employee theft - need your thoughts on this

[vanbasten]

i have retail soccer specialty stores, and i employ high school kids. i've never had many problems over 15 years i've been in business. i usually get the cream of crop, because all the kids would rather work here than flip burgers, but this current lot of part timers i have my doubts.

saturday my cash drawer was short exactly 150 bucks. checks and credit cards checked out perfectly, but cash was short. we were busy, did over 4500 for the day. i had myself, my manager, and three part timers. i trust my manager, i can definitely rule him out with good reason that i don't need to go into.

before the three part timers left, i stopped them together all at the door. came right out and told them the above. all three stood there with their eyes popping and had no response.

what caught my attention the more i think about it, was that one of the kids reached down and patted their pant's pockets.

i didn't say anything at the time, because that didn't really hit me.

any thoughts? i kinda get the feeling this was a sign of guilt?

 

[BleedDodgerBlue]

you need cameras in your store.

Not like that does anything for your current problem, but you can get a decent package with like 3 or 4 black and whites and a monitoring system for somewhere around $2500. You can even monitor your cameras on your computer from home. I am an investor in 2 bars, and I can monitor them at anytime from home. Best money we ever spent.

sorry about your current loss, but the world has come to a place where its hard to trust anyone. You should consider cameras, as you will probably even get a break on your insurance with them in.

gl

 

[TJBELL]

Please tell me you have some type of security cameras.

Maybe the old," I know who took the $150 and if they admit it, I will not get the police involved!" while waving a vcr tape in front of the 3.

It's amazing what kids will do if threatened with jail! or even have some local cop come in to really "impress" the thief!

There are many ideas. Was once an L.P. manager.

GL in whatever you decide!

 

[vanbasten]

BDB,

i agree, already have looked into it. just the thought that they are being watched would scare them straight, as well as help out with retail theft.

losing the 150 doesn't bother me, as much as the idea that they would knowingly steal from me.

 

[BahamaMama]

Sam's club will get you a BEAUTY of a color security system (4 color cameras, 4 way split monitor) for under $800..... believe there is also everything needed supplied with the equipment to monitor from a home puter, but not SURE on that part....like others have said, you're dealing with retail, security cameras are a necessity these days

 

[vanbasten]

tj,

nope, four stores in the suburbs and have never felt we have needed that...until recently. i know, i sound like the dumb one now, but we have always felt secure with our demographics, and that we could monitor retail theft with our employees, and not need cameras. but now that we our doubting our employees...well, we have rethought that and are in the process of setting that up.

any thoughts on the person who's reaction was to pat their pockets??

 

[TJBELL]

My first thought was THAT'S THE GUILTY ONE!

Just my 2 cents.

(If you DIDN'T steal it, why then would you pat your pockets????? Trying to flaten the stash????)

 

[BahamaMama]

any thoughts on the person who's reaction was to pat their pockets??

VB... best i can say here is that you have much reason to SUSPECT, but nothing to DISMISS of CONVICT..... make sure if you go with security cameras that this person does NOT know you put them in, cuz if they do, they will find a way to avoid any camera angles.

 

[TJBELL]

VB... best i can say here is that you have much reason to SUSPECT, but nothing to DISMISS of CONVICT..... make sure if you go with security cameras that this person does NOT know you put them in, cuz if they do, they will find a way to avoid any camera angles.

Good point! I know you trust your manager, but I would also try to make sure HE doesn't even know they are there! (if that's at all possible)

I know someone has to record these but the less people that know the better!

I know of 1 manager who was a brother in law of the owner and it turned out HE was a thief of over $50,000!!!!!!

When it comes to money, you never know who you can really trust!!!!

 

[THUNDER]

i know somebody that has a great deal on cameras- so do you -hope your doing well

 

[lenniethelock]

with the monitoring at home over the comp is there audio or just video?

 

[Franky Wright]

I used to get these emails for these real small cameras, I think they were called the XR7 of something like that. Think the setup was $179, plus 50 or so for extra cameras. Have not seen it around for over a year. Maybe it was a scam? :scared Anyone use these?

Thunder, I would be interested in talking to this "person" about their cameras.

Franky

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

I don't know Van I was kinda thinking the kid patting his pants pocket was was doing a "check my pockets I don't have $150."

Would be curious to know if you had shortage before or if this was 1st time.My thoughts are they would have to assume "that" amount would be detected. Could it have been an error coming out to $150 even. Had the boy not patted his pockets would he have been 1st you would have expected? Usually employers have 6th sense about employees that are many times correct. I would say if one fails to show up next week you have your culprit.Sad thing about affair is the thoughts that an employee would steal and the innocent ones wondering if you think its them.-a catch 22