The businesses of today are at a greater risk of loss than ever before. While some are in danger due to the stock market or the overall condition of the economy, the majority of the danger comes for two things; employee theft and shoplifting. If you really think about it, these two things are almost one in the same. Both have people coming into your business and walking out the door with your profits in the pockets. Both are illegal and both leave you feel unsafe and maybe even a bit paranoid. In this article we will cover shoplifting since so many people are in on this crime these days.
Many business owners think that there is little they can do about shoplifting aside from hoping to catch the culprit and get their merchandise back. However, there is more to it than that; there is also loss prevention and proper tactics to stop shoplifters from robbing you blind.
First off, you should train your employees and yourself to stay alert while still being the epitome of the courteous employee. I have had run ins with the less then polite retail staff who followed me around their store waiting for me to steal something. Maybe it was because I was a teenager with dyed hair. Maybe I just looked like a thief, which of course I was not. Either way, the employee made me uncomfortable to the point that I never went back to the store and mailed the owner a letter stating why he had lost my business. So, it is important to be polite and not overbearing or accusatory (unless of course you see someone sticking something in their jacket or purse firsthand, and even then there is certain protocol to be followed). Next, keep in mind that prevention is always the best way to go. So, teach your employees what to look for in a shoplifter:
- Nervous behavior
- Avoiding eye contact
- Hanging out in the store and not buying a thing
- Watching YOU and not looking at your wares
- Spending a lot of time in areas of the store that are not highly visible to you or your staff
The best preventative measures are the simplest:
- Be alert 100% of the time
- Know the areas of the store where shoplifting is most likely to happen
- Keep things in your store clean, neat and orderly so you can tell if something is missing
- If a customer is behaving in any of the ways mentioned above, politely offer them assistance
If, no matter how hard you try to prevent shoplifting from occurring, it still does, know how to handle it:
- Never just throw out the accusation of stealing. This may make them run and if they stay, it gives them the chance of saying that they were going to pay for the item. They can even put it back and claim they have no clue what you are talking about. This is why catching the shoplifter outside the store is your strongest recourse.
- Never put yourself on the line by trying to stop the shoplifter physically.
- Never lock the store up to keep the shoplifter from fleeing. This is known as false imprisonment and is illegal behavior on your part. (Also refer to the first point.)
- Always stay back at least an arm length from the shoplifter. They may lash out in violence and you do not want to be in the crossfire.
Depending on the situation, you may wish to give the shoplifter one last chance to make things right. For instance, you can pretend that you are totally clueless about what they are doing, and simply walk up to them, ask them if they need any help, and if they are ready to pay for their item (the one they are trying so hard to hide at this point). The key is to follow your inner voice. If you in any way feel threatened or uneasy, do not confront the shoplifter. Always remember that safety comes first.
This page was contributed by Protective Technologies International.
If you have a problem with theft or crime in your company check out the link to see how you can help solve these issues .