Grilling. It’s one of those past times that I enjoy the most. There is nothing like sitting back on a sunny Sunday afternoon, firing up the grill and cooking a few steaks. Unlike some folks, I actually pay for my meat though. I read not too recently that one of the most commonly shoplifted items in a grocery store were steaks. At first, I really didn’t believe it. After some thinking though, I quickly realized why. Most grocery stores have a Checkpoint System set up, but how many are actually using the correct Checkpoint Labels to secure the steak? Also, have you bought a steak recently? It’s definitely upwards on the expense scale, and not something the average shopper can afford on a very regular basis. What if you’re down on your luck and just hungry?
This got me really thinking. Every month, the Sheriff’s Office sends retailers a list of individuals that were arrested for shoplifting in my county, as part of their ongoing efforts to curb shoplifting. I asked the detective in charge of the program if he could break the thefts into categories (theft of ammo, theft of cosmetics, and theft of steaks). The results were very surprising. The age range of the people that were stealing steaks was amazing. Everyone from a young teen, all the way up to elderly couples and everyone in between. If this didn’t prove the need for Checkpoint Labels, I’m not sure what would.
The way I look at this particular theft trend is a little different. If you are really and truly out of options and you’re going to starve to death, couldn’t you steal some cans of tuna? It has a high amount of protein, easily accessible and you don’t need to keep it cool. I think it has to do more with greed. Plain and simple. If I were a grocer, I would make sure that my high dollar cuts of me could benefit from my Checkpoint System just as my razors and baby formula do. Believe it or not, there are Checkpoint Labels out there that are food grade quality, meaning you get the benefits of discouraging a greedy shoplifters, as well as protecting your customers from any type of contamination.
Next time you’re in the grocery store, look around at what you would think would be a target for a thief. Chances are, you’ll come up with a list that will rival that long shopping list in your hand. As any retailer, you have to strike that balance between your Checkpoint System and the battle against shoplifters with treating your customers with respect. You can’t very well lock everything behind a closed door, nor can you leave every item without some level of security. With a wealth of types and endless customizations, you can start by deploying Checkpoint Labels in your store. A little investment will save you thousands from greedy shoplifters.
For more information, contact us: Checkpoint Labels, or call 1.770.426.0547
