Why some retail staff steal and how to detect it
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In retail, when the boss steals, staff learn to steal
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Years ago we helped a retailer investigate an employee theft problem. Using encrypted transaction data from their POS software, we isolated the days and times where discrepancies were appearing, matched them against the roster, and identified the most likely person. When confronted, the employee admitted to taking around $20 a day.
The reason they gave was not what the owner expected.
The boss took cash from the till for lunch. So they did the same.
The idea of stealing hadn’t occurred to them independently. They watched the owner take money from the register without ringing it through and drew a straightforward conclusion: this is normal here.
The owner hadn’t thought of it as theft. A few dollars for lunch — their business, their money. But watched by a staff member, it looked exactly like what it was: taking cash without processing it.
That’s one of the harder things to sit with in small business retail. The standards your team follows aren’t the ones written down anywhere. They’re the ones you demonstrate every day, on the floor, in front of people who are paying more attention than you think.
Handle cash loosely and some staff will handle it loosely. Take shortcuts on process and some staff will take the same shortcuts. Not everyone, and not immediately — but you’ve shown them it’s acceptable, and that’s enough.
The practical response isn’t complicated. Run every transaction through the system, your own lunch included. Pay yourself properly rather than dipping into the till. Use your POS the way you expect your staff to use it. And when something looks off in your data, investigate it — not assuming the worst, but not ignoring it either.
The encrypted transaction data in this case did its job. It gave the conversation a factual basis rather than an accusation, which matters both for resolving the situation and for treating the employee fairly.
But the real problem wasn’t the employee. It was what the owner had been quietly teaching them for months without knowing it.
In our POS software we have tools available for early detection of employee theft, tools many retailers have used to catch theft earlier than they otherwise might.
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The right POS system or website for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the business. Tower offers POS software and websites made specifically for local small business retailers in a selection of retail channels. To see if we might help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.
Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.
Retail Theft Is Often Costing Local Retailers More Than They Think
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Most small business retailers underestimate how much theft is costing them. Not because they are naive, but because the losses rarely announce themselves. Stock shrinkage accumulates quietly. Cash discrepancies get explained away. Time theft goes untracked entirely. By the time the problem becomes visible, it has usually been running for months.
Another factor is a readiness to look away rather than confronting an uncomfortable truth.
Retail theft is a consistent financial drain on independent small businesses in Australia. The businesses most at risk are often those that feel too small or too close-knit for it to happen to them.
It Is Not Always a Stranger
Customer theft gets the most attention. Security cameras, product locks, and store layouts are all designed with the external threat in mind. But employee theft is statistically just as significant, and far harder to detect without the right tools. It does not always look like cash taken from the register. It can be stock walked out the back door, discounts applied to personal purchases, refunds processed against non-existent returns, or hours logged that were never worked.
None of these show up on a security camera. They show up in your data — if you know where to look.
Here at Tower Systems we shine a light on retail theft to help local retailers lose less in theft.
Our retail experience helps us serve retailers in this space.
Your POS System Already Has the Answers
A well-configured point of sale system captures every transaction, every discount, every void, every refund, and every login. That data tells a story. Unusual patterns in any of those categories — a staff member who voids more sales than their colleagues, a till that reconciles short on the same shift rotation, a product category with unexplained shrinkage — are signals worth investigating.
Most retailers use their POS software to process sales. Fewer use it to protect the business. The intelligence is already there. It simply needs to be reviewed regularly, not just at the end of a financial year when the damage is done.
Policy Matters As Much As Technology
Data alone is not enough. A clear, written theft policy sets expectations before a problem occurs. Every team member should understand what constitutes theft, what the consequences are, and that the business monitors its data actively. This is not about creating a culture of suspicion. It is about creating a culture of accountability — one where the people doing the right thing feel protected, and those considering otherwise understand the risk.
Stop Waiting for the Annual Audit
An annual stocktake or financial audit is not a theft detection strategy. It is a damage assessment. By the time those numbers surface, a sustained theft problem may have cost tens of thousands of dollars. Regular review — weekly till reconciliation, monthly stock variance checks, and consistent POS reporting — turns detection from an annual event into an ongoing discipline.
The Businesses That Stay in Control
The retailers who manage theft well share a few things in common. They use their POS data actively. They have a policy in place. They do not wait for obvious signs before acting. And they understand that protecting revenue is just as important as generating it.
Tower Systems builds point of sale software for independent specialty retailers across Australia and New Zealand. Our software includes the reporting and audit tools to help you stay across your business — every day, not just once a year.
To learn more, call us on 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au.
Protecting Your Profit: A Strategic Approach to Managing Retail Theft
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Theft is always on the mind of retailers, especially local small business retailers. Too often, though, retailers don’t seek out evidence. It’s like they are better off not knowing. In our experience, theft cost a local retail business somewhere between 3% and 5% of annual turnover.
Whether committed by customers or employees, theft erodes your financial bottom line and weighs heavily on the emotional wellbeing of business owners.
At Tower Systems, we have spent decades developing point-of-sale software designed specifically for independent specialty retailers. While our primary goal is to provide efficient tools for transacting business, we have inadvertently become experts in theft detection. By analyzing data and supporting our customers, we have developed robust systems to identify and stop dishonest activity.
The Reality of Employee Theft
Employee theft can be debilitating. It is a sensitive issue that many small business owners find difficult to confront. However, ignoring the possibility does not protect the business. Over the years, our software has provided the evidence necessary to detect internal fraud, leading to successful prosecutions. Our team members have even stood in court as expert witnesses to explain how the data revealed these discrepancies.
Modern POS software is your strongest ally in this area. Our latest release incorporates advanced AI tools to shine a light on unusual patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. Beyond technology, we recommend establishing clear policies. Every staff member should understand the expectations for handling cash, inventory, and customer data. When employees know that a system of oversight exists, the temptation to act dishonestly is greatly reduced.
Regular audits and transparent inventory tracking are essential. By using your POS system to its full capacity, you create a structured environment where accuracy is the norm. This does not just stop theft; it adds genuine value to your business by ensuring your records reflect reality.
Managing Customer Theft with Data
Customer theft is a challenge that must be managed rather than merely lamented. It often targets specific high-value or easily concealed items. The first step to a solution is understanding exactly what is being stolen. This information is usually hidden in your profit and loss statements or revealed during stocktakes.
The AI tools embedded in our POS software do plenty of this work for you, bringing to you easy access to evidence of poi=ssible theft – at least actions worth investigating.
Once you identify the problem areas, you can develop a proactive plan. We suggest involving your entire team in the solution. Conduct weekly spot stocktakes on frequently stolen items and record the figures where staff can see them. This creates a shared goal for the team to reduce these losses.
Physical changes to your shop layout can also make a difference. Consider placing a portable workstation near “hot zones” so staff are frequently present in those areas while performing routine tasks like pricing or invoice checking. Ensure your security cameras cover these locations and eliminate blind spots. If a particular shelf is a constant target, try moving it to a different part of the store to see if the theft declines.
The Value of Taking Action
Theft that goes unaddressed fosters an environment of suspicion and lowers staff morale. Conversely, a proactive approach demonstrates strong leadership and commitment to the long-term health of the business.
We worked with a retailer who discovered regular losses through their business data. By identifying the pattern and implementing a plan, they returned $20,000 to their bottom line in a single year. In that instance, the theft occurred simply because the perpetrators believed no one was watching. Once the data was used to monitor the situation, the behaviour stopped.
Tower Systems is proud to stand with local, independent retailers across Australia and New Zealand. Our software offers the structure, efficiency, and insight needed to protect your hard-earned profits.
If you would like to see how our POS tools can help secure your business, we invite you to request a free, no-obligation demo. You can reach our team at 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Alternatively, please email sales@towersystems.com.au to start the conversation.
Why are small business retailers reluctant to act on employee theft in their shops?
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Employee theft is the single largest source of loss for small business retailers, yet it is often the most ignored. At Tower Systems, we have seen theft losses reach hundreds of thousands of dollars because the business owner chose not to look. This post explores the psychological barriers that prevent retailers from acting, how our “deep-data” tracking provides irrefutable evidence of fraud, and provides a ready-to-use 12-point Theft Policy to protect your livelihood before it’s too late.
Looking at theft in small business retail, the biggest component of theft loss is from employee theft. We say this based on decades of work helping small business retailers run their businesses. From our small business focussed POS software through to advice we provide in support of this. theft mitigation is an ever present focus for us.
Too often, we are brought into a theft cost discussion when the cost of theft is tens of thousands of dollars and even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In almost every case of employee theft, evidence was there, curated by our software and available to small business retailers. They actively chose to not look at this. So it beggars the question:
Why are small business retailers reluctant to act on employee theft in their shops?
Based on our experience with many different types of local small retail businesses we think disinterest in timely discovery of theft comes down to a preference for avoiding confrontation. You know the old saying – what you don’t know won’t hurt you. It’s human nature, especially if you are close with employees.
We have seen it time and again. We get a call about a data discrepancy and soon enough we have evidence, from data tracking deep held in secure files not accessible staff – irrefutable evidence of theft. We can track it to day and time and show how they were stealing. Our software captures this and here’s what matters – owners of retail businesses using our software have access to this, they can catch theft sooner if they want to.
Retail business owners don’t do this and it costs them as a result.
Too often, employee theft is retail is only discovered when the business is suffering financially. This can be, sometimes, the it is too late to save the business.
Another reason some retailers are reluctant to act on theft is because of their arrogance that it is not happening to them. They done;t allow the possibility that theft is an issue.
Retailers using our Tower Systems POS software have access to indicators of theft that enable it to be discovered sooner, evidence that can open a conversation about theft, demonstrating it is a live concern for the business. These things can help reduce the opportunity of theft.
Another way retailers can reduce theft is by having a Theft Policy placed where all staff can see it. Here is what we have shared with our POS software customers:
THEFT POLICY
1. Theft, any theft, is a crime against this business, its owners, employees and others who rely on us for their income.
2. If you discover any evidence or have any suspicion of theft, please report it to the business owner or most senior manager possible immediately. Doing so could save a considerable cost to the business.
3. We have a zero tolerance policy on theft. All claims will be reported to law enforcement authorities for their investigation.
4. From time to time we have the business under surveillance in an effort to reduce theft. This may mean that you are photographed or recorded in some other way. By working here you accept this as a condition of employment.
5. New employees may be asked to provide permission for a police check prior to commencement of employment. Undertaking the police check will be at our discretion.
6. Cash is never to be left unattended outside the cash drawer or a safe within the business.
7. Credit and banking card payments are not to be accepted unless the physical card is presented and all required processes are followed for processing these.
8. Employees caught stealing with irrefutable evidence face immediate dismissal to the extent permitted by local labour laws.
9. Employees are not permitted to remove inventory, including unsold, topped, magazines, unsold cards or damaged stock from the store without permission.
10. Employees are not permitted to provide a refund to a customer without appropriate management permission.
11. Employees are not permitted to complete sales to themselves, family members or friends.
12. Every dollar stolen from the business by customers and or employees can cost us up to four dollars to recover. This is why vigilance on theft is mission critical for our retail store.
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Just as a retail business owes its customers fair and accurate transaction of business and just as employers own employees accurate and fair pay and conditions, employees owe employers honest engagement with the business.
Our work in this space of theft mitigation goes beyond what’s traditional for POS software companies. Along the way we have helped police, worked with prosecutors and bees relied on in court as experts in this field. We are proud to have helped, and continue with this mission today.
Confronting theft is never easy, especially in a small business where staff often feel like family. But remember: a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach isn’t just about catching a thief; it’s about protecting the future of your business for your loyal employees and your customers. At Tower Systems, we provide a digital witness that never sleeps. Use the tools, implement the policy, and trust the data. By taking a stand today, you aren’t being ‘distrustful’, you are being a responsible steward of your business’s survival. We’re here to help you turn that data into peace of mind.
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The right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business. Tower offers POS software made specifically for local small business retailers in a selection of retail channels. To see if we might help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.
Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.
The question small business retailers ask online: “How can I reduce operating costs without losing customers?”
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Many retailers are working harder for less profit because they are trapped by old pricing habits and manual labor. We’ve worked with thousands of specialty businesses and found that the path to lower operating costs is about optimisation. This post covers how to reclaim 3–5% of your revenue from theft, how to automate your way out of manual data entry, and why your shop’s convenience might be worth more than you’re currently charging.
How can I reduce operating costs without losing customers? This is a common question small business retailers are asking. It’s a question rooted in higher power prices, rising rent, rising labour costs and increases in the cost of products they sell.
Before we get to talking about opportunities for reducing costs, it’s useful to consider opportunities for increasing prices. In our experience serving thousands of small business retailers in Australia and New Zealand for decades, they tend to hold back on price increased that, if done, would not impact sales.
We were working with a group of retailers in a specially retail channel a couple of years ago. We compared priced for products in a popular product category for their type of business. The diversity in pricing was considerable. While some applied a 100% mark-up on wholesale cost, some were as low as 80% and some as high as 125%.
We recommended everyone move to 125% mark-up. Two thirds of the retailers we were working with increased their mark-up. A year later we checked in and found what we expected, sales volume had not fallen. As a result, these retailers were banking more gross profit from each sale.
Our advice, based on this experience and years of experience helping small business retailers is: review your mark-up approach. Charge what you can. Do this based on why people shop with you. If it is for their convenience, you are likely able to charge more than is common for the same product.
Now, let’s get on to answering How can I reduce operating costs without losing customers?
Leveraging our experience helping small business retailers across many retail channels through supporting our Australian made POS software for jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, newsagents, bookshops, pet shops, music shops, toy stores, produce businesses, fashion shop, fishing bait and tackle businesses, firearms dealers, Christmas shops, sewing shops, repairs businesses, haberdashers businesses, Asian supermarkets, here are 5 ways small business retailers can cut costs without losing customers.
- Save time = lower labour costs. Stop entering supplier invoices manually. Import them direct. AI tools in our POS software make this easy, fast and accurate. Use auto replenishment tools, based on Agentic AI tech, to have orders created ready for your approval – bypassing multiple labour steps.
- Reduce dead stock = less money wasted on what’s not selling. In a typical local independent shop around 25% of stock underperforms. That’s dead money, a cost to the business. Use your POS software properly and well to stop loading your shop with stock that won’t sell.
- Automate everyday bookkeeping tasks. Turn on the flow of data between our POS software and Xero. Shift from regular paid bookkeeping work to less frequent and less expensive work.
- Stop paying for analysis at your fingertips. Use your POS software business performance insights that you can access any time and at no additional cost instead of hiring a consultant or paying your accountant to do this.
- Cut theft. Theft cost a typical local retail business an amount annually equal to between 3% and 5% of revenue. Use the theft tracking and mitigation tools in your POS software to attack the cost of theft.
You can do these five things today without having to spend more money. Each of them saves money. The thing is though, plenty of business experts don’t talk about these things because when they do talk about ways you can cut costs they are pitching for you to spend money with them.
Here at Tower Systems we are not trying to get you to spend more money with us. The facilities in our software covered in this list of five things are there in the software today, accessible for no extra cost. Use them and you will cut costs in your retail business.
Reducing your operating costs starts by making your business smarter. The tools we’ve discussed are likely sitting in your POS system right now, waiting to be used.
Take a moment this week to audit your mark-ups and look for one manual task you can automate. You don’t need a high-priced consultant to find more profit, you just need to leverage the technology already at your fingertips. If you’re a Tower Systems customer and aren’t sure how to switch these features on, give our team a call. We’re here to help you keep more of what you earn.
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The right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business. Tower offers POS software made specifically for local small business retailers in a selection of retail channels. To see if we might help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.
Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.
Talking about theft in local small business retail and ways we help
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Expert advice for small business retailers on how to cut employee theft
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Employee theft can kill a small retail business. For decades, Tower Systems has helped retailers detect and stop employee theft.
Our POS software has robust and proven tools for detecting employee theft.
We have helped police and prosecutors. Some of our people have given expert evidence in court in cases related to employee theft.
Our knowledge about employee theft is comprehensive, across a range of specialty retail channels.
We didn’t set out to be employee theft experts. Making and supporting POS software is our thing. Along the way, we developed expertise, which were leveraged to further enhance our POS software, so it could help even more to detect and reduce employee theft.
The most recent release of our software goes even further by leveraging leading -edge AI tools to even more efficiently and insightfully shine a light on possible employee theft situations.
There are several steps a retailer can take to help reduce employee theft in any shop. Some strategies you may want to consider include:
- Establish clear policies and procedures: Create clear policies and procedures that outline expectations for employee behaviour, including rules around handling money, merchandise, and customer information. Make sure all employees understand and agree to these policies and know what to do if they witness or suspect theft.
- Implement a system for tracking inventory and sales: Use a system that allows you to track inventory and sales accurately and regularly. This will make it easier to identify any discrepancies or unusual patterns that may indicate theft.
- Conduct regular audits: Regularly conduct audits of your inventory, sales, and financial records to identify any potential issues or irregularities. This can help you to identify any potential issues early and take action to address them.
- Use security cameras and other security measures: Install security cameras and other security measures, such as alarms or locked storage areas, to help prevent theft and make it easier to identify any potential thieves.
- Provide training and support: Provide employees with training and support to help them understand the importance of honesty and integrity in the workplace. This can help to create a positive work environment and reduce the likelihood of employee theft.
- Use your POS software. This is the most important advice for good POS software has terrific tools for detecting possible employee theft and early detection is key.
By implementing these strategies, you can help to reduce employee theft in your shop and create a more honest and trustworthy workplace.
Tower Systems helps retailers through its local small business retail POS software. This software offers structure for transacting business. It facilitates efficiency and accuracy. It also adds value to the business and to those who work in the business.
Behind the scenes, the tower Systems POS software tracks key data points that can indicate employee theft. this tracking has been used successfully in detecting theft, leaving to charges being laid, leading to expert witness evidence in court.
Employee theft can be debilitating financially and emotionally in any retail business. This is especially true in local small business retail.
We are grateful here at Tower Systems to have the skill and focus to stand with local retailers, to help them reduce the impact of employee theft through smart use of our POS software.
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While the right POS system for making a switch smooth and easy depends on the specific needs of your retail business, Tower Systems was built to solve these exact challenges for Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.
Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.
Could theft be an issue in your shop?
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Small business retail advice: how to cut employee theft in your shop
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Theft in retail businesses presents a persistent challenge, often remaining undetected until long after the event has occurred. This lag in discovery frequently stems from an underestimation of the problem’s prevalence, particularly when considering the possibility of employee theft.
Tower Systems helps local small business retailers detect and deal with employee theft.
Our POS software meticulously tracks alterations to transactions, including deleted items, cancelled sales and more. This valuable data is typically stored within a secure, less obvious section of the software, separate from standard reporting functions.
In roughly one out of every ten instances where we have accessed concealed transactional data for a retailer utilising our POS software, we have uncovered indicators of potentially dishonest activity. By carefully analysing this data in conjunction with supporting evidence such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and employee rosters, patterns of suspicious behaviour and individuals of interest often emerge, sometimes with clear visual confirmation of misappropriated funds.
While we will not divulge the specific keystroke patterns that can signal fraudulent activity – information that has been rigorously tested and accepted in court proceedings where we have people who have served as expert witnesses for the prosecution – we urge retailers to actively engage with the theft detection and mitigation capabilities embedded within their POS systems. Take the time to understand these features and integrate them into your operational practices. Importantly, maintain discretion regarding your monitoring activities.
A common, yet potentially counterproductive, approach some retailers adopt is to implement stringent system lockdowns, aiming to minimise opportunities for theft. While the intention is understandable, individuals determined to steal will often find ways to circumvent these restrictions. Furthermore, excessively restrictive measures can inadvertently complicate the very detection processes you need in place.
Instead of creating an overly fortified environment, we advise against excessive POS software restrictions. Granting employees reasonable access while diligently monitoring their activity – guided by your POS software provider’s recommendations on leveraging the system’s data – offers a more effective strategy for identifying potential issues.
The financial consequences of undetected employee theft can be substantial. In our experience, the cost of individual theft cases has ranged from $5,000 to a staggering $245,000. In each of these instances, the proactive utilisation of the hidden data tools we have described could have facilitated earlier detection, thereby significantly mitigating the financial and emotional toll on the business and those associated with it.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. It is often the case that the topic of theft only gains traction when its impact is felt personally. However, by proactively engaging with the tools at your disposal, you can take meaningful steps to protect your business and your livelihood.
Advice on reducing employee theft in your retail business
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Employee theft can severely impact your retail business, both financially and emotionally. We have helped many retailers over decades to uncover and deal with employee theft / employee fraud. The advice we provide here is based on these years of experience helping retailers, working with police and working with prosecutors. Wee have been called to provide expert witness evidence in employee theft trials.
Here’s how to minimise the risk of employee theft:
- Establish Clear Policies and Procedures:
- Create comprehensive policies outlining expected employee conduct, especially regarding cash handling, stock management, and customer data.
- Ensure all staff fully understand and acknowledge these policies.
- Establish a clear reporting process for suspected theft.
- Implement Robust Inventory and Sales Tracking:
- Use a reliable system to accurately track inventory and sales.
- Regularly monitor for discrepancies or unusual patterns that might indicate theft.
- Utilise your POS software’s data tracking features to identify anomalies.
- Conduct Regular Audits:
- Perform routine audits of inventory, sales, and financial records.
- This allows for early detection of potential issues.
- Utilise Security Measures:
- Install security cameras and alarms.
- Implement locked storage areas for valuable items.
- Provide Employee Training and Support:
- Educate employees on the importance of honesty and integrity.
- Foster a positive and trustworthy work environment.
- Leverage POS Software:
- Utilise the data tracking capabilities of your POS software, such as Tower Systems’, to monitor for signs of theft.
- Recognise that this software can provide evidence that can be used in legal proceedings.
Remember:
- Proactive measures are crucial in preventing employee theft.
- Clear policies, accurate tracking, and regular audits are essential.
- Utilising technology, such as your POS system, can significantly aid in detection.
- Creating a culture of honesty and integrity will also assist in reducing the risk.
Reducing employee theft relies on the business owners being proactive from the outset and being transparent with all who work in the business.
By implementing the strategies we have shred here you can significantly reduce the risk of employee theft, protecting your business from financial loss and fostering a more secure and trustworthy work environment.
Consistent vigilance, combined with the effective use of technology like comprehensive POS systems, empowers business owners to safeguard their assets and maintain the integrity of their operations, ensuring long-term stability and success.
Free theft check service from Tower Systems helps small business retailers discover theft sooner and save
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Every Australian small business owner understands the sting of retail theft. Whether it’s customer shoplifting or employee pilfering, missing inventory and unexplained shrinkage eat away at your profits. But what if there was a way to identify potential theft early, before it significantly impacts your bottom line?
Our Tower Systems POS software that’s make for small business retail offers a proven and powerful weapon in the fight against theft: we offer a free theft check service. This complimentary service leverages the robust data captured by their POS system to provide invaluable insights into your store’s operations.
Here’s how it works: Tower’s POS software acts as your silent guardian, meticulously recording every sale, transaction,and inventory movement. This data becomes a treasure trove of information for Tower’s team of security specialists. They have the expertise to analyse this data and uncover hidden patterns that might indicate suspicious activity.
For instance, a sudden spike in voids or returns for a particular staff member, unusual discounts applied to specific items,or discrepancies between cash register takings and recorded sales could all be red flags. By identifying these patterns early, you can take preventive measures before the theft escalates.
The beauty of Tower’s free theft check is its proactive nature. It doesn’t rely on catching someone red-handed; it focuses on identifying anomalies that warrant further investigation. This allows you to address potential theft before significant losses occur.
Here are some key benefits of utilising Tower Systems’ free theft check service:
- Reduced Shrinkage: Early detection of theft means less lost inventory and increased profitability.
- Improved Security: The knowledge that your system is actively monitoring for suspicious activity can act as a deterrent to would-be thieves.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing your business is protected allows you to focus on what matters most – running your store and delivering exceptional customer service.
Tower Systems understands the unique challenges faced by Australian small businesses. Our free theft check service is a testament to our commitment to helping retailers not only survive but thrive. By utilising this valuable tool, you gain a powerful ally in the fight against retail theft, allowing you to keep your profits where they belong – in your pocket.
Accessing the free theft check service starts with a call or email to a member of the Tower leadership team. We treat your communications with confidentiality. We ask for access to your data and we analyse this for you. If it gets to the point of law enforcement, we will provide evidence they require.
Catching sneaky staff: How the Tower Systems POS system can stop employee theft
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Running a small business is tough hard work every day. Someone stealing from the business can be heartbreaking. Employee theft is a problem for Australian small business retailers, costing them around 75% more than shoplifting!
That’s where the Tower Systems POS (point-of-sale) system comes in. It’s not just about ringing up sales – it can be a powerful tool to catch sneaky staff. While much of what our POS system does is hidden and not discussed publicly, here’s how our system helped Harry and June, who run a local shop:
Something fishy was going on
Harry and June’s accountant noticed their business wasn’t making the money it should. They called us thinking there was a problem with the software, but a deeper look revealed something shocking. Our system has hidden, encrypted records that helped us track unusual sales patterns. The data pointed straight to their niece, a trusted employee!
A difficult truth
We met Harry and June for coffee, but they were convinced it was a mistake. It took a whole year before they finally installed hidden cameras and confirmed the theft. Sadly, they never got their money back and the family rift was too big to pursue charges.
Don’t let this happen to you!
Here our advice on how to stop employee theft before it starts:
- Track everything: Make sure all your stock is logged in the system and every sale is scanned. Don’t use department keys – they make stealing easier.
- Employee ID: Give each employee a unique code to track their sales. Change these codes regularly.
- Cash control: Regularly check your cash register and reconcile it with your POS data. Spot checks can catch small-time thieves.
- Schedule shuffle: Change up your roster to make it harder for people to work together and steal.
- Theft policy: Have a clear policy against theft and make sure all staff read and understand it.
- Keep it clean: A tidy workspace makes it harder for people to steal and easier to spot suspicious activity.
- No staff bags: This eliminates a hiding place for stolen cash.
- Beware of notepads: Some staff use these to track “unrung-up” cash.
- Police checks: Consider requiring police checks for new hires. It shows you take security seriously.
- Lead by example: Don’t take cash out of the register in front of staff – it might seem tempting to them.
We can help!
At the start of each year, review your POS data to see if anything looks suspicious. Our team of retail experts can help you put these tips into action and keep your business safe. Don’t let employee theft eat away at your profits!
Tower Systems is committed to helping local small business retailers reduce the impact of employee theft on their business.
Sound retail staff permission access key to POS software security in retail businesses
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The Tower Systems POS software offers good permission management when it comes to determining who has access to what parts of the software being used in the retail business.
Now, here’s why staff permissions in POS software are important. Imagine a scenario where any staff member could modify product prices, delete sales records, or even access financial information. We have seen these things attempted. Here’s how proper permission control safeguards your business:
- Reduces Fraud Risk: Limits employee ability to manipulate transactions or steal funds.
- Protects Sensitive Data: Restricts access to customer information and financial data.
- Ensures Data Integrity: Prevents unauthorized changes to inventory levels and sales records.
- Improves Operational Efficiency: Staff focus on assigned tasks, streamlining workflows.
With many retail businesses run today without the owner being in the shop the whole time, it is vital that POS software provides the right level of security options for the shop. Here are some key considerations for creating a strong staff permission structure for your POS system:
- Role-Based Access Control: Assign permissions based on job roles (sales counter, manager, supervisor). For example, those at the sales counter might only process sales, while managers can access reports and modify settings.
- Least Privilege Principle: Grant the minimum level of access needed for each role to perform their duties effectively, knowing you can change it if needed.
- Regular Reviews: Periodically assess staff permissions and adjust them as roles or responsibilities change.
- Change passwords / codes. The more often you do this, the better.
While robust staff permissions are essential for security, they offer clear roles with defined permissions make it easier to track actions within the POS system, they can reduce mistakes and they can offer the business a compliance an insurance company may find comfort in.
By implementing a well-defined staff permission structure, you can empower your team while safeguarding your valuable data. Remember, a secure POS system is not just about technology; it’s about creating a culture of accountability and data protection within your retail business.
Tower Systems offers good security managing in its POS software thanks to allowing you to manage in-store staff security access to the software. You are in control.
A retail theft story that does not end well
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I DON’T BELIEVE YOU.
That’s what a retail business owner told us years ago when we told them that employee theft had cost their business more than $100,000 in the previous 12 months.
When we asked who worked four specific shifts each week and who had two weeks off a month prior, they knew we might be on to something, but since th person in question was family, they trusted them more than they trusted us.
The thing is, data are facts, they don’t lie.
PROVE IT.
They told us to prove it.
We asked for more data, dug deeper, and proved it, expect that the amount that had been stolen went up the further back we looked. We showed them that $350,000 had been stolen from the business through systematic actions and because they had given the employee full security access and because they id not use the theft tracking tools in the software – and the employee knew this.
This all started because of what they thought was a bug in our software. There was no bug.
It ended with the police laying charges.
Our POS software collects data that can be analysed to look for patterns of use that could indicate theft behaviour.
In a typical independent retail business, theft costs between 3% and 5% of turnover. Our software backed by our Theft Check service seek to reduce the financial imp[act on the businesses owned and run by our 3,000+ customers.
We are grateful to help independent retailers reduce the cost of theft in their shops.
Helping local small business retailers discover and manage theft situations is just one way we help our retailer community.
Our Australian sales number is 1300 662 957.
Our NZ sales number is 0800 444 367.
WE’RE NOT YOUR AVERAGE POS SOFTWARE COMPANY AND HERE ARE 3 EXAMPLES WHY:
- Dead stock often represents between 5% and 12% of stock on hand in local indie retail businesses. Our software proactively helps retailers identify dead stock and stop making decisions that lead to dead stock.
- We provide a free theft check service where we look at data patterns that can indicate theft. Our evidence has been used by police, prosecutors and accepted ax expert evidence in court.
- Copying big retailers is not smart. Our software offers genuinely unique, and successful, ways you can differentiate to nurture deeper baskets per purchase and more frequent return of shoppers.
Sure, we do the usual of scanning products, tracking sales, supplier electronic invoice import, linking to Xero for accounting and linking to Shopify (and more) for online sales. It’s what we do outside the usual where our retailers can leverage real value, like our insights dashboard.
Tower Systems helps local small business retailers cut employee theft in 2024
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From the data captured from Point-of-Sale software from my software company being used in their business, I was able to show Harry and June that their business was being stolen from to the tune of at least two thousand dollars a week, that it had been going on for two years and that it was only happening four days a week.
We were sitting in a coffee shop near their business. They brought the shop employee roster with me as I asked. There was only one person who worked the days and specific hours indicated by the Point-of-Sale software.
‘It can’t be, they’re family,’ June said looking across at Harry. ‘She’s my niece,’ said Harry, ‘she’s amazing in the shop. Customers love her’. ‘We couldn’t run the business without her,’ June chipped in. ‘Yeah, it’s got to be a mistake,’ Harry said looking at the roster.
Harry had reached out to me a couple of weeks earlier as their accountant had advised him that the business was not making the type of money that it should. The accountant had said to him ‘something’s not right’.
Harry thought there was something wrong with the software. That’s why he called me.
I asked for a copy of their data and did a deep dive into a hidden set of encrypted sales records stored by the software to enable this type of investigation of possible employee fraud.
Having done this type of research many times in the past and having worked with police and prosecutors as an expert witness, I knew for certain that Harry and June were being stolen from by their niece.
They left the coffee shop meeting certain that the problem was with the software. It was another year before Harry and June followed my advice, installed hidden cameras and got the evidence to implicate their niece.
The day they confronted their niece she walked out. They never recovered the money. They feared a split in the family and didn’t pursue criminal charges.
In all, Harry and June lost over three hundred thousand dollars. They sold the business soon after.
Employee theft can be a high cost to indie small business retailers. Different studies in Australia and elsewhere coupled with our own knowledge of theft in indie small business retail indicates that employee theft costs a business around 75% of the total cost of theft.
The quantum of employee theft is often under considered by small business retailers. We think this is because of denial. However, given that the amount that can be taken in one hit or in micro amounts over a long period of time can be considerable once toted up.
Employee theft can be traced and as a result of this stopped. Our small business POS software helps retailers do this. We back the theft mitigation facilities in our software with training, advice and even data analysis to uncover possible instances of theft that may have hitherto gone undetected.
Here is some of the small business retail theft mitigation advice from our POS software retail experienced team:
- Track your stock. Receive all stock into your business through your computer system so you know exactly what sock you have.
- Scan everything you sell. Do not use department keys as this makes it easier for employees to steal since they know there is no trackback to stock on hand. Using department keys is an invitation to steal.
- Track every sale by employees. Give your employees a card with a unique barcode or have them enter a code – to track every sale they make back to them. Change the code every six months or so.
- Do your end of shift through your software and have a zero-tolerance policy on being over or under. Reconcile banking to your computer software end of shift. One business where this was not done was being skimmed regularly for $200 a day.
- Do spot cash balancing. Unexpected checks can uncover surprises. One retailer needing to do a banking during the day uncovered a $350 discrepancy that lead to discovery of systematic theft.
- Change your roster. Sometimes people work together to steal. One retailer found a family friend senior and their teenage daughter stealing consistently.
- Setup a theft policy.Put this on a noticeboard in the back room. Get staff to read it and sign up to it. See the last page of this advice.
- Keep the counter clean. An organised counter reduces the opportunity for theft. It makes detection easier.
- Have a no employee bags at the counter policy. This makes it harder for them to hide your cash.
- Beware employees who carry folded paper or small notepads. These can be used for them to keep track of how much cash is in the register that is theirs – i.e. not rung up in the software.
- Advise all job applicants that you will require their permission for a police check. From the outset this indicates that you take your business seriously. In many situations applicants who have been asked for permission to do a police check advise they have found a job elsewhere.
- Do not take cash out for your own use in front of employees. If they see you take cash for a coffee or lunch some will see this as an invitation.
At the start of a new year is a good time to take a close look at whether employee theft is an issue in your retail business. We’d love to help you with that.
Almost every survey of local small business retailers lists cashflow as their #1 challenge
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Having access to the cash you need when you need it is critical in business.
Here are some obvious but too often ignored hacks to help improve the cashflow position of a business.
- Quit dead stock. In every retail business we work with we find that at least 20% of stock in the business is dead. That’s cash, space and time being wasted. Identify it. Quit it.
- Buy better. Buy stock based on evidence from your POS software. This will result in less dead stock and less out of stock situations – a third of all retail businesses we’ve looked at lost revenue by not having in stock products when shoppers wanted.
- Compare suppliers. If you have multiple suppliers for a product category. Compare their performance and act on the evidence. POS software can make this easy. We did this in two of our own shops last year and added $25,000+ in high gross profit revenue to each.
- Make shopping easier. Do this and people will spend more: make navigating the shop easier, use signs sparingly – ensure every sign is helpful, offer bundles of products to make occasion purchasing easier, include how to sheets with products as appropriate.
- Roster to revenue. Labour is usually the second or third highest business cost. Have your best people selling. Make sure every costed hour adds value to the business.
- Pass on actual EFTPOS costs. Use your POS software to auto-calculate the actual cost of a card presented and surcharge this per transaction. Shoppers have been educated now to accept this.
- Know the cost of theft. Between 2% and 5% of turnover is the cost of theft (shopper and employee) in indie retail in Australia and New Zealand. Use your POS software to know your stats, and act to reduce this.
- Attract more shoppers. Yes, this sounds easier said than done. But … a stunning and unexpected front window or street display will catch attention, fun social media posts will catch attention, a relationship with a community group will catch attention, being online will catch attention.
- Get current shoppers buying more. A smart loyalty program with the right settings for your business should achieve this for you. Too often local retailers run points-based loyalty that does not differentiate their business.
This list is a start. There is no one thing you can do to improve cashflow. It takes discipline – we learnt that ourselves for our own shops.
We make POS software used by thousands of local retailers. We use our own software in our own physical shops and our consumer-facing websites.
We’re not your average POS software company. To discover more: email sales@towersystems.com.au or call 1300 662 957.
We make software for bike shops, garden centres, jewellers, gift shops, pet shops, landscape supply businesses, repairs businesses, bookshops,
fishing and outdoors shops, newsagents, produce / farm supply businesses, fabric shops, sewing shops, music shops, computer shops, firearms dealers, charity & op. shops, community enterprises and more.
Our POS software helps small business retailers discover employee theft early
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Advice for small business retailers on dealing with increasing retail theft
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We know from the news that retail theft has increased. Shoplifting, stealing, retail theft, call it what o=you like, has a financial cost as well as an emotional cost. It can debilitate business owners, managers and team members, multiplying the total cost to the business.
Employee theft is easier to uncover, track and address than shopper theft.
Good POS software will offer proven tools for indicating potential employee theft and do this in a way that empowers business owners to act before the cost to the business is out of control.
The challenge is that many small business retail owners and managers do not use theft discovery and mitigation tools in POS software. We know because our Tower Systems POS software is well resourced in theft detection and mitigation and too often in talking with customers it is discovered later rather than earlier.
Our advice for retailers on employee theft is to use your software, check regularly, act on the indicators to see if there is something concerning there. In our case here at Tower systems – call or email – one of our senior theft mitigation specialists will help. These are people who have worked with the police and insurance companies on such situations. They will Bring that experience to the table for you.
Shopper theft, shoplifting, stealing of products is best discovered by a regular process of what we call spot stock takes. Choose several high interest product categories and every week check stock on hand. This will indicate if there is an issue. If there is not, choose another.
Having a consistent approach to spot stock takes if key to the discovery point of shoplifting.
The best deterrent is your action. Here is our advice to be known as a shop not worth stealing from:
- Greet people when they enter the shop. Them seeing you see them, eye to eye, will deter some people planning to steal.
- Have systems to collect evidence: CCTV and, when appropriate, matching POS software data.
- Always report people caught to the police.
- Write about reporting it to the police on social media.
- If you have camera evidence of theft but no knowledge of the name, use the photo to try and figure out the identity.
If the problem in your shop is serious and at a point where it is distressing you, consider bringing in a uniformed security guard for a week or two. While there is a cost with that, it makes a physical statement about your approach to the security of your space.
Complaining about theft is not action.
Catching someone and getting your goods back is inadequate action.
Not acting on a hunch because of a fear for what you might discover is not action.
Theft requires action. Typically in local small business retail it is costing the business somewhere between 3% and 5% of turnover. In our experience, retailers trend to not act because they are not sure where to start.
Here at Tower Systems we offer guidance to retail business owners on what to do, actions to take, processes to establish to at least get a handle on what might be happening. That is the best place to start if the business has not been acting consistently up to that point.
Small business retail advice: The indicator of employee theft that too many retailers ignore
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Take 2 minutes and read this advice for local small business retailers. It’s about employee theft. Most retailers do not consider or engage with employee theft as a topic until they have seen or felt the cost of employee theft, until after the event.
We know that employee theft in retail usually costs more than customer theft and that it is less likely to be detected
If the cash draw is open from the previous sale, the staff member can scan the items for the next sale, let the customer know the amount, receive payment (and give change if needed) and cancel the sale. They then keep a note of how much of their money is in the register.
Now while growth EFTPOS means less cash passes through a business. For someone wanting lunch money on the business each day they can achieve that. 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year and it could be close to $5,000 a year.
We have seen this often in retail businesses we have helped.
In our POS software there is a secret audit log that only the owner can access. This tracks a bunch of stuff, like cancelled sales. Spotting a questionable pattern is easy. This could be the thread that leads to discovery of theft.
Already in 2023 we have helped retailers detect theft. We have provided evidence to police to assist in prosecution. We have provided retailers irrefutable evidence so they can deal with recovery and / or an insurance claim. It’s the POs software, the business data and our retail data analysis skills that combine to help local small business retailers confront employee theft.
We have helped police and prosecutors deal with employee theft and ensured our software can help small business retailers in this area.
It’s not glamorous and not the key reason to consider Tower Systems. But it is a valuable reason. What you might save in a year could easily pay for the right POS software.
Find out more:
www.towersystems.com.au
1300 662 957
sales@towersystems.com.au
Too often small business retailers will not want to know about employee theft. Data don’t lie.
Tower Systems will work with you confidentially, quietly, providing the evidence., The steps you take are 100% up to you. It all starts with knowing.
There is never a good time to talk about theft with local retailers
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There is no good time to write to local retailers about theft.
It’s a topic many of us in business don’t want to hear about, we don’t want to contemplate it.
But this happened.
We were checking the data for a local retail business that uses our specialty retail POS software. We noticed some anomalies in their data, in transaction sequences actually.
After digging a bit deeper we had evidence of employee theft.
From data covering three months we had enough evidence to put a value of $25,000 on the theft.
On our advice, the business asked for a meeting with the employee to discuss their concerns. The employee resigned immediately. They never returned to the business.
The business has the evidence police can use for a criminal investigation and, we expect, charges being laid. As we have done previously, we are prepared to be called as an expert witness.
Tower Systems is not your usual POS software company. Our help desk does the usual help desk stuff, and they go the extra mile – to help you maximise the value of the power of our Aussie made and supported POS software.
Our software has theft tracking tools, hidden away from everyday users, tools that can provide the evidence needed by police, and prosecutors to make their case in court.
Here is best practice advice which, if followed, will reduce the cost of theft in any retail business.
- Establish a theft policy and stick to it.
- Check references of prospective employees.
- Ask candidates if they would agree to a background check.
- Only sell what you arrive, bring into the store, through Point of Sale software. If you track it you can know if it has been stolen or not. If you do not track it who knows if it is stolen.
- Track ALL sales – by scanning, touch screen button or PLU (product look up code), a hot key on your computer screen.
- Stop all department sales, sales where the employee gets to enter the amount of the item.
- Scan out ALL products are returned to suppliers.
- Undertake regular spot stock take throughout the business. The discrepancy between what you have and what the system has reflects theft.
- Reorder stock using your software. This stops poor buying decisions. It also identified stock theft and employee fraud around stock.
- Use employee codes against each sale. Yes, this adds time to each sale. The benefits far outweigh the time cost.
- Set an end of shift balance target of $5.00. Many retailers achieve this – it takes discipline.
- Change your system passwords regularly. Make it a condition of employment that these passwords are never shared.
- Do random, during the day, register balance checks. Check that the cash your computer system thinks should be in the cash drawer is what is actually in the cash drawer.
- Use your software to check and report on behaviour which could indicate employee theft.
Retailers tend to worry more about shopper theft than employee theft yet, in our experience, employee theft has the higher cost to the business.
The mental health challenge of theft in local small business retail
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Beyond the money, theft in local small business retail is a mental health challenge.
There is the situation of the person stealing, the customer, the supplier, the co-owner or the employee. Often there can be mental health challenges associated with or leading up to their actions.
Then, there is the mental health challenge for the business owner(s) following the theft.
In our work with local small business retailers dealing with theft from their business, we have seen mental health affected.
we have seen retailers so affected that they quickly sell their business, opting for a lifestyle change as a result.
Theft is personal. We get that there are plenty of ‘experts’ who say theft is not personal. But in our experience, it is. Your business is like your home. Theft is a violation of your home. This why it hits hard, why it hurst so much.
When we discover theft in a retail business we are helping we suggest the owners reach out to professional services for mental health support. Advice we have found useful includes:
Be sure of the facts. How much was stolen and how it was stolen. These specific details can help you draw a line under the situation.
Do something. Take an action, or actions, to protect against a recurrence. Acting on the situation can provide confidence and strength.
Be open with others. Sharing what happened and what it has meant to you can, of itself, nurture support.
Cleanse. The theft situation may have left you with an employee or two you no longer want in the business, a supplier to drop, a customer ti disallow. Take action to shut the door.
Exercise. Plenty off mental health professionals advocate active walking outdoors as a good step for calming and clearing your mind. Find the exercise that works best for you, walking, running, swimming, and engage in that exercise. From what we read and have been told, doing this away from you’re business regularly is key.
Try to not obsess. We have seen retailers become obsessed about theft following an incident. That can be debilitating and take joy from the running of the business. Find a balance that works for you where you can be vigilant, but not obsessed.
While dealing with the practicalities of theft is important in any local small business retail setting, dealing with your own mental health is important too. Work on it. be aware. Take care of yourself. And, be in control, rather than the crime controlling you.
How the Tower Systems POS software helps local small business retailers detect and mitigate employee theft
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Theft is a financial and emotional problem in retail, especially in local small business retail. Too often, it is not discovered until after the event, primarily because of a lack of belief that theft is a problem, particularly theft by employees.
One of the best ways to detect employee theft is to look at your business transactional data.
In our experience at Tower Systems, serving thousands of local small business retailers with our specialty retail POS software, we often find evidence of questionable behaviour indicating theft – behaviour that could have been observed in the business much sooner.
Our professional and based on experience advice to local small business retailers is to use the theft detection and mitigation tools in your POS software. learn about them. Use them. But don’t tell others what you are doing.
Cases of employee theft in local small business retail in which we have been involved have ranged in theft cost from $5,000 to $245,000. In every single instance, using the secret tools we have mentioned here could have detected the theft sooner and reduced the financial an emotional impact on the business and others.
If you have read this far, thank you and well done. Most will not, because theft is not an interesting topic – until they are personally impacted.
Recommended steps any retailer can take to reduce employee theft in retail:
Theft is something to be managed in any retail business. Retailers are stolen from by employees. Good management is about reducing the opportunity for and instances of theft.
- Value employees. Experts say this is the top step to take.
- Share information. Often, theft can be driven by a misconception about the profitability of the business. Sharing accurate business performance data can educate against theft.
- Do your end of shift through your software and have a zero-tolerance policy on being over or under. Reconcile banking to your computer software end of shift. One business where this was not done was being skimmed regularly for $200 a day.
- Change your roster. Sometimes people work together to steal. One retailer found a family friend senior and their teenage daughter stealing consistently.
- Check GP by department. If GP is falling outside what you expect, research it further.
- Demand the cash drawer be closed after every sale. A drawer left open is an opportunity.
- Keep the counter clean. A better organised counter reduces the opportunity for theft as it makes detection easier.
- Have a no employee bags at the counter policy. This makes it harder for them to hide your cash.
- Beware employees who carry folded paper or small notepads. These can be used for them to keep track of how much cash is in the register that is theirs – i.e. not rung up in the software.
- Beware of calculators with memories at the counter. One retail business employee used the memory function to track how much cash had to be stolen prior to balancing for the day – cash from sales not rung up.
- Enter new stock as it comes in, scan all sales and only reorder based on what you software says. Every month do a stock take. Popular daily items such as tobacco stock discrepancies are an indicator of theft. Had one retailer we work with been doing this they would have caught their $250 a day employee theft months earlier.
- Scan everything you sell. Do not use department keys as this makes it easier for employees to steal since they know there is no trackback to stock on hand. Using department keys is an invitation to steal.
- Do spot cash balancing using your PO)S software. Unexpected checks can uncover surprises. One retailer needing to do a banking during the day uncovered a $350 discrepancy that lead to discovery of systematic theft.
- Check your Audit Log in your POS software.
- Setup a theft policy. Put this on a noticeboard in the back room. Get staff to read it and sign up to it.
- Do not let employees sell to themselves. If they want to purchase something make them purchase it from the other side of the counter.
- Be professional in your management of the business. The more professional your approach they less likely your employees will steal as they will see the risk of being caught as high.
- Advise all job applicants that you will require their permission for a police check. From the outset this indicates that you take your business seriously. In many situations applicants who have been asked for permission to do a police check advise they have found a job elsewhere.
- Do not take cash out for your own use in front of employees. If they see you take cash for a coffee or lunch some will see this as an invitation.
These steps work – based on decades of helping small business retailers to reduce and manage employee theft.
12 steps to cut employee theft in any retail business
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Employee theft in retail tends to cost more than customer theft. It is also the type of theft in retail that is less likely to be uncovered and accurately costed.
Here are 12 steps to cut employee theft in any retail business:
- Scan everything you sell.
- Spot stock take items in high demand.
- Use your POS software to balance at the end of shift every day.
- Have a security camera over each register.
- Check GP by department. If GP is falling outside what you expect, research it further.
- Have a no employee bags at the counter policy. This makes it harder for them to hide your cash.
- Beware employees who carry folded paper or small notepads. These can be used for them to keep track of how much cash is in the register that is theirs – i.e. not rung up in the software.
- Beware of calculators with memories at the counter. One retail business employee used the memory function to track how much cash had to be stolen prior to balancing for the day – cash from sales not rung up.
- Do spot cash balancing. Unexpected checks can uncover surprises. One retailer needing to do a banking during the day uncovered a $350 discrepancy that lead to discovery of systematic theft.
- Setup a theft policy. Put this on a noticeboard in the back room. Get staff to read it and sign up to it.
- Do not let employees sell to themselves. If they want to purchase something make them purchase it from the other side of the counter.
- Be professional in your management of the business. The more professional your approach they less likely your employees will steal as they will see the risk of being caught as high.
Of course, there are more than 12 steps you can take. These are, in our opinion, the best. We say this based on years of experience helping local indie retailers, especially helping to reduce employee theft.
Tower Systems helps retailers reduce shoplifting through its smart POS software
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Shoplifting is a curse in retail, especially in small business retail where the emotional toll of shoplifting can be debilitating for the retail business owners, even more so than the financial toll on the business itself.
What is shoplifting? Shoplifting is the theft of inventory or other items or even cash from a business by a shopper.
Tower Systems offers smart POS software that is helping retailers reduce shoplifting. The software works by tracking inventory and sales data, which helps store owners to identify patterns and trends. This information can then be used to loss prevention strategies.
The Tower Systems software has been proven to be an effective tool in reducing shoplifting. In one case study, a retailer who installed the software was able to reduce shoplifting by 50%. The POS software does this by helping retailers to understand what is being stolen and to narrow the time window of the theft. This information is key to reducing the cost of shoplifting.
In most instances, what is being stolen through shoplifting is different to what retailers thing is being stolen. Shoplifting data is key here.
This data-driven approach to reducing shoplifting is helping retailers save money and increase margins. In one case study, a retailer who installed Tower Systems’ smart POS software was able to reduce shoplifting by 25%. That’s a significant improvement that can have a big impact on the bottom line—especially for small businesses.
The smart POS software is easy to use and can be installed on any computer or mobile device. It is also reasonably priced, making it a good option for small businesses.
Retailers lose billions of dollars every year to shoplifting, but there is hope. The Tower Systems smart point-of-sale software offers a retail security solution that can help retailers reduce shrinkage (the industry term for lost inventory due to shoplifting).
If you are a small business owner, you should consider using Tower Systems to help reduce shoplifting.
Using cutting-edge technology, the system tracks inventory in real time and sounds an alarm if someone tries to leave the store with an unpaid item. The solution has already helped hundreds of retailers reduce shrinkage.
The software is easy to use and an effective way to track inventory and sales data. This information can then be used to develop loss prevention strategies.
Note: employee theft is a form of shoplifting, but considered differently to shoplifting itself.
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