Loss Prevention Officers collaborate with law enforcement and other Security Officers when necessary to prevent serial thefts at their store. Those who work in loss prevention should have particular skills and qualifications to do the work well. There are certain aptitudes needed to reduce the instances where merchandise is stolen and to catch the person responsible for theft. The following are major skills and qualifications that a Loss Prevention Officer can have to be a strong candidate for the job:.
Loss Prevention Officers usually require a high school diploma or GED as an education requirement, although some employers do not have education requirements. Training is usually done on-the-job by the employer which covers emergency instructions, communication skills and proper detention of suspects. More complex training is required for loss prevention officers who will be armed. States do recommend Loss Prevention Officers to receive hours of training before the job, during and annually.
This can include training in report writing, first aid, deterring crises and other special training particular to the job. Those candidates who have had previous loss prevention experience are great candidates who come in with prior experience. If you are not necessarily looking to hire for a loss prevention position, take a look at the following job description samples for similar positions that may come closer to what you want:. The main distinction between the two roles is that Loss Prevention Officers usually work during regular retail hours and interact with the public, actively halting thefts in progress.
Security Guards can monitor a location when it is open and when it is closed to make sure that no one attempts to break in after hours. Loss Prevention Officers may wear plain clothes to blend in with customers while Security Guards usually identify themselves with a uniform or badge. Security Guards also have keyholder responsibilities. Loss Prevention Officers can work on the floor of a retail store or sit in an office observing the behavior of customers by watching security cameras.
They notice when a new customer enters the store and pay attention to how they handle merchandise, noting if they attempt to hide products in their clothing or bags. Loss Prevention Officers strategically and firmly approach would-be thieves and record the theft. Depending on store policy, they might notify the police and hold the accused person in the back office, or the Loss Prevention Officer could release them but take their photo and ban them from the store.
Good Loss Prevention Officers have keen attention to detail, which they use to spot thefts or vandalism before they occur or recognize when known thieves or banned individuals enter the store. They are confident and assertive so that they can properly confront suspects and question their behavior.
Successful Loss Prevention Officers have good judgement about how to approach different people and safely retrieve the stolen merchandise while dissuading them from future thefts. Good Loss Prevention Officers are also discreet and subtle when patrolling the aisles to reduce suspicion from thieves and protect company assets without making true customers uncomfortable. Loss Prevention Officers who work in a shared space like a mall might report to a Mall Security Guard who coordinates the officers between multiple shops.
Most shoplifters plead guilty because of the overwhelming amount of evidence. A merchant has the option to detain and recover their stolen merchandise and then release you. Store policy may dictate that the police be called to process you through the criminal justice system. Depending on which state you are in, a merchant may make a demand for payment of damages, much like a fine, to reimburse the store for some of the expenses caused by you.
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I'm a habitual skeptic, a chronic people watcher, a golf fanatic, and a relentless traveler. Loss Prevention Agents are a surprise to shoplifters when caught. Shoplifters feel that their theft was undetected. Shoplifters thought they were careful not to be spotted. Shoplifters saw no one following before exiting a store.
Employees may also engage in theft on their own. They may take money from the cash drawer, for example. They may also take merchandise or other items from the store. While these thefts occur most often in a retail setting, theft can occur in any business.
Employees could steal office supplies, client lists, or petty cash. Any and all of these thefts cost the company money in lost assets. A loss prevention manager both identifies risk factors for theft and helps create programs that minimize the possibility of theft in the first place. A loss prevention manager, for example, may oversee register receipts and transactions to look for red flags that suggest an employee is engaging in or assisting in theft.
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