Preventing theft by staff
Here are some ideas you can try to prevent theft by staff, especially in the retail sector.
Whether an employee steals money from the till, defrauds the accounts department or pockets a product from the shop floor or stock room, these losses all mount up.
Tips to tackle theft by staff
Conduct pre-employment checks
All UK employers must conduct right-to-work checks on all new staff to prevent illegal working and tax evasion. Most want to see references, too.
But if you deem it necessary to go beyond that, you could consider asking applicants or existing staff to obtain a criminal conviction check.
This may lessen the risk of theft by staff in your business, while also helping to identify suitable candidates to work for you in the first place.
Issue reminder warnings
Employers should gently remind staff that anyone who is found stealing faces potential dismissal and being reported to police.
Raising your business’s stance gives staff clarity, leaving them in no doubt as to the consequences if they decide to abuse your trust.
Install CCTV
Consider placing CCTV in places where the public and private areas meet, including car parks and fire exits.
This can act as a strong deterrent, promote a culture of accountability, and provide evidence that could be used in court should an employee go rogue.
Make sure your CCTV:
- is fully operational
- provides facial recognition and high-quality images
- covers any vulnerable areas
Round-the-clock digital CCTV may also be suitable. You can find useful advice on buying surveillance equipment, from the Surveillance Camera Commissioner.
Conduct regular stock checks
Six-month reviews are not the most effective. Instead, conduct frequent, unannounced, and random stock takes to detect, losses, and identify anomalies.
You could focus on high-value items or areas where discrepancies are found or use real-time inventory tracking to compare stock levels against recorded figures.
Limit access
If you have a security safe on your premises, it may be an insurance requirement to limit that access – whether that is via a key or a password.
Likewise, you could restrict the number of employees with access to valuable stock, if you have concerns of it going missing or items have vanished in the past.