There are several ways to prevent theft by your employees or shoplifters. Here are some things to consider when monitoring thieves and want to counteract the negative effects of these thefts on your inventory.
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Shoplifting in stores: practical advice
Some signs don't lie:
Without suspecting everyone (and risking making people uncomfortable), staff should still be vigilant for certain signs that will help them identify a potential thief. Some of the most obvious ones include:
Avoid eye contact
Seem to observe staff more than products
Position themselves in corners where they will be little seen
Wear coats or oversized clothing.
While it is recommended to remember these basic concepts, you should neve japan whatsapp number underestimate the potential of thieves: some are professionals. Here are some of their sneaky tricks:
Razor blades: Some thieves carry small, thin, sharp blades like box cutters, which they use to remove alarm tags once they are safe in a dressing room.
Speaking of fitting rooms, this is where they take refuge and then hide goods in their own bag.
Noisy Group: Entering a business in a noisy cluster is one of the most common tactics to distract employees.
Oversized designer bag: Some thieves show off high-end boutique bags to show they have the means to spend. These bags may be empty, so keep a close eye on them.
Double agents: Thieves often operate in teams of two. One distracts employees and discreetly passes items to his partner in the fitting room. They may arrive in store together as friends, or even separately.
Tampered bags: Some people do not hesitate to line the inside of a bag with aluminum foil, which prevents the alarm beacons from being triggered when passing through the detectors. This is a simple way that thieves use to stuff their bag with goods before quickly leaving a store, unseen.
Some prevention tips
When it comes to reducing shoplifting, there are several things you can do. Posting signs that say “Thieves Will Be Prosecuted” is one way to do it, but it’s not very polite or disruptive in a store. Visible cameras, even if they’re not active, can be a more discreet signal that thieves will notice.
Your store layout can also reduce theft. For example, you can lock some of the more expensive items near the cash registers in a box. Office supply retail giant Staples suggests creating maximum visibility of merchandise by placing lower displays near the cash registers and taller displays around the perimeter of the store. Placing the cash registers near the exit is also a deterrent since customers must pass through this area to leave the store (the cash register area should always be staffed).
Internal measures
No matter the business, internal theft can quickly turn into a nightmare. Choosing employees with good references is just the first step in preventing losses. Conducting a routine count and inventory can help determine if merchandise is lost or missing, while also sending a clear signal to your employees that you are personally involved in day-to-day operations. Entrepreneur.com lists a few key elements to prevent internal theft, such as:
Rotate schedules to ensure that staff are not always working the same shifts.
Establish effective cash register counting procedures after each shift.
Randomly monitor your inventory reports and compare with sales recorded over a given period.
More importantly, owners should make surprise visits to their stores, knowing that thieves usually wait for times when they are sure they cannot be seen by anyone.
The motivations for theft are a vast kaleidoscope of variables that depend on the individual. With a good security strategy and trained staff to deter shoplifters, you should be able to keep losses to a minimum.