| Shoplifting is one of the most common crimes in | | | | alarm sounds they pretend the alarm was due to |
| the world. Statistics from the National Association | | | | the other shopper then slyly slip out of the store |
| for Shoplifting Prevention states that | | | | while the others check for sensors perhaps |
| approximately 1 in 11 Americans are shoplifters. | | | | accidently left on items in their own bags. |
| Some shoplifters have discovered that with the | | | | Additionally, one other downfall can be that some |
| use of a shopping cart, they can look less | | | | stores choose not to equip every item in a store |
| conspicuous and retrieve more items at once, | | | | with a sensor since it can get costly, thus |
| rolling large volumes of unpaid goods out the door. | | | | choosing to only do some. Items left that are not |
| This type of shoplifting is called pushout theft. This | | | | equipped with sensors are still easily stolen. |
| term is used in the retail industry describing an | | | | Security cameras are another method stores use |
| event in which a person fills a shopping cart with | | | | to prevent theft. Security cameras allow store |
| merchandise and exits the store without paying. | | | | personnel to watch the store floor at all times and |
| Thieves have discovered they can steal high | | | | always have a record of any event. When |
| volumes of expensive merchandise in a pushout | | | | shoplifters are aware the store uses security |
| theft event. The availability to easily resell items | | | | cameras, they are less inclined to steal. Security |
| on the Internet makes this type of crime all too | | | | cameras do not however, always stop shoplifters |
| desirable. Due to the recent economic downturn | | | | from stealing, but at most minimize loss. The |
| as well as the organized retail crime on the rise, | | | | cameras record the event taking place, but they |
| pushout theft is continuing to grow, severely | | | | require extra store personnel to not only be |
| reducing store's revenue. | | | | watching and noticing at the time of the event |
| There are a number of methods stores can use | | | | but personnel must then track down the shoplifter |
| to prevent loss. Loss prevention measures to | | | | to get back the stolen merchandise. While the |
| prevent pushout theft ranges from item sensors, | | | | locking shopping cart wheel solutions stops unpaid |
| security cameras, security guards, and vertical | | | | merchandise from leaving the store, security |
| pole shopping cart attachments. However, the | | | | cameras cannot. They are best used to help |
| most effective solution to prevent pushout theft | | | | backup the evidence of events. |
| is with the use of a shopping cart locking wheel | | | | A security guard is a person hired to protect |
| solution. | | | | property, assets, and people. Shoppers are less |
| Shopping cart locking wheel solutions work by | | | | inclined to steal if they know they are being |
| replacing one wheel on each cart with a locking | | | | watched by an authority. Security guards are |
| wheel. Any exitways out of the store have an | | | | extremely beneficial when is comes to preventing |
| invisible perimeter in place. Carts equipped with a | | | | pushout theft as they are standing by the exit |
| locking wheel become disabled at the exit when a | | | | making sure no one is walking out with unpaid |
| shoplifter attempts to quickly leave the store. | | | | merchandise. However, in order for security |
| Shoppers that have paid for their merchandise | | | | guards to be effective, one must be placed at |
| may exit having never known the system was in | | | | each exitway of the store preventing shoplifters |
| place. An in-store visible and audible alarm enables | | | | from leaving. Breaks must be coordinated as to |
| store personnel to respond immediately when a | | | | not leave any exitways unattended and the hiring |
| theft event occurs and recover the merchandise | | | | of extra personnel can become costly. |
| that could not be pushed out of the store. This | | | | Another method to prevent shopping carts from |
| type of system can also be tied in with video | | | | leaving the store therefore reducing pushout theft |
| monitoring systems to record the event as well. | | | | is the attachment of a vertical pole to the |
| The cost to invest in a cart wheel lock pushout | | | | shopping cart. The vertical pole physically stops |
| theft prevention system is quickly recouped from | | | | the cart from leaving the store by being taller |
| the amount of merchandise that is recovered. | | | | then the doorway. Although pole attachments do |
| The Return on Investment for this type of | | | | prevent carts from leaving the store with unpaid |
| system is estimated to be under one year. | | | | merchandise they also prevent shoppers from |
| There are also a number of unique products | | | | being able to leave the store with the cart at all, |
| designed to prevent the use of merchandise if it | | | | even to carry large items that they have just |
| is stolen. These unique products consist of | | | | purchased to their vehicles. This often frustrates |
| sensors or pieces of plastic attached to the | | | | shoppers and leaves them with a bad impression |
| merchandise. Although item sensors and plastic | | | | of the store. |
| attachments can be extremely effective, they do | | | | There are many loss prevention methods |
| not always prevent the merchandise from leaving | | | | available to prevent shoplifting and pushout theft |
| the store, as many thieves have found ways to | | | | events. Stores must carefully consider each |
| remove the sensors. Even when sensors are left | | | | option to choose the most effective solution. With |
| on some gutsy thieves have been known to run | | | | shoplifting on the rise, stores must act quickly to |
| when the alarm sounds or in other scenarios they | | | | protect their merchandise and reduce loss. |
| walk out next to someone else and when the | | | | |