Loss Prevention

Business Loss Facts and Definitions:

• Burglary - Unlawful or forcible entry or attempted entry breaking into and entering a building with the intent to steal. Losses caused by commercial burglary amount to approximately $1,490 per incident.
• Larceny / Theft - The unlawful taking of your property, by stealth, without force or deceit and includes pocketpicking, nonforcible purse snatching, shoplifting, and thefts from motor vehicles. A study conducted by the University of Florida estimates that employee theft is the cause of about 48% of inventory shrinkage in business. That is equal to more the $15 billion per year.
• Robbery/Holdup - The completed or attempted theft, of property or cash by force or threat of force, with or without a weapon, and with or without injury. While robbery has dropped overall, employees working alone at night in certain types of businesses, particularly stores or restaurants are vulnerable to robbery. Robberies and other crimes now account for 77 percent of all workplace homicides.
• Fire - One structure fire is reported every 66 seconds according to the National Fire Protection Association. That adds up to approximately 480,550 total reported structure fires, resulting in 2,695 civilian fire deaths, 14,740 civilian fire injuries totaling $10.8 billion in property damages.
• Sweethearting - The act of an employee knowingly giving a friend or family member free merchandise by pretending to ring it up or scan the item at the register. It also includes an employee who knowingly ignores items being taken. Did you know that your employees are 15 times more likely to steal from you than a customer? In a recent National Retail Security Survey, employee theft was reported as accounting for 42.7 percent of all retail losses.
• Inventory Shortages - The majority of retail shrinkage that occurs in business is due to employee theft. According to a National Retail security Survey done by the National Retail Federation, retailers lost $14.4 billion, accounting for 43 percent of the total losses. Other losses include $11.7 billion to shoplifting, which is 35 percent of total losses. Administrative error ($4.9 billion and 14.5% of shrinkage) and vendor fraud ($1.3 billion and 3.8% of shrinkage). 

Learn how we can equip your business with the latest solutions in loss prevention. Contact your local ADT Security Professional or call ADT at Need a Phone number.