Be on the Lookout for Employee Theft

Every year around the holidays, people steal billions of dollars in merchandise and goods from businesses. During the four weeks before Christmas last year, retailers lost an estimated $1.8 billion worth of goods.

Many of the thieves are actually employees. The holiday season is primetime for employee theft. It’s especially common among seasonal staff. To protect your business, here are some signs employees might be stealing from you:

• Cash shortages on certain employee shifts.
• Lots of “No Sale” transactions on a particular register.
• Low sales during peak times of the day.
• Business supplies are missing.
• Employees complaining personal items have been stolen or gone missing.
• Private conversations among employees that end when supervisors approach them.
• Strange signaling whenever supervisors approach employees.
• Employees hanging out at business after work hours.
• Bringing lots of unnecessary bags and backpacks to the job.
• Use of unauthorized exits and hanging out in restricted business areas.
• Employees refuse to leave a cash register.
• Employees spending more money than they make.
• Employees take shortcuts and have poor work ethic.
• Employees giving large cash refunds to customer.
• Employees absent and tardy to the job.
• Suspicious vehicles parked near rear doors, loading docks and dumpsters.
• Family and friends regularly showing up at businesses.

To help reduce holiday employee theft, follow these important tips. It’s important to hire good people. Obviously, this is easier said than done. However, if you take your time during the hiring process and run background checks, you’ll improve your chances of getting good people.

Also, a good business security system with security camera surveillance can help to deter and catch holiday employee theft. At Hue & Cry, Inc., we have been helping protect businesses in Northern California and Southern Oregon for more than 30 years. Find out more at www.HueAndCry.com.