Security Strategies for Burlington’s Retailers: Preventing Employee Theft

One of the greatest threats to the bottom line of any retail business is theft. While external theft is the most obvious threat, one should not overlook the threat posed by employee theft. In today’s blog we will be looking at some security strategies that Burlington Retailers can use to help prevent employee theft. 

Surveillance 

Install high quality surveillance cameras at entrances, registers and important storage areas. The likelihood of theft is reduced when employees are aware of being constantly watched. Clear, high-definition camera footage is important and provides a definitive record for both legal purposes and internal review. Employers can foster an atmosphere of trust rather than paranoia by being transparent with their employees about where the cameras are and what they are recording.

Point of Sale Monitoring

Setting up Point of Sale Software to track sales and keep track of anomalies like voided transactions and excessive discounts can help prevent employee theft at the point of sale. It is also important to regularly review transactions and look for trends, patterns or specific transactions that may need to be more thoroughly investigated. Integrating these approaches with other systems like surveillance and inventory management can help create a comprehensive solution to prevent employee theft. As with surveillance systems, it is important that employees know that these transactions are being closely monitored to reinforce ethical conduct by your employees.

Access Control

Employers should be sure to set up access control systems with a proper access hierarchy that limits certain permission to specific job roles. This will ensure that only the right employees have access to sensitive areas and will reduce opportunities for employee theft. As well by monitoring and logging access there is a proper data trail detailing the comings and goings of your employees. This can also be integrated with surveillance systems to create an accurate picture of who has been accessing sensitive areas and who has had the opportunity for theft within those areas.

Inventory Control

One of the most crucial methods of preventing employee theft is accurate inventory control and regular audits. These tools will allow employers to recognize trends in missing and miscounted inventory that may be early indicators of employee theft.  Inventory Management Software can provide detailed reports on how your inventory is moving and assist in analysis. It is also important to develop flexible audit schedules to avoid predictability and remove the ability of thieves to manipulate records to their advantage.

We hope we have been able to demonstrate to Burlington retailers some of the strategies that they can use to help prevent employee theft. If you are interested in integrating new security solutions into your Burlington business please feel free to contact us at Roger’s Security Systems Inc.

Roger's Security® Systems is an authorized Honeywell dealer and has been providing both residential and commercial security services and video surveillance equipment for over 20 years to homes and businesses in Ontario.

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about your security needs, please call us on our toll-free number, (800) 823-8635 or email us at info@rogers-security.com.