Who is not a thief ?

Check this out! Never believe any one blindly !

The local media, especially the local dailies, have been replete with reports of snatch thefts. The barrage of media reports has caused more than a sense of anxiety, it has caused fear and panic among residents. Recently, there has been a spate of snatch thefts in our area. Snatch thefts tend to escalate during festive seasons and holidays. Hotspots of snatch thefts are quiet and deserted areas such as residential areas, by the roadside, in lifts and around the bank.

Snatch thieves choose their targets carefully. They often strike when people are off guard. They home in on people who are alone and those who are distracted. Women and senior citizens are especially susceptible as they may be unable to defend themselves. Often the victims are seriously injured or even killed. To avoid becoming potential victims, we should take simple crime prevention measures.
Do not walk alone especially in dark and deserted areas. Take your handbag only if necessary. It is better to carry your purse. Always hold handbags and personal belongings close to the body. If a snatch thief tugs at your handbag, do not hold on to it. Just let it go. Although you may never be able to retrieve your belongings, it is better than to hang on to it and suffer injuries inflicted by the perpetrators. Keep important or valuable items out of sight and be careful of suspicious-looking motorists or persons. Always be alert and attentive to your surroundings. If you suspect that you are being targeted, walk to a crowded area. Walk against the flow of traffic and hold on to your handbag on the side away from passing motorists.
Be careful of suspicious-looking motorists or persons. Snatch thieves often approach potential victims on the pretext of striking up a conversation or asking for directions. If someone approaches you, always keep a safe but polite distance. avoid wearing excessive jewellery or carrying large amounts of cash. Do not flaunt cash and valuables in public. Instead, you should always be observant of your surroundings.
Snatch thefts are crimes of opportunity. they occur because people do not take the preventive measures mentioned. Snatch thefts can be prevented if people are vigilant at all times.



IF you want want your products to fly off the shelves and out the door--but only after they've been paid for. Theft--both by customers and employees--costs American retailers more than $33 billion per year. Entire retail chains have gone out of business due to their inability to control losses from theft.
The biggest threat facing storeowners is employee theft, which accounts for nearly half of inventory shrinkage--more than shoplifters, more than administrative error and more than vendor fraud. Minimize the possibility of employee theft by hiring only people you know well or by checking references carefully. Unfortunately, neither of these steps will eliminate the possibility that an employee may steal. Standard controls should be implemented to detect losses from your cash drawer and inventory. These include:

• Maintain rotating employee assignments. Team different employees together or with you.
• Initiate procedures for balancing the cash register or drawer after each employee's shift.
• Take physical inventory at least annually, more often if practical.
• Check daily receipts against a list of items sold.
• Randomly monitor the inventory of particular items and compare with recorded sales over a period of time.
• If you suspect an employee of stealing, randomly audit sales by contacting customers to verify sale details. You can do this as a routine survey of customer service.
• 

Don't be so obsessed with catching a potential thief that you treat your employees with suspicion and disrespect. They deserve to be trusted and treated with respect and confidence unless evidence indicates otherwise. The simple controls outlined above will not catch all pilferage, but they will usually disclose discrepancies if you use them consistently.
Shoplifters are another story. They account for more than $10 billion of loss a year. You'll have less opportunity to catch them as you won't necessarily recognize their faces or be on the lookout when one comes into the store. Still, there are a few steps you can take to reduce the temptation for would-be shoplifters.

• Put items that are easy to shoplift close to the checkout counter.
• Maintain a good line of sight to sections of your store where desirable items are displayed.
• Use packaging that is hard to conceal.
• Make your presence known throughout the store. Don't hound your customers, but try to wander through the store periodically, greeting customers in a friendly manner.
• If your losses warrant them, install mirrors and/or closed-circuit TV cameras to monitor all portions of your store.
• Consider using electronic tags with a sensing device at the door, if you are unable to control theft any other way.
• Pay particular attention to people whom you do not know, people carrying large bags, and mothers with strollers or baby carriages.
• Post signs stating your policy of prosecuting shoplifters.
•                             
•                                                                                                       Regards 
•                                                                                                             Veerla Mohan krishna
• Beware be alert be cautious!

Tips to prevent shoplifting

Loss experts agree that a crucial way to prevent shoplifting is to have well-trained and alert employees who how to spot a potential shoplifter. Employees need to watch for customers who:

• Avoid eye contact
• Appear nervous
• Wander the store without buying
• Leave the store and returns repeatedly
• Linger in a location that employees have a hard time monitoring
• Constantly keep an eye on store employees and other customers.

In addition to training your employees to spot shoplifters, general shoplifting-prevention techniques include:

• Staying alert at all times.
• Greeting all customers.
• Asking lingering customers if they need help.
• Knowing where shoplifting is most likely to occur in the location.
• Using a log to share suspicions about shoplifters among employees.
• Displaying signs that “Shoplifters will be prosecuted.”

When shoplifting is suspected, it’s crucial for your employees to know how to handle incidents. The Los Angeles Police Department recommends that retail employees:

• Never directly accuse anyone of stealing (call security instead).
• Give the person a chance to pay for the item they “forgot” to pay for by asking, “Are you ready to pay for that?” or “Can I ring you up?”
• Never try to physically stop a shoplifter. Call security.
• Cooperate fully with center security and the prosecutor if/when the time comes.

Strategies to reduce employee theft

Some specialty retailers say employee theft is a bigger threat to their bottom line than shoplifting. Experts agree that the best defense is a watchful eye. Try these strategies:
Stop by your store without warning. Make periodic (yet randomly timed) unannounced visits to each and every retail location.
Spot-check inventory/drawer. During unannounced visits, announce: “I’m just double-checking inventory numbers and doing a register check.” Pick a few products and check physical inventory against inventory sheets/POS inventory figures. If possible, run a cash drawer reconciliation. Announce: “I’ll be back again soon to run through this again.” This lets employees know management is keeping its eye on the ball.
Have an inventory-tracking system. Use a POS system that tracks inventory automatically or, at a minimum, use paper-based inventory-tracking sheets to send a signal to employees that inventory is indeed being monitored.
Check the z-tape. Check those z-tape numbers. If yesterday’s z-tape was number 24 and today’s is 27, what happened to 25 and 26?
Train employees. Provide all employees with training on theft-prevention, both shoplifting and employee theft. Discuss the ways the company is prepared to detect either.
Encourage anonymous tips. Publish a phone number employees can call to leave an anonymous message if they suspect a co-worker of stealing product or cash. If employees are aware their co-workers are watching and could report them, they will be less inclined to get sticky fingers.
Watch for employees with calculators and receipt books. Many retailers say that a sure sign of a problem is an employee who has a calculator next to the cash drawer, or a separate receipt book tucked into a drawer or pocket.
- See more at: http://specialtyretail.com/issue/2008/10/running-a-cart-or-kiosk/dealing-with-retail-theft/strategies_to_prevent_shoplifting_and_retail_theft/#sthash.8DD9WYMe.dpuf

Tips to prevent shoplifting

Loss experts agree that a crucial way to prevent shoplifting is to have well-trained and alert employees who how to spot a potential shoplifter. Employees need to watch for customers who:

• Avoid eye contact
• Appear nervous
• Wander the store without buying
• Leave the store and returns repeatedly
• Linger in a location that employees have a hard time monitoring
• Constantly keep an eye on store employees and other customers.

In addition to training your employees to spot shoplifters, general shoplifting-prevention techniques include:

• Staying alert at all times.
• Greeting all customers.
• Asking lingering customers if they need help.
• Knowing where shoplifting is most likely to occur in the location.
• Using a log to share suspicions about shoplifters among employees.
• Displaying signs that “Shoplifters will be prosecuted.”

When shoplifting is suspected, it’s crucial for your employees to know how to handle incidents. The Los Angeles Police Department recommends that retail employees:

• Never directly accuse anyone of stealing (call security instead).
• Give the person a chance to pay for the item they “forgot” to pay for by asking, “Are you ready to pay for that?” or “Can I ring you up?”
• Never try to physically stop a shoplifter. Call security.
• Cooperate fully with center security and the prosecutor if/when the time comes.

Strategies to reduce employee theft

Some specialty retailers say employee theft is a bigger threat to their bottom line than shoplifting. Experts agree that the best defense is a watchful eye. Try these strategies:
Stop by your store without warning. Make periodic (yet randomly timed) unannounced visits to each and every retail location.
Spot-check inventory/drawer. During unannounced visits, announce: “I’m just double-checking inventory numbers and doing a register check.” Pick a few products and check physical inventory against inventory sheets/POS inventory figures. If possible, run a cash drawer reconciliation. Announce: “I’ll be back again soon to run through this again.” This lets employees know management is keeping its eye on the ball.
Have an inventory-tracking system. Use a POS system that tracks inventory automatically or, at a minimum, use paper-based inventory-tracking sheets to send a signal to employees that inventory is indeed being monitored.
Check the z-tape. Check those z-tape numbers. If yesterday’s z-tape was number 24 and today’s is 27, what happened to 25 and 26?
Train employees. Provide all employees with training on theft-prevention, both shoplifting and employee theft. Discuss the ways the company is prepared to detect either.
Encourage anonymous tips. Publish a phone number employees can call to leave an anonymous message if they suspect a co-worker of stealing product or cash. If employees are aware their co-workers are watching and could report them, they will be less inclined to get sticky fingers.
Watch for employees with calculators and receipt books. Many retailers say that a sure sign of a problem is an employee who has a calculator next to the cash drawer, or a separate receipt book tucked into a drawer or pocket.
Check deposits. Don’t just check if the deposit numbers match the sales figures. Also check that deposits are being made routinely and when expected (particularly easy to do through online banking). If deposits are typically made every day and then suddenly they are being made every-other day, find out why.
Check cash-to-credit purchase ratios. If the typical purchase ratio is 30 percent cash to 70 percent credit, and then suddenly the ratio is 10 to 90, it’s time to ask a few questions.
Watch the “no-sales.” Many retail owners know that the leading indicator of theft is a single piece of data on your x-tape: the “no sale” number. If a typical day’s no-sale tally is four, but every time a particular employee works the tally is 10, there may be a problem.
Of course, there’s no way to completely protect yourself against shoplifting and employee theft, but if you make customers and employees aware that you’re keeping a close eye on your business, experts say that’s the first and most-critical step in shrinking your shrink this holiday season.
- See more at: http://specialtyretail.com/issue/2008/10/running-a-cart-or-kiosk/dealing-with-retail-theft/strategies_to_prevent_shoplifting_and_retail_theft/#sthash.8DD9WYMe.dpuf

Tips to prevent shoplifting

Loss experts agree that a crucial way to prevent shoplifting is to have well-trained and alert employees who how to spot a potential shoplifter. Employees need to watch for customers who:

• Avoid eye contact
• Appear nervous
• Wander the store without buying
• Leave the store and returns repeatedly
• Linger in a location that employees have a hard time monitoring
• Constantly keep an eye on store employees and other customers.

In addition to training your employees to spot shoplifters, general shoplifting-prevention techniques include:

• Staying alert at all times.
• Greeting all customers.
• Asking lingering customers if they need help.
• Knowing where shoplifting is most likely to occur in the location.
• Using a log to share suspicions about shoplifters among employees.
• Displaying signs that “Shoplifters will be prosecuted.”

When shoplifting is suspected, it’s crucial for your employees to know how to handle incidents. The Los Angeles Police Department recommends that retail employees:

• Never directly accuse anyone of stealing (call security instead).
• Give the person a chance to pay for the item they “forgot” to pay for by asking, “Are you ready to pay for that?” or “Can I ring you up?”
• Never try to physically stop a shoplifter. Call security.
• Cooperate fully with center security and the prosecutor if/when the time comes.

Strategies to reduce employee theft

Some specialty retailers say employee theft is a bigger threat to their bottom line than shoplifting. Experts agree that the best defense is a watchful eye. Try these strategies:
Stop by your store without warning. Make periodic (yet randomly timed) unannounced visits to each and every retail location.
Spot-check inventory/drawer. During unannounced visits, announce: “I’m just double-checking inventory numbers and doing a register check.” Pick a few products and check physical inventory against inventory sheets/POS inventory figures. If possible, run a cash drawer reconciliation. Announce: “I’ll be back again soon to run through this again.” This lets employees know management is keeping its eye on the ball.
Have an inventory-tracking system. Use a POS system that tracks inventory automatically or, at a minimum, use paper-based inventory-tracking sheets to send a signal to employees that inventory is indeed being monitored.
Check the z-tape. Check those z-tape numbers. If yesterday’s z-tape was number 24 and today’s is 27, what happened to 25 and 26?
Train employees. Provide all employees with training on theft-prevention, both shoplifting and employee theft. Discuss the ways the company is prepared to detect either.
Encourage anonymous tips. Publish a phone number employees can call to leave an anonymous message if they suspect a co-worker of stealing product or cash. If employees are aware their co-workers are watching and could report them, they will be less inclined to get sticky fingers.
Watch for employees with calculators and receipt books. Many retailers say that a sure sign of a problem is an employee who has a calculator next to the cash drawer, or a separate receipt book tucked into a drawer or pocket.
Check deposits. Don’t just check if the deposit numbers match the sales figures. Also check that deposits are being made routinely and when expected (particularly easy to do through online banking). If deposits are typically made every day and then suddenly they are being made every-other day, find out why.
Check cash-to-credit purchase ratios. If the typical purchase ratio is 30 percent cash to 70 percent credit, and then suddenly the ratio is 10 to 90, it’s time to ask a few questions.
Watch the “no-sales.” Many retail owners know that the leading indicator of theft is a single piece of data on your x-tape: the “no sale” number. If a typical day’s no-sale tally is four, but every time a particular employee works the tally is 10, there may be a problem.
Of course, there’s no way to completely protect yourself against shoplifting and employee theft, but if you make customers and employees aware that you’re keeping a close eye on your business, experts say that’s the first and most-critical step in shrinking your shrink this holiday season.
- See more at: http://specialtyretail.com/issue/2008/10/running-a-cart-or-kiosk/dealing-with-retail-theft/strategies_to_prevent_shoplifting_and_retail_theft/#sthash.8DD9WYMe.dpuf

Tips to prevent shoplifting

Loss experts agree that a crucial way to prevent shoplifting is to have well-trained and alert employees who how to spot a potential shoplifter. Employees need to watch for customers who:

• Avoid eye contact
• Appear nervous
• Wander the store without buying
• Leave the store and returns repeatedly
• Linger in a location that employees have a hard time monitoring
• Constantly keep an eye on store employees and other customers.

In addition to training your employees to spot shoplifters, general shoplifting-prevention techniques include:

• Staying alert at all times.
• Greeting all customers.
• Asking lingering customers if they need help.
• Knowing where shoplifting is most likely to occur in the location.
• Using a log to share suspicions about shoplifters among employees.
• Displaying signs that “Shoplifters will be prosecuted.”

When shoplifting is suspected, it’s crucial for your employees to know how to handle incidents. The Los Angeles Police Department recommends that retail employees:

• Never directly accuse anyone of stealing (call security instead).
• Give the person a chance to pay for the item they “forgot” to pay for by asking, “Are you ready to pay for that?” or “Can I ring you up?”
• Never try to physically stop a shoplifter. Call security.
• Cooperate fully with center security and the prosecutor if/when the time comes.

Strategies to reduce employee theft

Some specialty retailers say employee theft is a bigger threat to their bottom line than shoplifting. Experts agree that the best defense is a watchful eye. Try these strategies:
Stop by your store without warning. Make periodic (yet randomly timed) unannounced visits to each and every retail location.
Spot-check inventory/drawer. During unannounced visits, announce: “I’m just double-checking inventory numbers and doing a register check.” Pick a few products and check physical inventory against inventory sheets/POS inventory figures. If possible, run a cash drawer reconciliation. Announce: “I’ll be back again soon to run through this again.” This lets employees know management is keeping its eye on the ball.
Have an inventory-tracking system. Use a POS system that tracks inventory automatically or, at a minimum, use paper-based inventory-tracking sheets to send a signal to employees that inventory is indeed being monitored.
Check the z-tape. Check those z-tape numbers. If yesterday’s z-tape was number 24 and today’s is 27, what happened to 25 and 26?
Train employees. Provide all employees with training on theft-prevention, both shoplifting and employee theft. Discuss the ways the company is prepared to detect either.
Encourage anonymous tips. Publish a phone number employees can call to leave an anonymous message if they suspect a co-worker of stealing product or cash. If employees are aware their co-workers are watching and could report them, they will be less inclined to get sticky fingers.
Watch for employees with calculators and receipt books. Many retailers say that a sure sign of a problem is an employee who has a calculator next to the cash drawer, or a separate receipt book tucked into a drawer or pocket.
Check deposits. Don’t just check if the deposit numbers match the sales figures. Also check that deposits are being made routinely and when expected (particularly easy to do through online banking). If deposits are typically made every day and then suddenly they are being made every-other day, find out why.
Check cash-to-credit purchase ratios. If the typical purchase ratio is 30 percent cash to 70 percent credit, and then suddenly the ratio is 10 to 90, it’s time to ask a few questions.
Watch the “no-sales.” Many retail owners know that the leading indicator of theft is a single piece of data on your x-tape: the “no sale” number. If a typical day’s no-sale tally is four, but every time a particular employee works the tally is 10, there may be a problem.
Of course, there’s no way to completely protect yourself against shoplifting and employee theft, but if you make customers and employees aware that you’re keeping a close eye on your business, experts say that’s the first and most-critical step in shrinking your shrink this holiday season.
- See more at: http://specialtyretail.com/issue/2008/10/running-a-cart-or-kiosk/dealing-with-retail-theft/strategies_to_prevent_shoplifting_and_retail_theft/#sthash.8DD9WYMe.dpuf