Editorial
NEW KID ON THE BLOG
Making Fraud Awareness
a Lifestyle Decision
John Murphy, Head of Security Lifestyle Sports
L
ifestyle Sports is a systems, i.e. CCTV, EAS and those who did not
leading sports retailer, tagging support you and are attend a briefing session
operating almost 100 you using them correctly? were made fully aware of
stores in both Ireland One of our suppliers the event.
and the Czech sponsored 800 mini Crunchie Store managers provided
Republic. Please let me first chocolate bars, which feedback and the lasting
introduce myself – I am the provided to the opportunity impression of the day was
head of security for Lifestyle to use the obvious slogan of very positive. According to
Sports and was appointed to ‘thank Crunchie its fraud store managers both the
this position in January 2005, spreading the loss prevention day!’ – Although I cannot management sales team
following almost four and message to our store teams. accept credit, for this idea realised the importance of
half years as a regional Coupled with the most was previously used to loss prevention awareness
security manager with the recent Garda crime statistics launch Retail Fraud and how poor awareness and
company. My main showing that ‘theft from Awareness Day at the Retail customer service leads to
responsibilities include the shops’ has increased by 6% Fraud conference earlier this greater opportunity for
management of an in-house on the previous 12 months year in London. successful incidents of theft.
security team, auditing, risk we seized the opportunity to There was no shortage of The importance of loss
management, fraud participate in Retail Fraud creative flare from our store prevention and the positive
prevention, investigation and Awareness Day on the 30th management team when it impact on the bottom line
health & safety. I hold June last. came to distributing the was a salient point taken
chartered membership of Using information chocolate bars to sales team from store comments.
IOSH (Institution of provided in a team briefing members. One store
Occupational Safety & by Retail Fraud Magazine manager in Cork hid the
Health), and a diploma in and Oris, stores were Crunchie’s in blind spots
security management from challenged to examine, in a within the store. Once the
Loughborough University. In creative way, five key areas sales team members
total I have over 16 years within their own stores and identified these blind spots
retail security experience, 11 the business in general. We within the store they also
of these in security asked store managers to lead would find the bar of
management. communication sessions in all chocolate. Other stores used
A recent survey by the Irish stores where the broad flip charts to illustrate the A summary of events on
Small and Medium agenda included: Your cost of retail loss to the the day was presented to
Enterprises Association People… who could be company by equating the company directors together
(ISME) of over 1,800 stealing in your store and loss in their store per annum with feedback. The
businesses highlighted how how? Your Store… which to alternative value items, information acquired from
crime against retailers is a areas of your store are HOT such as exotic holidays, new our participation in Retail
major problem, showing a areas, which are your HOT cars etc… Fraud Awareness Day will
large increase from 44% in products? Your Processes… Members of the security now be taken into
2008 who were victims of what processes do you find management team visited consideration during our
crime to 63% this year. It is most difficult to comply with stores to assist with store current strategic review of
estimated that is costing Irish and why? Your preparation and security activities and the
businesses 1.5bn in direct Communication… do staff communication sessions on department in general at
costs. know what affects shrinkage Retail Fraud Awareness Day. Lifestyle Sports.
Like most retailers, we are and how can you best In total we estimate that Plans are already
constantly on the lookout for communicate this to them? almost 65% of employees underway for Retail Fraud
new and creative ways of Your Technologies…. do your attended a briefing sessions, Awareness Day 2010! RF
ISSUE 4 AUGUST 2009 • 37
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