Theft and shrinkage are part of a retail business. Where there are stores, there are shoplifters of all shapes, sizes and ages. Shoplifters aren’t just people who steal high-ticket items they cannot afford; they could be anyone stealing anything, from expensive electronics to household items like batteries and Tylenol.

It may surprise you to hear that there are organized retail crime (ORC) rings that have built a huge secondary market based on illegally gotten goods. According to the National Retail Federation, organized retail crime gangs cost the retail industry $30 billion per year. These crime rings are so smart and brazen than more than 90 percent of retailers surveyed by the NRF say they have fallen victim to one of these gangs in the last year.

ORC rings are not dragging flat screen TVs out of stores or pocketing iPods. They are lifting everyday items that people need—allergy medicine, laundry detergent and baby formula. Once the items have been secured, they are sold at a physical location called a “fence” or online, a practice known as eFencing.

Retail crime is a serious issue that affects many businesses. The theft doesn’t always occur in store, either—retailers may also have their goods stolen from cargo containers or while they are in-transit between locations.

Retailers that want to be proactive in fighting ORC in their store should leverage an accurate and robust inventory control. The inventory tracking capabilities within Cash Register Express™ detail which products are selling, what needs to be reordered and identifies items that have been stolen or are otherwise missing. The integrated purchasing functionality is used to track vendor lists, manage item costs and generate and receive purchase orders. Stock can be counted or received away from the register using the integrated Pocket Inventory software on a handheld computer.

Protect your business from ORC and help deter future thefts with the proper inventory tracking controls. Please contact your pcAmerica sales representative to learn about how you can track your inventory more effectively at 1-800-722-6374.