RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
With $517,000 dollars in "shortage" for 2008 at the Randolph base exchanges, management were excited to deploy some new, high-tech tools in December to help prevent theft and keep prices low.
New tagging systems, an upgraded closed circuit television system and electronic uprights at all store entry points - known as an Electronic Article Surveillance system - are expected to slash that number to less than $120,000 for 2009, said Mike Einer, BX store manager, who said 77 people were apprehended by security forces last year for shoplifting.
"With these new tools and a higher focus on accounting practices, we expect to drastically reduce the amount of unpaid merchandise leaving the store," Mr. Einer said. "With this new equipment, customers can also expect an easier time browsing through merchandise."
With some high-priced items like purses and small electronics, customers would have to wait for store personnel to assist them, take the item out of a case or storage bin, wait until the customer was through browsing and then put the merchandise back. The new system allows for more merchandise to stay out on shelves, giving customers more freedom to browse without feeling pressured to hurry.
But the upgrades aren't just to ease the pain of shopping.
Previous tags could be cut and tossed, allowing shoplifters an easy score. Tags used on high-priced clothing and some electronics, now incorporate instant feedback to loss prevention experts when the cord is cut by sounding an alarm on the device itself.
Further, with the new system, when an alarm goes off video camera automatically swing around to the exit sounding that alarm and begin recording, said Larry Martin, loss prevention manager.
"The new system is really efficient," said Mr. Einer. "We're really looking forward to being able to keep prices down for our customers."
The base exchange, like many other retailers, operate on a profit margin of around five percent. For every dollar stolen from the base exchanges, twenty dollars worth of items must be sold to make up for that lost dollar and set that number back at an even zero.
In lay terms, if someone steals a video game valued at $50, a $1,000 television or three designer purses must be sold just to break even.
But the whole idea behind the new system, which also includes an important low-tech item - a cardboard cutout near the entrance of the BX of legal and security forces Airmen warning of the consequences of shoplifting - is not to catch shoplifters, but rather deter crime.
"The new system is much more visible than the previous setup, and we're hoping that will deter those people looking for an easy grab to think twice," said Mr. Einer. "We're just looking to keep honest folks honest."