Unraveling Employee Theft: A Cautionary Tale from Retail

Greetings, dear readers! I wanted to share my recent experience as an assistant manager at a small retail liquor store that has been marred by suspicious activities. We’ve recently faced significant issues with our inventory, leading us to attribute the discrepancies to potential theft. However, a routine look into our POS system shed light on something far more troubling.

While examining the voided sales log for another purpose, I stumbled upon some rather unsettling patterns. Intrigued, I decided to review the security camera footage. What I discovered raised red flags: one of our employees was seen scanning items, accepting cash from customers, manually opening the cash register to provide change, and then voiding the sale after allowing customers to leave with bottles in hand. Alarmingly, he was also seen typing on his phone, with the calculator app open on his screen — all this occurring during a shift when he was alone in the store.

Despite the incriminating evidence, there was one critical element missing: I did not have direct footage of him pocketing any cash. This left me in a moral quandary. The situation seemed blatant, yet without concrete proof of theft, I felt hesitant to make any accusations.

I know the protocol would be to alert my superior and let them handle it, but I’m wary. Our owner tends to act swiftly and decisively, often choosing to dismiss rather than investigate. I truly don’t want to see this employee lose his job without due proof—especially if there’s a chance this could have a different explanation.

To provide a bit of context, I’m reaching out here for insight rather than advice about formal channels like HR—after all, we don’t have an HR department, and I’m the closest thing we have to loss prevention. The owner’s decisions are final, and I just want to ensure I’ve considered all angles before escalating this.

An Update: I reviewed the footage and details with my boss, meticulously going through a day’s worth of voids. Astonishingly, out of approximately 40 voids, around 35 were deemed fraudulent, accumulating approximately $550 in losses. When confronted, the employee confessed, and he may avoid criminal charges if he reimburses the store in full. However, it’s hard to imagine that will happen. His main job requires a clean record, and this incident could jeopardize his career.

It’s a disheartening situation, as I genuinely liked this employee. He was reliable and significantly contributed to our store’s security. I often find myself questioning the mindset behind such actions. Why would someone jeopardize a well-paying job—without mentioning how difficult it can be to obtain—over a few thousand dollars?

The delay in uncovering this theft sheds light on our need to strengthen store policies and procedures. Thankfully, I’ve documented the situation and shared potential improvements based on community feedback.

Running a small business is no easy feat. I admire those who manage the stress and paranoia that can easily seep in during incidents like these. I can’t help but imagine how overwhelming it must feel to constantly monitor every detail—like counting paperclips or timing breaks—after experiencing employee theft.

For anyone in retail, vigilance and preventive measures are crucial. It’s a lesson learned, and I’m hopeful we can implement better strategies moving forward. If anyone has additional insights on how to navigate these complex situations, I’m definitely all ears!