Are Your Employees Stealing From You?

As a business owner, you have many responsibilities. From managing your books and inventory, to hiring employees and customer service. The last thing you want to worry about is employee theft. The reality is that employee theft is more prevalent than you may think. No matter how strict your hiring practices are and how much vetting you do, you never know when an employee has an ulterior motive.

While it may be impossible to eliminate employee theft completely, there are actions you can take to protect your business. Hiring security guards is one effective way that you can deter employees from attempting a theft at your business. Having strict policies in place against theft and ensuring that employees understand those policies are others way to decrease theft.

As a business owner, you may wonder how you can identify if an employee is stealing from you. Are there signs that could indicate that they are a thief? Read on to learn about four of the most common indicators that an employee may be stealing from your business.

4 Signs an Employee May Be a Thief

They have a desire to work alone. 

Depending on the nature of your business, there may be opportunities for employees to work alone on a shift. While some introverted employees may find this more enjoyable, in most cases working with another person is preferred.

If there is an employee on your staff who pushes to work alone or take shifts that are less busy than others, it may be an indication that they are up to something. Working alone means that they do not have another employee watching their every move and they would be more likely to get away with a theft. On the same token, working shifts that are not very busy means that they do not have customers to take care of and more time to plot or their crime.

One way to combat this is to require that all shifts are staffed by two employees or more. In this way, you can ensure that no employee will be left alone on the premises. It can also decrease the likelihood of a security incident when there are two staff members on the property.

They make large purchases. 

While you may not know the financial situation of all of your employees, you do have knowledge of their salary while in your employment. If you are noticing losses, be aware of changes in employee behavior. For example, if an employee brags about a new expensive purchase or decides to take a last minute trip, it could be that they are using the funds they stole from your business.

They are calling in more than usual. 

It is common for employees who are engaging in theft to call in to work or be absent for a number of days at a time. Many times, they want the air to clear after the theft. They want to avoid showing their face at work until the dust has settled. Others may take the money they've stolen and use it to travel. 

If you have an employee who calls in sick after a theft has occurred at your business, you may want to consider that they are the culprit.

They engage in generally suspicious behavior.

As a business owner, you want to trust your employees. However, when you are noticing that money or merchandise is being stolen from your business, it is time to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior. In addition to an increase in absences, the purchasing of large or expensive items or the desire to work alone, there are other behaviors that could indicate that an employee may be stealing from you.

Some behaviors that may indicate that an employee is stealing from your business include: 

• Avoiding speaking with you
• Regular issues with the cash register
• Reports of missing items
• Placing blame on other employees for issues at work 

Loss Prevention Security Guards for Your Business

Security guards are well regarded among retail establishments for their value as loss prevention specialists. They have the skills and training required to identify suspicious behavior among customers and employees alike. Their mere presence is often enough to deter an employee from attempting to steal. If they do attempt their crime, your security guard will be able to handle the situation and stop the behavior in its tracks. They will notify you of the theft so that you can handle the situation right away.

If you own or manage a business that may be experiencing employee theft, contact Off Duty Officers today to learn more about our loss prevention security guards.