Welcome back to the second part of our exploration of employee theft. In the first part we looked at some of the noticeable signs that something is amiss, and in this second instalment we’ll explore the others and explain how to prevent this happening in your business.
Frequent Visits From Friends Or Family
Your employee may be popular, or their friends and family may already be regular customers, but an increase in visits from relatives and acquaintances, especially when there isn’t always a sale involved, can be a sign of shoplifting activity. The employee could slip their friend cash or merchandise, or create a distraction while they fill their pockets. This is also a common way of extracting money from the till, by giving too much change, or by not scanning the right amounts through.
An Increase In Damaged Stock
Sure, your employee may be clumsy but a marked increase in the amount of damaged stock is a sign something is afoot. Damaged stock may be sold cheap to friends and family, or to be put out of the way and forgotten about until the thief can secrete it away. This is especially noticeable if you sell multipacks of items, as some can be stolen without it being obvious to the customer.
Other Behaviour Changes
If an employee is suddenly always offering to take the rubbish out, or nipping out to their car frequently, they may be taking the chance to remove items or cash from the business each time. If employees are suddenly off on holiday, or wearing expensive clothes it’s a sign they might be stealing (if they haven’t won the lottery nor had an inheritance). If an employee suddenly seems shifty around cashing up time, or makes excuses to be elsewhere at these times, they may be trying to avoid being present when a shortfall is discovered. Be alert to these changes.
How To Prevent Employee Theft
The most obvious method is vigilance. By being alert to behavioural changes; changes in start and end times; and being aware of these other signs. That is easier said than done, however, because you can’t be everywhere all at once.
CCTV is your friend here, as it can be everywhere all at once. It is your eyes on the ground, so ensure your system covers every inch of your premises, with special attention paid to exits and entrances, areas where cash is handled, and stockrooms. Delivery doors and loading bays are also often the scene of a crime, so these should be well lit and monitored by cameras.
Access control systems are also a valuable tool in the fight against employee theft. These can be used to make stock areas, or cash holding areas, more secure with limited access for only trusted employees. They can also provide a detailed report of who enters the building and when, which you can’t get with a traditional key system. The data from an access control system will show you changes in start and end times, and will also show if employees have accessed the premises when the business is meant to be closed.
P&R Alarms are your local partner for all these security measures and more, so call us today and prevent employee theft in your business.