Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Wondering about Security and Loss Prevention Careers?

I am almost a senior in college majoring in criminal justice. I have been applying to retail stores (Home Depot, Roundy's, and a few others) for loss prevention positions. I also have applied multiple places for security positions. My problem is I'm not having much luck. Anyone who works in these positions, what are your qualifications? I have no experience in it but I am in school and you have to start somewhere. Someone please enlighten me on whats going on. Im located in Milwaukee, WI if that matters.

Wondering about Security and Loss Prevention Careers?
Some kind of prior retail experience is usually helpful. I worked at a retail store while I was in college and then eventually transferred to Loss Prevention a couple of years later. Also you may want to talk to your advisor/department head and see if there are any stores around you that offer Internship programs in Loss Prevention. You won't be getting paid but you will get hands on experience. Best of luck to you.
Reply:those are not careers at all. just jobs to get experience in the security field. but u wont ever go far or make any money in these fields. there are no qualifications other than not having a criminal history in getting one of these jobs.





as a criminal justice major you would be better off using your degree and going for a job in the court system. but it might be tough with no experience. u may consider going for a paralegal degree (should take less than 2 years since you already have a BA). maybe you should apply for police officer jobs if you think you would want to do that. or you can even go into business and get an entry level career as an insurance claims representative. law school would be another good option. or maybe you would want to get a teaching degree in social sciences?
Reply:I work in security and loss prevention, you need to be a licensed guard, check out this webpage, find agency near your area they will train you and you can take the clases there typically 3 days and you just pay the state fees to get licensed, theyll help you with job placement after you get your license you can go anywhere.
Reply:Currently in Loss Prevention. Each of the big box stores has their own qualifications. However all of them will want you to work a flexible schedule, be able to work holidays and weekends. Nights and days. The pay is not great unless you move through the ranks to a District Manager Level. You should have some background in retail.


Some companies want you to be a greeter, others want you to watch CCTV for external theft, others want you to be a wandering store detective type of position. Many of them will not allow you to touch a suspect in apprehension, others limit as to how far into the mall or parking lot you can go. It seems like most companies are afraid of the "big Lawsuit" of wrongfull apprehension or touching a thief. Even though these companies lose hundreds of thousand dollars every year to theft.





The basic rules are you must see the person(s) remove the product from the shelf, Conceal it, know where it is concealed, not lose sight of the suspect. and they must I repeat must get past the point of purchase. Most state laws work around these parameters. In my opinion once the thief conceals it is theft, but not in the courts.





Once an apprehension occurs then you must wait for the police to arrive. Major city that could be never, the suburbs could be just a few minutes. Then you have to fill the local police report, and then prosecute. Go to court if needed and testify. Usually the suspect gets a slap on the wrist.





Other areas of loss prevention will deal internal theft, vendor theft, paperwork loss and then the misc. loss. You must be able to spot the variances between stores, and people in the stores. For example in a busy store near a bus station there may be alot of no sales rung when the cashier gives change for the bus. But even then the midnight crew may have quite a few, when the bus doesn't run. This would be an exception. You will need to learn interviewing skills, to get the emloyee to admit theft, amount of theft, and then to implicate others. You must be prepared to put people in jail, teminate employees (actually just cut the paperwork, they fired themselves) and ruin their lives.


You must have a high standard of personal integrity. If I were you I would get a job at Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, as a trainee LP or greeter. I am sure there are other avenues but while you still in school this would be a good starting spot.


The pay is not great, but that increases with time and experience as well as promotions. Good Luck

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