Installations

After discussing with you the pros and cons of hidden or covert observation, we install the cameras in locations determined by our engineers. The cameras usually cover the staff operating area, the counter area, the till and a view of the customer.

We supply and install:

• Electronic till interfaces for existing cash registers.

• Colour cameras Analog recording equipment or the latest digital recording system covering up to 4 tills.

• We ask you to appoint a representative (usually the owner) to be present during the installation, and we brief you on how to record and change the recording medium.

• We generally carry out installations after hours.

• The recording medium depends on your individual requirements.

• With digital systems, we supply you from 320gb to 4Tb hard drives which record for longer periods and at a higher quality.

Monitoring

Once all the equipment has been successfully installed and tested, highly trained staff at Retail Fraud will monitor, check and verify all the information on the video footage obtained from the high quality digital hard drives.

We check all the information from you (description/identification of all members of staff, staff and cash register procedures, etc.)

We then analyse the contents of the capture video and data, and the report on our findings.

Reporting

When monitoring is complete and all the details have been recorded, we compile a report on the findings, and we show you the video evidence. Our report forms the basis of an appropriate plan of action. The client has three alternative ways of handling suspected theft:

Passing the recorded evidence to the police in order to pursue a prosecution

Dealing with the matters themselves.

Or asking Retail Fraud trained members of staff to conduct an investigatory interview

Sample:

1500 : Start Monitoring
1516 : Male cashier drinking behind till counter (pic1)
1525 : Male cashier serve's female customer, customer 
          gives cashier what appears to be a £10 note, 
          Male cashier proccesess through on till 20p 
          Non Scan. Note then appears to go into right trouser 
          pocket before closing the till drawer.
1530 : Male cashier self purchases bottle of coke and 
          chocolate bar.     

Interview's

Based on the information in our report, the client generally asks us to conduct interviews with the suspected perpetrators of till fraud. The member of staff is then asked to account for their actions as seen on the video recordings. Statements are taken from the suspects. If theft is admitted, we will advise you on how to proceed and how to try to recover the money, etc.

The interview is the final stage of most investigations, and relies heavily on interview procedures perfected during over 20 years of field experience.

Most interviews with suspects who have been caught on video recordings produce the required result: a statement of guilt. We then offer you advice on dismissal procedures within the confines of employment law.

Maintanence

After our investigations have been successfully concluded, we offer you the option of signing an ongoing monitoring service contract.

We also offer advice and recommendations on ways of improving your cash handling and till procedures in order to close loopholes and to reduce the likelihood of your being the victim of rogue staff in the future.

Categories Of Fraud

SweetHearting

An accomplice ('sweetheart') presents expensive items for purchase. The till operator rings up the items - but at a lower price, or the till operator fails to register items altogether. This type of loss shows up later as 'stock shrinkage'.

No sales/Voids

'No sales' purchases accumulate a cash surplus in the till, which is them removed by the end of the shift.  'No sales' should be exceptional items, and should be checked, in particular towards the end of the shift.  This however makes heavy demands on management time - which gives rouge staff the opportunity they are looking for.  Voids are varition of 'No Sales,' with a genuine purchase cancelled after the client had left the premises.  The surplus is removed from the till by shift end.  

Refunds/Returns

Items of stock are removed from the shelves in a food store and presented to the check out for refund.  Cash is paid to an accomplice (sweetheart) or to the till operator.

Substitute Scanning

Where checkouts are equipped with bar-code scanning devices, the operator passes two items over the scanning device at one time so that only one item is recorded, (normally the low value item).