About 80 percent of all crime-related losses are due to employee theft. The following guidelines may reduce the risk to your business:
- Monitor cash register activities to ensure proper operation. Do not allow employees to handle any transactions or sales to themselves, close friends, or family.
- Monitor business activity and income patterns over time to see if income has dropped during any particular situation.
- Use a shopping service or a trusted outside person to pose as a customer to find weaknesses in your operation.
- Separate operations from accounting; double-check all transactions.
- Keep an accurate inventory system and have it checked regularly by someone other than the person responsible for it.
- Keep accurate records on movements of cash and goods from the time they enter your business until they leave.
- Establish a very clear employee discount and fringe benefit policy.
- Limit access to valuables; use strict key control for access to business premises, storerooms, and display areas. Employees' personal belongings should be stored in a safe place with limited access, away from merchandise that can be concealed.
- Search trash regularly to prevent goods from being carried out with it; flatten boxes to eliminate possible hiding places for merchandise.
- Limit the number of exits and monitor employees to make it difficult to carry merchandise out without your knowledge.
- Lock screens over outside openings through which goods can be passed.
- Have employees park away from the building to reduce access to personal vehicles where goods may be hidden.
- Sign all tools and equipment in and out.
- Reward employees who discover and report security problems.
- Deal with dishonesty swiftly, firmly, and visibly: rules mean little if not enforced.
- Install security cameras.
|
« this page last modified 04/27/04 »
|
