Employee theft is a $53 billion loss

Stopping any loss from pilfering to larceny can increase income.

Prevention begins with three steps, Case advises. First a store owner or manager should do a security review/audit, identifying risks and assigning a value to each. These risk factors should then be used to establish priorities for eliminating exposures.

The second step in Case's methodology is to educate supervisors and employees on the negative impact of theft, emphasizing the effect on company stability, pay increases and promotional opportunities. Having the majority of the employees on management's side will often hinder or reveal those who are dishonest, Case adds.

The third step he recommends is the development of a formal loss prevention/security program including pre-employment screening, security awareness training, periodic security audits, security policies/pro- cedures and prompt response to actual/suspected situations.

Overall, the main objective is to minimize the opportunity for theft within the business. Theft occurs, Case explains, when the "dishonest individual recognizes the opportunity for theft before the honest person.tt

Story at a Glance

IlEbctlon of Intemal theft. ac tlons, characterlstlcs, happenIngs that arc early wamlng slgns. prcventlon tips.

From his 25 years of experience, Case has developed a list of almost 100 clues and hidden signs of theft often overlooked by the average store owner or manager, He has pub-