve Shortage and SAFETY
I’m frustrated and angry as I read a story of a shoplifting incident that resulted in the death of an innocent bystander. The loss of life and the whole incident could possibly have been avoided if clothing security tags had been in use by the store where the shoplifting took place.
http://www.newson6.com/story/37377335/senseless-act-led-to-death-of-bystander-tahlequah-police-chief-says
According to the report the alleged shoplifter was attempting to steal clothing. The report indicated the suspect was seen in camera footage filling his shopping cart with clothes. “Next he’s seen walking out the door with what police said is a bag of stolen items.” The suspect is accused of fleeing from police in a pick-up truck. While attempting to elude police the suspect ran into another vehicle and the driver of that car was killed. I am angry that the shoplifter tried to commit a crime and then placed others in jeopardy in his effort to escape. I am angry that there are those who would use this incident to justify the position that stores should just allow criminals (and that’s what they are…shoplifting is a crime) to leave. They argue that confronting a shoplifter poses a danger to store personnel and customers. I am also concerned about the apparent lack of security tags on clothes. The retailer is a well-known chain and I have shopped in their stores. I do not recall seeing any Checkpoint tags used on clothing in their locations. While tags are not a guarantee to stop shoplifting they do provide a strong deterrence to the crime.
Clothing security tags are devices that are equipped with electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology that works in unison with Checkpoint pedestals. The EAS tech in the tags sends off a radio frequency wave that is received by a pedestal when it is carried into the detection field of the pedestal. When the pedestal picks up the signal of the tag alarms are set off creating a very loud beeping noise. Store personnel respond to these alarms and verify customer receipts against the merchandise they are taking out of the store. When done appropriately these receipt checks result in a “shopper” returning the merchandise or purchasing it. The beauty of Checkpoint tags is that they prevent shoplifting and attempts at shoplifting just by being attached to clothes. Shoplifters are not in the habit of wanting to advertise to store employees what they are doing. They want to get in, steal and get out. They know what the tags are and they generally steer clear of merchandise that is protected.
I am aware that some readers are going to think that I am saying clothing security tags would have saved the victim’s life in this case. I am not going to go that far. There were a number of factors that came into play and I am not aware of them all. For example, I read that the subject had a track record of fleeing from police in prior incidents. One report alleged the suspect would see a police car and speed away without any indications the officer even noticed him. I also have no idea if he was approached at the doors of the store or if he was approached, what that interaction looked like. I have had shoplifters run from me for absolutely no reason at all except that they thought they were being followed. No, this unfortunate tragedy may have happened with or without the use of Checkpoint tags but I believe that the use of tags MAY have deterred the suspect and sent him elsewhere or changed his decision to try to steal.
Bill Bregar and his team at Loss Prevention Systems Inc. know that there are dangers associated with shoplifting and want to eliminate that risk. This is why they trust Checkpoint tags and pedestals when recommending safety and security strategies to retail owners. Checkpoint’s equipment has a proven track record of success in shortage reduction and a natural consequence is improved safety for the store.
There is nothing funny or cute about shoplifting. There are financial costs associated with the crime that impact the store owner and their legitimate customers. There can also be tragic consequences as seen in the referenced case. Use clothing security tags on your merchandise and reduce the chances that your employees or innocent bystanders will be injured or harmed due to criminal shoplifters.
Get more information on Checkpoint tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
I’m frustrated and angry as I read a story of a shoplifting incident that resulted in the death of an innocent bystander. The loss of life and the whole incident could possibly have been avoided if clothing security tags had been in use by the store where the shoplifting took place.
http://www.newson6.com/story/37377335/senseless-act-led-to-death-of-bystander-tahlequah-police-chief-says
According to the report the alleged shoplifter was attempting to steal clothing. The report indicated the suspect was seen in camera footage filling his shopping cart with clothes. “Next he’s seen walking out the door with what police said is a bag of stolen items.” The suspect is accused of fleeing from police in a pick-up truck. While attempting to elude police the suspect ran into another vehicle and the driver of that car was killed. I am angry that the shoplifter tried to commit a crime and then placed others in jeopardy in his effort to escape. I am angry that there are those who would use this incident to justify the position that stores should just allow criminals (and that’s what they are…shoplifting is a crime) to leave. They argue that confronting a shoplifter poses a danger to store personnel and customers. I am also concerned about the apparent lack of security tags on clothes. The retailer is a well-known chain and I have shopped in their stores. I do not recall seeing any hard tags used on clothing in their locations. While tags are not a guarantee to stop shoplifting they do provide a strong deterrence to the crime.
Clothing security tags are devices that are equipped with electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology that works in unison with EAS pedestals. The EAS tech in the tags sends off a radio frequency wave that is received by a pedestal when it is carried into the detection field of the pedestal. When the pedestal picks up the signal of the tag, alarms are set off creating a very loud beeping noise. Store personnel respond to these alarms and verify customer receipts against the merchandise they are taking out of the store. When done appropriately these receipt checks result in a “shopper” returning the merchandise or purchasing it. The beauty of hard tags is that they prevent shoplifting and attempts at shoplifting just by being attached to clothes. Shoplifters are not in the habit of wanting to advertise to store employees what they are doing. They want to get in, steal and get out. They know what the tags are and they generally steer clear of merchandise that is protected.
I am aware that some readers are going to think that I am saying clothing security tags would have saved the victim’s life in this case. I am not going to go that far. There were a number of factors that came into play and I am not aware of them all. For example, I read that the subject had a track record of fleeing from police in prior incidents. One report alleged the suspect would see a police car and speed away without any indications the officer even noticed him. I also have no idea if he was approached at the doors of the store or if he was approached, what that interaction looked like. I have had shoplifters run from me for absolutely no reason at all except that they thought they were being followed. No, this unfortunate tragedy may have happened with or without the use of hard tags but I believe that the use of tags MAY have deterred the suspect and sent him elsewhere or changed his decision to try to steal.
Bill Bregar and his team at Loss Prevention Systems Inc. know that there are dangers associated with shoplifting and want to eliminate that risk. This is why they trust hard tags and pedestals when recommending safety and security strategies to retail owners.
There is nothing funny or cute about shoplifting. There are financial costs associated with the crime that impact the store owner and their legitimate customers. There can also be tragic consequences as seen in the referenced case. Use clothing security tags on your merchandise and reduce the chances that your employees or innocent bystanders will be injured or harmed due to criminal shoplifters.
Get more information on hard tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
ARE RETAIL ANTI THEFT DEVICES THE BEST STRATEGY FOR LOSS PREVENTION?
As an LP Manager for a rather large company, I often find myself in meetings with other retailers and our law enforcement partners. These “networking” meetings bring together a lot of good information, but it also shows the vulnerabilities of smaller stores in our communities and the necessity for even the smallest of retailers to Prevent Shoplifting.
Just last week, I was invited to a merchant/law enforcement meeting that was hosted by a local Sheriff’s Office. There were the big retailers represented, but what surprised me was the shear amount of smaller, “mom and pop” store managers and owners that came out. I had learned that over the last couple of weeks, several detectives had been making contact with these smaller stores and getting them onboard to come to our meeting, as they continued to express great frustration to the police regarding shoplifters in the area. If anyone can give you advice on how to Prevent Shoplifting, it’s a room full of career Loss Prevention guys and girls.
As it normally does, the questions normally drift to people asking what Retail Anti Theft Device is going to stop people from stealing out of their store. For me, that’s always such a hard question to answer; I know, from my years of experience, there is nothing out there, short of locking everything behind glass, that will completely Prevent Shoplifting. So, just like a shoplifter, I approach this question with caution.
First, you have to understand that in order to be effective against criminals; you have to take a multi-pronged approached. Having one singular Retail Anti Theft Device on a hot product probably isn’t going to make much impact. Now, combine that device with a solid EAS tower, good cameras, with public view monitors, a culture of great customer interaction and service and you’ve got the makings of a winning combination.
That’s the biggest challenge I face with smaller business owners. They don’t have the years of LP experience that I do. It’s almost like when I’m explaining a case to my grandmother. I’ll tell her that someone stole from my store, but they got away. She’ll ask if the car was on video and then will be flabbergasted that I can’t zoom in on the license plate from 2 blocks away like she saw on last week’s episode of Law and Order.
So yes, your store absolutely needs to have the latest in EAS technology to help stem those external losses. Just remember that a well-trained and attentive employee who engages every, single customer can be just as, if not more effective to your loss prevention strategy than any one Retail Anti Theft Device.
Get more information on Alpha Tech, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
As an LP Manager for a rather large company, I often find myself in meetings with other retailers and our law enforcement partners. These “networking” meetings bring together a lot of good information, but it also shows the vulnerabilities of smaller stores in our communities and the necessity for even the smallest of retailers to Prevent Shoplifting.
Just last week, I was invited to a merchant/law enforcement meeting that was hosted by a local Sheriff’s Office. There were the big retailers represented, but what surprised me was the shear amount of smaller, “mom and pop” store managers and owners that came out. I had learned that over the last couple of weeks, several detectives had been making contact with these smaller stores and getting them onboard to come to our meeting, as they continued to express great frustration to the police regarding shoplifters in the area. If anyone can give you advice on how to Prevent Shoplifting, it’s a room full of career Loss Prevention guys and girls.
As it normally does, the questions normally drift to people asking what Retail Anti Theft Device is going to stop people from stealing out of their store. For me, that’s always such a hard question to answer; I know, from my years of experience, there is nothing out there, short of locking everything behind glass, that will completely Prevent Shoplifting. So, just like a shoplifter, I approach this question with caution.
First, you have to understand that in order to be effective against criminals; you have to take a multi-pronged approached. Having one singular Retail Anti Theft Device on a hot product probably isn’t going to make much impact. Now, combine that device with a solid EAS tower, good cameras, with public view monitors, a culture of great customer interaction and service and you’ve got the makings of a winning combination.
That’s the biggest challenge I face with smaller business owners. They don’t have the years of LP experience that I do. It’s almost like when I’m explaining a case to my grandmother. I’ll tell her that someone stole from my store, but they got away. She’ll ask if the car was on video and then will be flabbergasted that I can’t zoom in on the license plate from 2 blocks away like she saw on last week’s episode of Law and Order.
So yes, your store absolutely needs to have the latest in EAS technology to help stem those external losses. Just remember that a well-trained and attentive employee who engages every, single customer can be just as, if not more effective to your loss prevention strategy than any one Retail Anti Theft Device.
Get more information on Alpha Tech, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Alpha Jewel Lok- 4 WC Blog 476
Prevent Shoplifting-3
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-4
Open Display Jewelry Is Possible With An Alpha Jewel Lok
In order to help prevent shoplifting some manufactures assist stores by enhancing packaging of products. Sometimes large stores will work with manufacturers to protect merchandise. I know that when I worked for a national retail chain as a Loss Prevention Manager our company was working with a razor company to introduce electronic article surveillance (EAS) source tagging for products. This was a shortage reduction coup not only for our stores but for any other retailers that had an EAS system. The tags would work regardless of which company was selling the products that were tagged. I also know that our corporate Loss Prevention Department worked with a manufacturer to improve packaging of certain products to make them more secure against theft. These methods of shortage reduction worked well but not everything is source tagged or comes with hardened packaging and then other measures need to be used especially when I think about jewelry. Loose jewelry like bracelets and necklaces may be displayed on open T-fixtures but are difficult to protect short of locking them up. This is where the Alpha Jewel Lok can come in handy.
The Alpha Jewel Lok is a small hook and clasping retail anti-theft device that provides the protection of EAS while allowing ease of access with open displays. The Lok will activate EAS towers if a shoplifter attempts to carry a protected item through them. They are also strong enough to prevent a thief from breaking it off of a piece of jewelry without damaging the merchandise. Remember that once damaged, the product is no longer useful to the criminal. It can’t be returned to the store or re-sold anywhere. It also renders the item useless to wear for the opportunist who is stealing for their own use. The open accessibility frees the store management from the necessity of having to spend payroll on an associate dedicated to one small area of the store, specifically the jewelry department. By the way, this particular retail anti-theft device can be used on other small items such as wallets making it extremely versatile in its application.
You might be thinking that you would rather lock your jewelry up in a display case than take a risk of using a device you aren’t familiar with to prevent shoplifting. As a former Loss Prevention Manager I used to feel the same way about many retail anti-theft devices. I was all for keeping merchandise locked up and selling out of a stockroom or display case until I understood that sales are driven by access to products. You heard me right, a Loss Prevention Manager came around to the idea that merchandise can be protected and still made available to customers to handle and look at.
I noticed that merchandise tagged to prevent shoplifting increased in sales as those items came out of display cases. While that may seem contradictory at first glance it isn’t so odd if you think about what happens when merchandise is taken out of showcases. Customers get irritated when they have to wait for help. If no one is at a display case to open it when a shopper walks up many of those shoppers won’t bother waiting for assistance. They walk out and shop elsewhere and that equates to lost sales. Protect products with retail anti-theft devices and remove them from a locking case and customers can select an item without someone hovering over them. They can shop at their leisure which also drives up sales since many people won’t find just one item and leave. The Alpha Jewel Lok allows you the flexibility to put more jewelry on an open display. This does not mean you should take all of your high end gold and silver out. That would be foolish, but you are sure to have lower end merchandise that could be tagged and displayed. That will mean bonus sales for you.
Electronic Article Surveillance soft tagging can be a fantastic way to reduce shortage with minimal expense to your store. But while it is good for those items that can be EAS soft tagged not everything can be. Don’t get frustrated when soft tags can’t work on your jewelry. Use the Alpha Jewel Lok to keep merchandise out of lock up and then be prepared for higher sales and lower shortage.
Alpha Jewel Lok is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
In order to help prevent shoplifting some manufactures assist stores by enhancing packaging of products. Sometimes large stores will work with manufacturers to protect merchandise. I know that when I worked for a national retail chain as a Loss Prevention Manager our company was working with a razor company to introduce electronic article surveillance (EAS) source tagging for products. This was a shortage reduction coup not only for our stores but for any other retailers that had an EAS system. The tags would work regardless of which company was selling the products that were tagged. I also know that our corporate Loss Prevention Department worked with a manufacturer to improve packaging of certain products to make them more secure against theft. These methods of shortage reduction worked well but not everything is source tagged or comes with hardened packaging and then other measures need to be used especially when I think about jewelry. Loose jewelry like bracelets and necklaces may be displayed on open T-fixtures but are difficult to protect short of locking them up. This is where the Alpha Jewel Lok can come in handy.
The Alpha Jewel Lok is a small hook and clasping retail anti-theft device that provides the protection of EAS while allowing ease of access with open displays. The Lok will activate EAS towers if a shoplifter attempts to carry a protected item through them. They are also strong enough to prevent a thief from breaking it off of a piece of jewelry without damaging the merchandise. Remember that once damaged, the product is no longer useful to the criminal. It can’t be returned to the store or re-sold anywhere. It also renders the item useless to wear for the opportunist who is stealing for their own use. The open accessibility frees the store management from the necessity of having to spend payroll on an associate dedicated to one small area of the store, specifically the jewelry department. By the way, this particular retail anti-theft device can be used on other small items such as wallets making it extremely versatile in its application.
You might be thinking that you would rather lock your jewelry up in a display case than take a risk of using a device you aren’t familiar with to prevent shoplifting. As a former Loss Prevention Manager I used to feel the same way about many retail anti-theft devices. I was all for keeping merchandise locked up and selling out of a stockroom or display case until I understood that sales are driven by access to products. You heard me right, a Loss Prevention Manager came around to the idea that merchandise can be protected and still made available to customers to handle and look at.
I noticed that merchandise tagged to prevent shoplifting increased in sales as those items came out of display cases. While that may seem contradictory at first glance it isn’t so odd if you think about what happens when merchandise is taken out of showcases. Customers get irritated when they have to wait for help. If no one is at a display case to open it when a shopper walks up many of those shoppers won’t bother waiting for assistance. They walk out and shop elsewhere and that equates to lost sales. Protect products with retail anti-theft devices and remove them from a locking case and customers can select an item without someone hovering over them. They can shop at their leisure which also drives up sales since many people won’t find just one item and leave. The Alpha Jewel Lok allows you the flexibility to put more jewelry on an open display. This does not mean you should take all of your high end gold and silver out. That would be foolish, but you are sure to have lower end merchandise that could be tagged and displayed. That will mean bonus sales for you.
Electronic Article Surveillance soft tagging can be a fantastic way to reduce shortage with minimal expense to your store. But while it is good for those items that can be EAS soft tagged not everything can be. Don’t get frustrated when soft tags can’t work on your jewelry. Use the Alpha Jewel Lok to keep merchandise out of lock up and then be prepared for higher sales and lower shortage.
Alpha Jewel Lok is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
10 OF THE BEST USES FOR ALPHA SPIDER WRAPS
Here’s my conclusion for the 10 best uses for the Alpha Spider Wrap that I can think of. While my list is certainly not all-inclusive, I think it represents a good cross-section of the retail industry. Some of you reading may not carry every single item that I have listed, but instead of taking this line by line, perhaps think of the often-overlooked items in your store that could use a little theft prevention love.
Electric Razors / Trimmers
As a guy with a beard, I know just how expensive a good trimmer can be. I’d love to pay half that price, and that’s exactly what boosters rely on. As long as there are people who want to pay less than retail for an expensive item, there will be a market to steal it. Most come in a box-shaped package, making them perfect shape for an Alpha Spider Wrap.
Game / Trail cameras
If you’re a hunter, you know how pricey a good trail camera can be. As a merchant, you have to Prevent Shoplifting in this category, as the losses can quickly add up. These cameras can either be re-sold on online marketplaces, or even worse, can be fraudulently returned back to you and the thief can get a great gift card on your dime.
Activity trackers
These are the hot product this year, and sales for these items have really taken off in my stores. Think Up, or Fitbit. Due to the high sales volume these tend to have, it’s difficult to keep them under lock and key, but the price-points are high enough to warrant some additional security. The Alpha Spider Wrap is the perfect tool to use, since packages are mostly uniformly shaped.
Cookware
Bet you never thought about pots and pan, did ya’? I recently went out with my girlfriend to purchase some new pots, and holy cow! There were some cookware sets that were nearly $500! I couldn’t believe that. For that price, they better cook my food for me. Bottom line, you need to Prevent Shoplifting of these items, and an Alpha Spider Wrap is the way to do it.
Drones
Drones are another one of those items that have just exploded in sales recently. Funny how 5 years ago, no one was thinking about how to Prevent Shoplifting of a drone. Personally, I own a higher end model, but you can get a basic drone for a few bucks and just about any retail store. I mean, they’re easy to fly, cameras get better each month and they’re just plain fun. They’re also a strong target for thieves, since you can resell them basically anywhere and make a quick buck.
Get more information on Alpha Spider Wrap, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Here’s my conclusion for the 10 best uses for the Alpha Spider Wrap that I can think of. While my list is certainly not all-inclusive, I think it represents a good cross-section of the retail industry. Some of you reading may not carry every single item that I have listed, but instead of taking this line by line, perhaps think of the often-overlooked items in your store that could use a little theft prevention love.
Electric Razors / Trimmers
As a guy with a beard, I know just how expensive a good trimmer can be. I’d love to pay half that price, and that’s exactly what boosters rely on. As long as there are people who want to pay less than retail for an expensive item, there will be a market to steal it. Most come in a box-shaped package, making them perfect shape for an Alpha Spider Wrap.
Game / Trail Cameras
If you’re a hunter, you know how pricey a good trail camera can be. As a merchant, you have to Prevent Shoplifting in this category, as the losses can quickly add up. These cameras can either be re-sold on online marketplaces, or even worse, can be fraudulently returned back to you and the thief can get a great gift card on your dime.
Activity trackers
These are the hot product this year, and sales for these items have really taken off in my stores. Think Up, or Fitbit. Due to the high sales volume these tend to have, it’s difficult to keep them under lock and key, but the price-points are high enough to warrant some additional security. The Alpha Spider Wrap is the perfect tool to use, since packages are mostly uniformly shaped.
Cookware
Bet you never thought about pots and pan, did ya’? I recently went out with my girlfriend to purchase some new pots, and holy cow! There were some cookware sets that were nearly $500! I couldn’t believe that. For that price, they better cook my food for me. Bottom line, you need to Prevent Shoplifting of these items, and an Alpha Spider Wrap is the way to do it.
Drones
Drones are another one of those items that have just exploded in sales recently. Funny how 5 years ago, no one was thinking about how to Prevent Shoplifting of a drone. Personally, I own a higher end model, but you can get a basic drone for a few bucks and just about any retail store. I mean, they’re easy to fly, cameras get better each month and they’re just plain fun. They’re also a strong target for thieves, since you can resell them basically anywhere and make a quick buck.
Get more information on Alpha Spider Wrap, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Overhead EAS System-4 WC Blog 507
Checkpoint Overhead System-4
Promote Safety And Security With A Checkpoint Overhead System
What is one big advantage of an overhead EAS System versus a traditional EAS system? You will not walk into the towers! I guess this may sound a little silly to some of you but I point this out for a couple of reasons. First, I have walked into them absentmindedly! I have been walking with my wife and talking with her and I have walked smack dab into a tower. Aside from the embarrassment I was fine but I have seen some other people walk into them and smack their faces. This leads to my second point, I work in a college library and we have two sets of sliding doors that limit the number of people that can enter or exit at the same time to one. Considering the large number of students and professors that come and go at any given time and many of them are focused more on their cell phone than their surroundings, this leads to a lot of “tower bumps”. So aside from my own clumsiness my concern is also for the safety of others, especially in this age of cell phone absorption. A Checkpoint Overhead System can help prevent accidents in your retail business and potentially save you an injury lawsuit.
Before continuing I do need to tell you what an overhead EAS system is, especially if you are not sure what a standard Checkpoint System is. An EAS system is a retail anti-theft system that deters theft through its presence in a store. A system consists of towers that receive radio waves that are sent out by EAS tags and labels. The other parts of a system are the actual tags and labels, deactivation pads and detachment keys. EAS (electronic article surveillance) tags and labels come in a variety of forms but each type is attached directly to merchandise or to packaging depending on the merchandise itself. The way a system operates to stop theft is when tagged merchandise is carried into the area of a tower. Alarms in the tower blast out a loud alert and trained employees immediately react and determine the cause of the alarm. In the majority of cases it is the result of someone attempting to take unpaid merchandise out of the store. A well trained responder can conduct a receipt check, recover merchandise and/or get the person to pay for the item with little distraction. Over time the savings from recovered merchandise and the resulting shortage reduction pays for the system. The Checkpoint Overhead System operates in the same manner as the traditional system with one stark difference, there is no tower on the floor to walk into (or, as a concern for some store owners, present a visual distraction). All of the equipment is overhead mounted to the ceiling and out of sight for the customers.
The question some may be raising is whether safety is the only reason I would recommend investing in a Checkpoint Overhead System? No, it is simply one reason that a store owner or manager should consider purchasing an overhead EAS system. The primary objective of Loss Prevention Systems Inc. as well as my own is to assist retail owners and managers in theft prevention and shortage reduction. We want to see stores be successful and grow profits. If theft is left unaddressed it will grow and it can get to the point where it causes irreparable damage that could end up forcing a store to close. Bill Bregar, CEO of Loss Prevention Systems Inc., has an extensive background in retail Loss Prevention having served as the Director of Loss Prevention for national retail chains. Mr. Bregar has drawn upon the knowledge he gained preventing shoplifting and employee theft to assist stores that don’t have the resources for a Loss Prevention department of their own. He recognized the benefits that EAS systems offer in theft prevention and with the introduction of the overhead EAS system he recognizes the benefit to smaller stores that struggle with limited floor space. The Checkpoint Overhead System eliminates the pedestals at the front doors that take up floor space and prevent tagged merchandise from being stocked too close to the entrance/exit doors. EVERYONE can now enjoy the benefits of merchandise protection and maximization of floor space. More products on the floor means more potential sales.
Safety may not have crossed your mind when you were thinking of reasons not to purchase a theft prevention system but selling floor space may have been. Now you can cross both excuses off your list by installing a Checkpoint Overhead System. Prevent shoplifting and bumps and bruises to customers who aren’t paying attention to their surroundings. You can save money in BOTH instances.
A Checkpoint Overhead System is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
What is one big advantage of an overhead EAS System versus a traditional EAS system? You will not walk into the towers! I guess this may sound a little silly to some of you but I point this out for a couple of reasons. First, I have walked into them absentmindedly! I have been walking with my wife and talking with her and I have walked smack dab into a tower. Aside from the embarrassment I was fine but I have seen some other people walk into them and smack their faces. This leads to my second point, I work in a college library and we have two sets of sliding doors that limit the number of people that can enter or exit at the same time to one. Considering the large number of students and professors that come and go at any given time and many of them are focused more on their cell phone than their surroundings, this leads to a lot of “tower bumps”. So aside from my own clumsiness my concern is also for the safety of others, especially in this age of cell phone absorption. A Checkpoint Overhead System can help prevent accidents in your retail business and potentially save you an injury lawsuit.
Before continuing I do need to tell you what an overhead EAS system is, especially if you are not sure what a standard Checkpoint System is. An EAS system is a retail anti-theft system that deters theft through its presence in a store. A system consists of towers that receive radio waves that are sent out by EAS tags and labels. The other parts of a system are the actual tags and labels, deactivation pads and detachment keys. EAS (electronic article surveillance) tags and labels come in a variety of forms but each type is attached directly to merchandise or to packaging depending on the merchandise itself. The way a system operates to stop theft is when tagged merchandise is carried into the area of a tower. Alarms in the tower blast out a loud alert and trained employees immediately react and determine the cause of the alarm. In the majority of cases it is the result of someone attempting to take unpaid merchandise out of the store. A well trained responder can conduct a receipt check, recover merchandise and/or get the person to pay for the item with little distraction. Over time the savings from recovered merchandise and the resulting shortage reduction pays for the system. The Checkpoint Overhead System operates in the same manner as the traditional system with one stark difference, there is no tower on the floor to walk into (or, as a concern for some store owners, present a visual distraction). All of the equipment is overhead mounted to the ceiling and out of sight for the customers.
The question some may be raising is whether safety is the only reason I would recommend investing in a Checkpoint Overhead System? No, it is simply one reason that a store owner or manager should consider purchasing an overhead EAS system. The primary objective of Loss Prevention Systems Inc. as well as my own is to assist retail owners and managers in theft prevention and shortage reduction. We want to see stores be successful and grow profits. If theft is left unaddressed it will grow and it can get to the point where it causes irreparable damage that could end up forcing a store to close. Bill Bregar, CEO of Loss Prevention Systems Inc., has an extensive background in retail Loss Prevention having served as the Director of Loss Prevention for national retail chains. Mr. Bregar has drawn upon the knowledge he gained preventing shoplifting and employee theft to assist stores that don’t have the resources for a Loss Prevention department of their own. He recognized the benefits that EAS systems offer in theft prevention and with the introduction of the overhead EAS system he recognizes the benefit to smaller stores that struggle with limited floor space. The Checkpoint Overhead System eliminates the pedestals at the front doors that take up floor space and prevent tagged merchandise from being stocked too close to the entrance/exit doors. EVERYONE can now enjoy the benefits of merchandise protection and maximization of floor space. More products on the floor means more potential sales.
Safety may not have crossed your mind when you were thinking of reasons not to purchase a theft prevention system but selling floor space may have been. Now you can cross both excuses off your list by installing a Checkpoint Overhead System. Prevent shoplifting and bumps and bruises to customers who aren’t paying attention to their surroundings. You can save money in BOTH instances.
A Checkpoint Overhead System is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
