Statistics and Facts:

• According to the recently released 2000 National Retail Security Survey, U.S. retailers lost more than $20 billion from employee theft last year.
• According to the study conducted by the University of Florida business losses are comprised of: Employee Theft 50%, Shoplifting 30%, Administrative Errors 15% and Vender Fraud 5%.
• Because of the cost reductions many retailers have hired a poorer quality staff. This has increased the probability of employee theft.
• Employee theft and shoplifting combined account for the largest source of property crime committed annually in the United States.
• The amount of financial loss caused by the typical dishonest employee is $1,023.00 per year.
• A dishonest employee typically works for his or her employer an average of nine months before getting caught in the act of theft.
• Employee theft and shoplifting are the biggest concerns respectively among retail loss prevention professionals.
• It is estimated that 95 percent of all businesses experience employee theft and management is seldom aware of the actual extent of losses or even the existence of theft.
• Studies by the Department of Commerce, American Management Association and other organizations estimate that employees steal about a $400 million dollars a week from their unknowing employers.
• Studies show that employees who smoke take an average of 1hour a day in smoking breaks or 5 hours per week. That is 12.5% of an employee's work time week is smoking.
• Statistics show that there is more money-stolen everyday by trusted employees than by bank robbers.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that $50 billion is lost annually due to employee theft and crime. It is estimate that nearly one third of all bankruptcies is caused by employee theft and fraud.
• The U.S.DEA has estimated that 50% of all businesses have drug and alcohol related employee issues plaguing them and they are unaware.
• There is $27.4 million in robberies every day.
• In every 1 out of 3 robberies someone is injured.
• One in 11 people shoplift, camera systems have demonstrated reductions to 1 in 20
• with an increase in successful prosecutions up from 20% to 80%
• A high tech Video Management System and Access Control Systems contribute the most solutions, for the most problems, at the least price.
• CCTV with digital recording and access control systems are the integral part of a successful comprehensive sales package that attracts business buyers.

Accept it:

You could simply accept theft as a part of doing business. After all, it accounts for less than three percent a year, right? If you agree, and you own a small retail shop, please stop reading here and take a moment to slap yourself. Then, pull out your calculator and take a peek at how much money three percent of your gross sales really is.

Do something:

Recovery is not very effective once it's gone it's gone. Prevention is the most effective method that works. You will save more money through theft prevention than you will save by catching shoplifters. As long as the reward (your merchandise) is more important than the risk, the thief will want to steal from you. If, however, the risks appear to outweigh the rewards the shoplifter loses the motivation to steal from you and moves on. The need to have the crime go unnoticed and the thief unrecognizable is the essence of shoplifting and employee theft. If the shoplifters or employee didn't care whether you knew a crime was being committed and by whom, they would be armed robbers, not shoplifters or employees. You don't have to eliminate every opportunity to steal. All you have to do is make the thief think that they don't have the opportunity. The bottom line is that if you make the risk outweigh the reward in the mind of the thief, you will reduce your losses dramatically. With deterrents, such as signs, the presence of CCTV cameras, spot monitors etc. the thieves will know that there is a big chance that the crime will be discovered and they will be caught.

Conclusion:

Camera systems with On-site viewing, On-site recording and Remote viewing is the single most cost effective deterrence to theft that a business owner can invest in. It will keep him informed, make him more efficient, deter theft and crimes and free him from many of the drudgeries of his business.

Interactive Video Surveillance Inc. has many video and access systems; one will suit your needs.

• We offer digital video recording systems that enable playback, logging, archiving, and retrieval of video data locally and remotely as your need require.
• We offer all types of cameras, plain, indoor, outdoor and specialty.
• We offer remote video viewing options and network capabilities.
• We offer Point of sale equipment and solutions combined with video
• We offer Access control systems from 1 to 10,000 users, used for employee management, logging, security, material control etc.
• We offer all the video and access integrated solutions for all you security and management needs.
• We offer Leasing options
• We do 100% of the system design, installation, service and repair.