By far the most effective feature of electronic article surveillance (EAS) is the fact it alerts your staff to a potential theft occurring.

This allows retail staff to get on with the job at hand, without being overly distracted watching the shop floor for shoplifters.

However, there are a series of hints to ensure alarms only sound when they should, and your staff understand exactly what each alarm means.

So here are four things you need to know about security tag alarms…

The importance of EAS best practice

Tag pollution

Tag pollution occurs when another retailer fails to properly deactivate a label or remove a tag. When a shopper carrying that item enters your retail environment, it may cause your EAS system to activate.

These days most EAS antenna have a lighting system that indicates whether an alarm is sounding due to an inbound tag, or an outbound tag.

Staff should be educated on what the lighting means on the EAS antenna.

They should also be given protocols to follow when it is likely a tag from another store has activated your alarm, for example, perhaps checking the shopper’s bag.

Alarm fatigue

Every time an EAS antenna sounds an alarm, it means something. But sometimes stores fail to follow EAS best practice and the alarm sounds so often that staff begin to ignore its potential meaning.

This usually comes down to one of four issues:

• Tag pollution.

• Tags in the no-go zone.

• Failure to properly detach tags or deactivate labels.

• Incorrect checks and inadequate EAS system maintenance.

So, what do each of those mean?

The no-tag zone

The area between and around the EAS antenna is considered a no-tag zone. This an area that should be kept free of tagged or labelled products and even decorations with a high foil content.

If tagged or labelled items are positioned in this area, it is likely to cause the EAS antenna to sound.

The “No Tag” zone is generally within six feet of the EAS system.

As a simple check, stretch your arms out like you are doing a star jump, and make sure there are no security tags within, or just out of your reach, all around each pedestal.

In over 90 per cent of reported cases of false alarming, alarms are caused by a tag within the vicinity of the antenna.

Failure to properly detach tags or deactivate labels

In order to stop the EAS system from sounding an alarm when an item exits the store, security tags need to be detached at the point of sale, while labels need to be deactivated.

Staff should be properly trained on exactly how to do this effectively, and should also be given adequate tools to do so.

Detachers are usually anchored to the POS, while deactivators can be incorporated into the scanning area of the checkout so that the label is deactivated at the same time as the barcode is processed during a sales transaction.

Daily checks

As a valuable piece of equipment that is designed to protect a retailer from loss, your EAS system should be checked daily and serviced when required.

Your manufacturer likely has guidelines for exactly what checks and servicing needs to occur, but as a minimum, the system should be checked prior to store opening each morning to ensure the system is powered up and working correctly.

At the same time, staff should also ensure the label deactivator is switched on.

You can learn more about EAS best practice to reduce false alarms here, or view our range of security tags here, and security labels here.

Electronic article surveillance consistently ranks as one of the most effective strategies in the fight against retail shoplifting and employee theft.

Comprising security tags, security labels and antenna, the system sees merchandise protected at a product-based level, acting as a system that alerts retailers to incidents of theft.

But like all technology and indeed all loss prevention strategies, it is only as good as the practices, procedures and training that support it.

So here are our top best practice tips for security tags and labels…

Train your staff

Type, size and strength matters

Tags and labels come in different types and sizes.

Security tags

When it comes to tags, there are different magnetic strengths and there are different types of tags suited to specific uses.

Strength

Security tags come in different strengths, including standard, super strength, hyper-strength and multi-polar. This strength impacts how easy it is for shoplifters to force the tag apart. Super strength is the minimum tag strength recommended with strengths above that offering additional security.

Types

In addition to clothing tags, there are also tags that are purpose-designed to protect items like liquor and eyewear.

Meanwhile, tags can be affixed to products in different ways as an alternative to having the tag pin pass through the product. Options include lanyards and cable tags which are suited to products like handbags or sports shoes.

Size

Tags are also available in different sizes and shapes, including circular, pencil-shaped, and square. Circular shapes where the size of the front of the tag corresponds with the back are often considered best as they are harder to prise apart.

Pinhead size

There are also different sizes available for the pinheads that secure a tag to a product. The larger the pinhead, the harder it is for a shoplifter to illegally force the pinhead through the product to remove it.

Security labels

Like tags, security labels come in either RF or AM frequencies. RF labels tend to be flat and can be printed on if required. AM labels have a slightly raised profile and are better suited to products with metal or foil in them.

Position is a priority

Where you position tags and labels on products matters in the interests of the look of your merchandise and also ease at the checkout when it comes to detaching tags and deactivating labels.

Tags

Security tags should be positioned so as not to interfere with the customer’s experience of the product. That positioning should also be uniform across similar products.

For example, tags might be positioned on the rear waistband of denim jeans, or the rear pocket. On shirts or blouses, they might be positioned on the back of the item, just below the collar.

Positioning tags uniformly looks neater in-store but also allows the sales associate to quickly find and detach them.

Labels

Labels should be positioned near the product barcode. This allows the label to be swiftly deactivated at the point of sale when the item is scanned.

Looking for more tips? You can learn more about the different types of security tags here, or view the different types of security labels and stickers here.

With retail beginning to settle back into its new normal and consumer spending on the increase, attention is turning to getting back to business and boosting the bottom line.

The key to protecting that bottom line is loss prevention, but with a new landscape come new challenges.

Here are five loss prevention challenges the retail sector will be looking to address throughout 2021.

Control versus convenience

An increased focus on omnichannel and strategies like buy online pickup in-store (BOPIS) means control of stock and products now has to be carefully weighed against consumer convenience.

That makes visibility key when it comes to inventory control.

Improved inventory visibility might include:

• Item tracking via RFID.

• A focus on loss prevention such as electronic article surveillance to reduce out-of-stock events.

• Improved data and analytics for accurate insight into stock levels.

Truth is inventory accuracy has always been a major factor in loss prevention, with human error, fraud, and theft all undermining a store’s ability to keep track of its stock.

As trends like BOPIS and omnichannel are set to stay, this accuracy and control are now more important than ever.

Customer interaction

With retail foot traffic still lower than in years gone by, bricks and mortar is looking to play to its strength of allowing customers to touch, try, feel and interact with products.

Again, this requires a fine balance of allowing customers access to products while also ensuring these items are protected against theft.

Meanwhile, enticing displays are becoming a priority as retailers seek to find more ways to lure potential customers into their outlets.

So how can you protect products, while still guarding them against shoplifting and theft?

Loss prevention methods include:

• Product-based security measures including security tags and labels.

• Lockable glass cabinets.

• Alarmed and tethered displays for products like electronics.

• Good store layout.

• Staff education and training.

Supply chain accountability

Securing the supply chain continues to be key to mitigating retail loss. This has become increasingly important in the past 12 months due to the shipment and manufacturing delays that have occurred over the past year.

The upshot is, store management now requires greater supply chain accountability to ensure the products that are on order are traced and ticked off when they arrive.

Tools like RFID, which offers 99.9 percent supply chain accuracy can assist.

Remote insight

With remote working still very much on the agenda and travel fairly limited, remote insight into a store’s operation including its sales, revenue and loss is a continuing priority for store management.

That’s where tools like mPOS, cloud-based analytics, and inventory tracking methods like RFID are coming into play, allowing retail management remote insight into the operation of one outlet or a chain of stores.

Staff safety

Between protests, riots, and health fears, staff safety remains a major priority for all retailers. Although necessary, safety focus does have an impact on loss prevention, with staff often at the frontline when it comes to identifying loss and theft.

As a result, loss prevention tools and technology will play an increasingly important role in the fight against shoplifting, theft, and miscellaneous loss.

To learn more about trends shaping the retail landscape in 2021, see here. Alternatively, you can order your security tags and labels directly here.

Electronic Article Surveillance remains one of the most effective and popular tools in the fight against retail theft.

Employing security tags, security labels, and antenna that monitor the tags, it is renowned as the most comprehensive way to protect stock at a product-based level, reducing eternal theft by between 60 and 80 per cent.

But like any loss prevention tool, EAS effectiveness is impacted by the way it’s deployed and how well staff is trained in using the system.

With that in mind, here’s a quick guide on EAS best practices to reduce theft…

The right tag or label

For retailers drawing on the power of EAS, it’s critical they select the right security tag or the correct security label for the product they’re looking to protect.

These days security tags and labels are available in both AM and RF frequencies, while tags come in different shapes, sizes, and magnetic strengths.

You can gain a full insight into selecting the right security tags for your store here and learn more about the different types of labels and their uses here.

But to put it briefly:

• Apparel is best protected using clothing tags with a minimum superlock strength.

• Accessories like handbags and sports shoes are generally protected with security tags that attach via lanyard or cable.

• High-volume, low-value items like perfumes are best protected with labels.

• Specialist tags are available for products including golf clubs, liquor, eyewear, and baby formula.

Position matters

Where the security tag or label is positioned on a product matters for a whole host of reasons.

Uniform positioning allows a store to be more visually appealing, while consistent positioning also assists with tag removal and label deactivation at the Point of Sale.

Security tags

Security tags should be positioned so as not to interfere with the customer’s experience of a product.

At the same time, tags should also be situated in place which is obvious enough to deter theft and ensure anyone attempting to pull them off will cause significant damage to a product, rendering it useless.

Security labels and stickers

The ideal position for a security label is near the barcode. This position allows for quick deactivation and maximum efficiency at the Point of Sale.

When it comes to best practices, retailers should have a store guide and policies regarding the tag and label positioning to ensure consistency throughout a retail outlet.

Easy label deactivation and tag detachment

While labels are deactivated using a deactivator that breaks a circuit within the label, security tags need to be detached using a tag detacher.

Security tag detachers and label deactivators are best positioned at the Point of Sale, allowing for easy tag removal and label deactivation.

Tag detachers can be built into the countertop or affixed to it, while deactivators can be mounted to the counter, concealed beneath it, or incorporated into barcode scanning equipment.

Retailers should ensure these detachers and deactivators are easily accessible to staff, and there are enough to service all Points of Sale.

Meanwhile, deactivators should be checked to ensure they are powered and working each day as part of a store’s opening protocols.

Minimize false alarms

If your store experiences false EAS alarms, it desensitizes staff to the real risk of an item being shoplifted.

In order to minimize false alarms:

• Your EAS antenna system should be tested daily.

• Staff should be made aware of the ‘no-tag’ zone (between the antenna and a 6ft region around it).

• Staff should be educated on tag pollution.

• Staff should be trained in tag detaching and label deactivation.

You can read more about minimizing false EAS alarms here.

Understand the clues

If you find items are being shoplifted even with an EAS system in place, there are generally clues to areas that need improvement.

For example, if you find tags removed and discarded in store, it indicates one or a couple of the following:

• Insufficient magnetic strength.

• Incorrect tag type for the product being protected.

• Inadequate tag pin size.

We have a helpful further guide to troubleshooting tag security here

The final word

EAS remains one of the most effective security tools in the fight against retail theft. But like anything, it can benefit from honing and improving over time.

If you’re looking to improve your EAS system, you can view our range of security tags here, and labels here.

The point of sale is a key weapon in the fight against shoplifting. As the place where transactions are made and staff are based, it provides the central location to not only identify retail loss but to actively combat it.

With that in mind here are six ways to stop shoplifting using the point of sale.

Location, location

The point of sale is among the most important focal points of any retail outlet, and its location alone can help combat theft.

The POS should be positioned so staff have a clear line of sight across the shop floor. In larger outlets, registers should be near the door to ensure customers coming in and out are observed in a welcoming manner.

Meanwhile, self-service registers should fall under the watchful gaze of a dedicated attendant.

Analytics and insight

A great asset of the modern-day Point of Sale is that it reveals a wealth of data relating to loss prevention.

For example, it can tell management when a store is most likely to be busy, which staff member handled what transactions, and what items are meant to be in stock, but cannot actually be located on the shop floor.

It also reveals information about returns and refunds.

Together this paints a picture of where your retail loss is occurring, providing clues as to whether that’s due to employee theft, fraudulent returns, or shoplifting of specific items.

Gift cards and returns

On that note, the Point of Sale is where transactions including refunds, exchanges and gift card redemptions most commonly occur. And each of these transactions offers the potential for retail theft involving fraud.

Service staff at the register should be well trained in what to look out for when it comes to fraudulent returns and gift cards, along with being made aware of a store’s policies relating to returns without receipts.

EAS strategy

The Point of Sale is integral to loss prevention strategies like electronic article surveillance. After all, this is the site where the security labels and security tags which protect individual products against theft are deactivated or detached.

Staff at the POS are also likely to be among those responding to any EAS alarms.

That means detachers and deactivators should be readily accessible at the Point of Sale, allowing staff to quickly remove tags or deactivate labels as they complete a sales transaction.

Meanwhile, POS staff should also be educated on how EAS works, including proper deactivation and detachment techniques to avoid false alarms and what to do in the advent of an actual alarm.

Identifying suspicious behavior

As the central location that customers attend to make a purchase or an inquiry, the Point of Sale is also among the places in a store where suspicious activity can be quickly identified.

For example, organized gangs of shoplifters will often seek to distract staff at the POS while items are stolen.

It’s also a central position to observe consumer behavior looking for the key signs of shoplifting.

High value stock

Best loss prevention practice indicates high-value stock should be positioned within view or reach of the Point of Sale.

In smaller retailers, this might mean high-value stock is positioned behind the counter, or a display model is available but actual merchandise is locked in a drawer or glass cabinet, accessed by POS staff.

The final word

The role of the Point of Sale in loss prevention is just one factor that retailers should consider when It comes to combatting shoplifting, theft, and organized retail crime.

The right positioning of the POS, the right insight from its analytics, and the right training of POS staff ensure this key feature of all stores can be used to great effect to help reduce shoplifting and theft.

For more tips on loss prevention see here, or view our range of security tags and security labels.

For as long as shops have been around, so has retail loss, but the fight against theft and error has also enjoyed some innovations and new weapons along the way.

Some of these tools make monitoring the store environment easier, others involve tracking products, and most have only been created in the last 100 years.

So, with that in mind, here are the biggest advancements in retail loss prevention…

CCTV

Closed-circuit television hasn’t just changed retail security, it’s altered the whole world. First invented during WWII in 1942, the technology has since evolved to become digital and smart, allowing footage to be stored in the Cloud.

In the process, it allows retailers a bird’s eye view of what’s going on in-store, including enabling loss prevention professionals to catch thieves in the act of shoplifting or employee theft.

The presence of CCTV has also become a crime deterrent, stopping employees or shoplifters from committing a crime in the first place.

The security tag

Attached to products and able to trigger an alarm if an item is being stolen from a store, security tags are arguably the biggest innovation in loss prevention.

The humble security tag had its beginnings in 1964, and from the ‘70s onwards swiftly became the go-to method of protecting stock at a product-based level.

By the 1980s, adhesive security labels were added to the loss prevention arsenal, but in the years since there have been a host of further developments in both tag and label technology.

Security tags are now harder to detach, more reliable, and are available in a variety of strengths along with designs for specific purposes.

Meanwhile, security labels have also evolved. They now feature a smaller footprint, greater detection and also come in different types that are suited to a wide variety of high-volume products.

RFID

Officially invented in 1983, RFID (or radio frequency identification) has come to revolutionize both supply chain accuracy and inventory counting in retail.

But this nifty technology first found its footing in a variety of other fields. RFID tags are used for tracking shipping containers, they are found in passports, and are also used for microchipping pets.

Basically, the technology involves small chips that can collect and store data – a lot of data.

In retail, RFID tags can contain information like size, color, SKU and location. They can be applied at the point of manufacture or instore, allowing retailers to trace products right through the supply chain and onto the shop floor.

In the process, they facilitate swift inventory reconciliation and boast incredible accuracy. In fact, RFID has been found to offer 99.9 percent supply chain accuracy, compared to traditional barcode accuracy that sits around 31 percent.

mPOS

Mobile Point of Sale might not be viewed as a loss prevention tool, but it’s role in improved order accuracy, stock counting, and inventory reconciliation is undeniable.

mPOS made its way onto the scene shortly after the arrival of mobile tablets in about 2010. And since then, it’s transformed the way retailers manage their business.

mPOS allows retail management instant access into the workings of their business from anywhere, allowing them to see sales, stock at hand, staff who are working at the time, and more.

This provides a level of transparency that is critical in the loss prevention fight.

Smart keys

Smart keys are a fairly recent innovation, but they allow retailers to better secure their stock, while also improving the customer experience and efficiency.

Basically, a smart key is one that can be programmed to open one or multiple locks, depending on the staff member’s level of access.

In the process they can track what cabinet or locked display has been accessed by a staff member, thereby preventing employee theft.

They save the time and hassle of finding the right key to fit a lock, while also offering an insight into critical retail analytics.

You can learn more about effective loss prevention strategies, including combatting employee theft, shoplifting, and Organized Retail Crime here.

There’s a big difference between an opportune shoplifter who steals on a whim and those with more sinister intentions who utilize meticulous planning.

But regardless of intention, theft is a crime that costs the retail sector dearly, and right at the moment retailers are in the thick of peak shoplifting season.

So, what’s the difference between random versus planned shoplifting, and how should retailers approach each.

Random shoplifting

Random shoplifting is a crime of opportunity. The opportunity to steal something presents, the shoplifter takes advantage of the situation.

Combatting this type of crime therefore involves eliminating that opportunity as much as possible.

So what exactly do we mean?

Random shoplifter profile

A random shoplifter might steal for a buzz, perhaps out of necessity, or even out of compulsion. They might also steal as an act of retribution for poor service or because they’re a generally loyal shopper who feels entitled. But they rarely enter a store with a targeted plan.

Instead, a lack of security, staff inattention, or poor store layout offers them the chance to steal goods unnoticed.

The items might vary in value, but tend to be smaller and easier to conceal, and combatting the random shoplifter involves a broad-brush approach to general loss prevention best practice.

Combatting random shoplifting

Eliminating opportunity involves:

• Good store layout with clear lines of sight from the POS to the floor and sufficient lighting
• A well-organized store, without clutter
• Attention to the fitting room
• Attentive staff who utilize meet and greet protocols, and are educated regarding shoplifter behaviour
• Clear policies and procedures regarding apprehension and prosecution of shoplifters
• Overall store security such as obvious CCTV and security personnel
• Product-based security including electronic article surveillance, security tags, and security labels
• Good inventory reconciliation

Planned shoplifting

Planned shoplifting is a slightly different beast. In this case, a retailer is specifically targeted due to the type of products it has available, with thieves taking advantage of any weakness in security.

That means it’s also a crime of opportunity, but the retail response has to be a lot more considered.

Planned shoplifter profile

The shoplifter who plans will generally be stealing for financial gain, targeting products that command a high re-sale value. That makes items like electronics particularly vulnerable, along with designer fashion products, pharmaceuticals, perfume, and high-end liquor.

Planned shoplifting is often associated with Organized Retail Crime, and can encompass groups who actively distract retail staff, snatch and grab events, and complex methods of thwarting a store’s security systems.

In fact, an astounding 97 per cent of retailers say they were impacted by Organized Retail Crime (ORC) in 2019, losing over $700k per $1 billion in sales.

This type of planned activity is often prefaced by staking out a retail outlet for security systems and casing the store for the products available.

These are some of the warning signs staff should be aware of, but actively combatting the threat involves many of the strategies above along with more targeted security measures.

Combatting planned shoplifting

Preventing planned shoplifting is a lot more targeted than combatting opportune theft. It involves knowing what’s likely to be sought after by thieves and protecting it accordingly.

Ways to combat planned shoplifting include all the methods outlined above, plus:

• Lockable displays for high-value items like electronics and perfumes
• Tethers and alarms on electronic display items
• The right security tags of at least SuperLock magnetic strength on fashion apparel
• Security tags with cables or lanyards for fashion accessories
• Bottle top tags for high-end liquor
• Additional EAS security for the fitting room such as Apparel Guard

You can view our range of security tags here, or revisit our information on shoplifting signs and behavior here.

Not knowing their numbers

You cannot manage what you do not measure, so it’s imperative retailers understand exactly where loss is occurring and when it is most likely to happen.

Loss can be attributed to a number of factors in-store, including malicious threats like shoplifting and employee theft. It can also come down to non-malicious problems like human error. Loss may also occur in the supply chain, or via e-commerce.

Only when a retailer delves into the big picture of where their store’s weaknesses lie, are they able to develop the right strategies to combat that loss.

Failing to get back to basics

Although some of the tactics involved in shoplifting, theft and fraud may have changed, the battle remains the same.

For retailer’s, it’s about getting back to basics and protecting their store, their products, and their bottom line.

Individual items should be protected at a product-based level, using tools like electronic article surveillance, security tags, and security labels.

The store should be protected via CCTV or perhaps security personnel. It should also be protected with policies and procedures that help eliminate theft and inadvertent loss.

Not involving staff in the fight

Staff are the first line of defence when it comes to minimizing loss at all levels in-store, and they should be actively involved in the fight.

Again, that comes down to systems, procedures and also staff training. Staff should be fully abreast of best practice for returns and gift cards. They should be screened during the employment process to help minimize employee theft, and then trained regarding the signs of shoplifting.

They should be aware of stock reconciliation procedures and inventory counting that help identify both in-store loss and loss in the supply chain.

Most importantly, they should be fully cognizant of how loss impacts them personally as employees, affecting the retail bottom line and therefore putting their employment at risk.

Underestimating their opponent

Contrary to popular belief, shoplifters do not fit one single profile. They come from all walks of life, all age brackets and all demographics.

The methods they use to shoplift also vary, ranging from concealment of small items to complex pre-planned thefts involving groups.

The mistake many retailers make is to believe they can easily spot a shoplifter and to assume theft will not happen to them.

On average, each retailer takes a 1.62 per cent hit to the bottom line due to retail loss, with shoplifting the primary suspect.

Not investing in loss prevention

To fight loss in store, retailers need to invest in loss prevention, and this is an ongoing investment where technology and tools need to be regularly updated.

The reality is, what worked five or 10 years ago may no longer suffice in terms of security. The internet means thieves are now more savvy, and have a wealth of information at their fingertips.

For retailers, combatting this evolving threat requires them to consistently evaluate their loss prevention measures and upgrade them where required, looking at new and improved ways to mitigate potential loss.

For more information about the latest loss prevention strategies and tools, see here. Or head directly to our catalogue or state-of-the-art security tags and security labels.