THE LOSS PREVENTION AGENT'S JOB DUTIES ARE DEFINED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE PARTICULAR COMPANY THEY ARE EMPLOYED FOR.
IN GENERAL, THE LOSS PREVENTION AGENT'S JOB DESCRIPTION IS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AND SECURE WORKING AND SHOPPING ENVIRONMENT FOR ASSOCIATES AND CUSTOMERS, INVESTIGATE CRIMES AND POLICY VIOLATIONS AGAINST THE COMPANY AND SEEK RESOLUTION TO THESE INVESTIGATIONS.
THE LP AGENT IS MORE THAN A SECURITY GUARD. IN ADDITION TO BEING A GUARD THE LP AGENT IS AN INVESTIGATOR, A SPY AND NEEDS TO HAVE AN ANALYTICAL MIND. THEY NEED TO "LOOK OUTSIDE THE BOX". IN OTHER WORDS, THEY NEED TO LOOK BEYOND PEOPLE'S WORDS AND ACTIONS AND DETERMINE IF THEY ARE TRUTHFUL OR DECEPTIVE. ONCE THEY FIND DECEPTIVE ACTIONS, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THAT AND FOLLOW THAT UNTIL THEY FIND PROOF OF GUILT. THE THREE MAIN FOUCSES OF LOSS PREVENTION ARE EMPLOYEE THEFT, SHOPLIFTING, AND OTHER ERRORS. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, EMPLOYEE THEFT ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 64% OF A COMPANY'S TOTAL LOSS AND THAT IS WHERE THE LP AGENT'S MAIN FOCUS NEEDS TO BE; ON THE EMPLOYEE.
SHOPLIFTERS AND STORE PROTECTION ARE OTHER FOCUSES OF THE LP AGENT. SHOPLIFTING ACCOUNTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 30% OF A COMPANY'S TOTAL LOSS; SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN LIGHTLY EITHER. SHOPLIFTING CAN MAKE YOU OR BREAK YOU JUST AS EMPLOYEE THEFT CAN. TO CATCH A SHOPLIFTER REQUIRES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INTELLIGENCE AS WELL. THE LP AGENT NEEDS TO WATCH ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS IN THE STORE AND TRY TO PROFILE THE ONE'S THAT ARE LIKELY TO STEAL. THE REMAINING 6% OF A COMPANY'S LOSS WILL BE CLERICAL AND PAPERWORK ERRORS.
SOME OF THE LP AGENT'S ACTIVITIES INCLUDE REVIEWING SURVEILLANCE TAPES, RESEARCHING PAPERWORK LOOKING FOR FRAUD, SURVEILLANCE OF SUSPECTED EMPLOYEES, SURVEILLANCE OF CUSTOMERS AND IDENTIFICATION OF SHOPLIFTERS, APPREHENSION OF SHOPLIFTERS, COURT APPEARANCE AND PARTICIPATION IN THE TRIAL PROCESS. A KNOWLEDGE OF CRIMINAL LAW IS ALSO HELPFUL TO THE LP AGENT.
