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All difference in normal practices and procedures must be carefully reviewed with an open and perceptive mind. Inventory found near employee exits/loading docks/restrooms, items found concealed in dumpsters, refusal of key employees to take even minimal vacation time etc, are all signs which could indicate possible theft and be the only indication you will have to a theft situation. Many companies that dismiss such signs as employee carelessness, incompetence or inexperience often suffer significant.

Preventing Losses

Just having a loss prevention or security program does not guarantee it will prevent losses within your business. In fact, some of the biggest losses have occurred within companies with existing programs. There are 3 basic steps a business can take to effectively address its loss exposure.

? Conduct a security review or audit of your business operations. Identify and determine the risk factor to each security exposure your business has to potential theft. This technique will allow a company to establish a level of priority for each exposure and eliminate it in the most cost-effective manner.

? Educate supervision and employees as to the negative impact theft related losses have on company stability, pay increases promotional opportunities, etc. By soliciting their support up front, subsequent loss prevention efforts will be met with acceptance, rather than resistance.

? Develop a formal loss prevention program to ensure an ongoing effort to prevent losses and detect existing theft. Such a program will include pre-employment screening, security awareness training, periodic audits, policies and procedures.

Loss Prevention Programs

Just having a loss prevention or security program does not guarantee it will prevent losses. Some of the most costly employee theft losses occur within companies that already have existing security programs.

Achieving effective loss prevention is not an impossible task. However, no loss prevention program can be effective without a serious commitment from top management in every phase and element of the program. Remember that the perceived image of loss prevention/security is often an inconvenience. Any personnel who administers a loss prevention program, including the owner, designated employee or a security professional, must ensure security measures, policies and procedures must meet the test of reasonableness, need, employee respect, and legality.

Once top management has committed to directly and consistently supporting a loss prevention program, qualified security personnel are in place the business is now prepared to develop and start an effective loss prevention program.

Whether your program is designed to prevent losses in a small business or a major corporation, the following are basic elements generic to any security or loss prevention program:

? Mission Statement. The mission statement lays the groundwork for a loss prevention program by defining, clarifying and formalizing the overall purpose, direction and philosophy management will take in protecting the company’s assets and preventing crime. The mission statement embodies the philosophy of the organization and is the source for uniformity and consistency between goals, procedures, policies and training.

? Goals and Objectives. Setting realistic goals and objectives are important in developing a plan that focuses on achieving effective loss prevention for all areas needing protection in a timely and cost effective manner. Although goals must address all the asset protection needs of the business, they must be concise, reasonable and attainable.

? Security Policies and Procedures. Employee theft is costly, occurs within any part of the company and often results in major administrative or legal action against the company. Consequently, it is simply good business sense to follow definitive guidelines in dealing with the many aspects of employee theft such as prevention, investigation and action against those who commit such acts. Failure to have sound and comprehensive security policies and procedures often result ongoing and periodic loss situations, adverse employee morale, legal liability and other equally costly consequences.

? Pre-employment Screening. In today’s business environment, pre-employment screening is a standard in the hiring process. From a security standpoint, businesses that fail to screen or inadequately screen candidates for hire expose themselves to potential theft, violence, workers compensation fraud, liability and a litany of other problems.

? Compliance and Security Audits. Employee theft is unique in the fact that it will reoccur unless existing loss prevention measures are continually audited and new measures are developed/implemented to counter impending exposures that surface during an audit. If a program is not reviewed on an ongoing basis, policies/procedures will gradually deteriorate and dishonest employees will eventually use them to their advantage.

? Security Awareness and Training. Keep in mind that all employees in a work environment have the same opportunity to recognize ways to steal. The problem is the dishonest employees are recognizing the openings for theft while honest employees exposed to the same security risks are not bringing them to the attention of management beforehand. When employees are trained to immediately report security risks or exposures, it gives management the chance to take preventive measures and eliminate the opportunity. Effective security training and awareness programs educate the employee as to the impact theft has on job stability, raises, benefits etc.; thus, giving them a personal reason to assist the company in preventing

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