NCJ Number
57453
Journal
Security World Volume: 16 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1979) Pages: 26-29
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
RETAIL SECURITY PERSONS MUST HAVE A THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF RETAILING PROCEDURES AND OF COMMON SHOPLIFTING AND EMPLOYEE THEFT TECHNIQUES TO SET UP LOSS-PREVENTION SYSTEMS AND INVESTIGATE THEFTS OF MERCHANDISE AND MONEY.
Abstract
RETAIL SECURITY OFFICERS MAY BE EITHER UNIFORMED OR PLAIN CLOTHES. UNIFORMED OFFICERS ARE INTENDED TO BE HIGH PROFILE AUTHORITY FIGURES AND MAY KEEP ORDER, GUARD ENTRANCES, AND BE STATIONED IN SUCH RESTRICTED AREAS AS WAREHOUSES. SECURITY OFFICERS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SETTING UP PILFERAGE CONTROL PROCEDURES AND CHECKING TO SEE THAT LOSS-PREVENTION STRATEGIES ARE BEING FOLLOWED. THE SHOPLIFTING AGENT IS A PLAIN CLOTHES DETECTIVE WHO MUST BE ABLE TO OBSERVE WITHOUT BEING OBSERVED AND WHO MUST BE ABLE TO APPROACH A SUSPECT WITH FIRM TACT. MANY OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE SHOPLIFTING AGENTS ARE WOMEN BECAUSE ALERTNESS AND RESOURCEFULNESS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PHYSICAL STRENGTH. THE RETAIL AGENT AND INVESTIGATOR IS A SPECIALIST WHO IS USUALLY CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE THEFTS OF MONEY OR MERCHANDISE: MONEY MISSING FROM THE STORE SAFE, MONEY MISSING FROM CASH REGISTERS, MERCHANDISE STASHED IN TRASH BINS BY DISHONEST EMPLOYEES WHO PLAN TO RETRIEVE IT LATER. THE UNDERCOVER OPERATOR AND THE SHOPPING INVESTIGATOR ARE PLAIN CLOTHES DETECTIVES WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATE EMPLOYEE THEFT. PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW COMMON SHOPLIFTING TECHNIQUES. TABLES LIST THE SKILLS THE SHOPLIFTING AGENT AND THE RETAIL SECURITY INVESTIGATOR MUST POSSESS.