How can loss prevention agents prevent shoplifting?

To prevent the risk of escaping, the loss prevention agents should consider using holding force to guide the shoplifter or simply hang on to their belt. Chasing a shoplifter through a crowd is never a good policy, especially if you already retrieved the merchandise.

Is the loss prevention industry a necessary evil?

Shoplifters are a necessary evil. The loss prevention industry employs hundreds of thousands of people around the world who watch and protect our merchandise and manufacture equipment designed to prevent the loss of goods sold in our stores. If prostitution is the world’s oldest profession, shoplifting must be at least third or fourth on the list.

What should a loss prevention agent have in his wallet?

Plain-clothes loss prevention agents should have an authentic-looking ID card or badge in a wallet to present during the confrontation so as not to be confused with a mugger.

How to deal with a suspected shoplifter in a store?

If the suspected shoplifter has unpaid merchandise at the time of the detention, ask them to, “please return to the store so we can clear up this matter.” If you act professionally and with back-up, ninety-eight percent of the time the shoplifter will comply and go anywhere you direct, without fanfare.

How can one company stop theft by killing the thrill of stealing from them?

How one company stopped theft by killing the thrill of stealing from them. There is big body of research on theft by employees, as it costs employers billions of dollars, is something that is possible to measure with some accuracy, and — as a diverse body of qualitative and quantitative research shows — often happens for complex reasons.

What’s the best way to stop employees from stealing?

In some cases, studies have shown that both supervisors and employees will reach quite explicit agreements that stealing is a useful way to make-up for low wages. In other cases, supervisors will makes subtle deals with employees that, if they work overtime or do something else extra, they can steal something (or steal more).

Shoplifters are a necessary evil. The loss prevention industry employs hundreds of thousands of people around the world who watch and protect our merchandise and manufacture equipment designed to prevent the loss of goods sold in our stores. If prostitution is the world’s oldest profession, shoplifting must be at least third or fourth on the list.

How did Gary Latham help stop employee theft?

It was done by renowned researcher Gary Latham in a large sawmill (about 1000 hourly workers and 200 managers). He was called in to help management because employees were stealing about 1 million dollars in equipment years from the mill. There was a very strong union and imposing discipline was proving to be impossible.