Section 2: What is LP Associate responsible for?
What is an alert signal?
A behavior, tool or technique that may lead to potential shoplifting activity
Organized retail crime (ORC)
A group of people who hit several stores as a group (i.e a gang of people who steal together)
Internal theft
Alert signals, conduct survelliance/investigations of associate dishonesty, document observations/evidence, & maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
Physical security
Conduct inspections of alarm systems, ensure safe cash transactions, conduct safety and physical security inspections
External theft
Conduct observations for alert signals, apprehend shoplifters, prevent/deter theft, document theft cases/recoveries/incidents in case management system, secure/maintain evidence, & testify in court
What conditions make shoplifters steal?
Economic need Addiction Mental illness Peer pressure Personal need
Three major causes of shrink?
External, internal, and operational
How can external theft be prevented?
Good customer service and clean and organized departments
How to support NTF?
Identification shots (face, visible tattoos), input grab and runs or related cases, NTF alert bulletin (related cases in the area for people to lookout for), internal blitzes (2+ people looking for activity), and communication (email/phone relevant info to ALL ORC operations)
Partnership
Identifying all forms of loss and motivating associates to be involved in preventing shrink
Which is worse: internal or external theft?
Internal, because the associates know the practices and comes in contact with the merchandise first
How does information security affect LP?
It can lead to card fraud, identity theft, computers and systems can be hacked
Main focus in Loss Prevention?
Preventing and controlling shrink
What are some devices or tools shoplifters use?
Scissors Knives Scissors Bags Strollers Foil-lined shopping bags
What are some audible alert signals?
Screamers Ripping Cutting packages Bags opening
Shrink
The difference between book inventory and physical inventory
What is shoplifting?
The intent of stealing goods from a store in whole or in part while pretending to be a customer
Other forms of theft that don't impact shrink?
Theft of cash, theft of time, associate/customer injuries, improper shoplifter detainments
Operational
They can create inventory shrink by: register transactions, ticketing of merchandise, poor physical inventory, merchandise transfers, and markdowns/out of stocks
What is a grab and run?
They occur when someone selects multiple pieces of merchandise and quickly runs out of the store
What are the expanded shoplift guidelines?
Ticket/container switching Dressing/Restroom apprehension Refund Fraud Shared elements
What is the national task force (NTF)?
To combat organized retail crime (ORC)
What is the largest thing ORC steal?
Trucks
What are some behavioral alert signals?
Unzipped handbags Removes protection tags Takes merchandise to secluded areas Numerous trips to the same area Enters/exits repeatedly
What are some examples of behaviors that shoplifters exhibit?
You must be able to identify the shoplifters: behaviors, devices, methods, techniques, sounds and tool