Signs point to need for more vigilance

Is it my imagination or are we continuing to see an increase of thefts and a decrease in attitudes? Anger management professionals must be experiencing a tremendous growth in their gross profits. At least I hope so.

I know we discussed the relationship of the increase in criminal activity and the decline of our economy a few months ago, and I really do not want to paint a picture of “gloom and doom.” But let’s face it, things are getting a little crazy.

Just last week I was having lunch with a general manager of a retail property company and was asked to provide a proposal for one of their centers due to an increase in vehicle burglaries, purse snatches and even one hold-up in the parking lot. You can usually anticipate these things during the holidays or when school is out - but in February, March and April?

I often look for indicators that lead to an increase in violence. One such indicator is traffic. Again, perhaps it is just me, but I have noticed a tremendous increase in reckless driving, changing multiple lanes, and cutting people off. The biggest indicator to me is how quickly people blow their horns at the cars in front of them when a traffic signal turns green. Think about it, if people are getting themselves upset driving to work, how do they handle the day-to-day work pressures with others.

I have also noticed an increase in thefts. Most people think the largest theft issue for retailers is shoplifting. Shoplifting cannot hold a candle to employee theft. Years ago at the University of Louisville, one of the classes I taught was titled “Employee Theft.” One of the highlights was teaching students 20 ways to steal from your retail employer, including the cash register, without having a shortage of inventory and seldom getting caught. The schemes were simple - and if noted by management could typically be explained by a mistake or placing blame on vendors.

After that portion of the class, 30 to 40 law enforcement officers would spend an evening going from convenience stores to retail stores and then coming to class the next day to report now that they knew what to look for, they spotted my schemes numerous times.

There are more advanced methods of security and loss prevention in place today, in some stores. Not necessarily in the small ones. I still see signs of employee theft at registers and throughout entire organizations. We cannot control an employee’s rationalization to commit crimes in the workplace. Just this past week and security director told me his company fired a long-time employee for stealing someone’s coffee mug! What was her rationalization for risking a good job, wages, benefits, etc., for a coffee mug?

If you’re experiencing more “accidents” and vandalism in your workplace, you may have problems that could grow.

Costs

Most managers are hard pressed when dealing with any increase in employee or tenant crimes. Over the past year the common method of reducing security costs is to reduce hours of coverage by security officers and perhaps not renewing maintenance contracts on electronic security systems. This obviously can be immediately effective - but at what exposure?

Last year, I had one of my clients notify me that they had been ordered by their corporate office to completely eliminate security officers at several of their locations. The GM did not want to, and when we discussed it I asked what the basis was for the decision, other than saving money.

Despite the fact I lost four locations I was impressed with their process. They hired an experienced, professional security consultant who obviously knew the business. He visited each site, reviewed activity reports, went to the local law enforcement agencies and obtained crime analysis reports not just for the sites but the surrounding area to review emerging trends. He interviewed other businesses that were adjacent to the site and made the written determination that there was no cost justification based upon risk, exposure and history.

The difference between simply cutting hours to save money and what my client did is huge. The investment for the security consultant was cost effective. If an incident does take place after the reduction - and when asked what basis the decision was made - my client can provide a detailed analysis by a qualified and professional security consultant.

Be aware

The bottom line is that despite what we may hear or read that crime is decreasing, keep in mind that is reported crime. Could we have reached the point where we no longer want to get involved enough to call law enforcement for thefts and vandalism?

A few weeks ago I was walking with a client to lunch. There were three tenant employees about twenty feet in front of us as we were walking through his parking lot. They spotted a parked car that had the front passenger door window smashed out. Glass was everywhere - which means it happened there.

Did any of those folks get on their cell phone and dial 911 or even call the building security office? No, they just talked about the lack of security and continued to a restaurant. Obviously our lunch was delayed as the property manager did call his security and 911.

Take the time to really know what is going on in and around your property.

Mike Melhorn is a security expert with International Security Management Group in Tampa.