How to Reduce Theft in Warehouses

Security is one of the primary ongoing issues that companies across the business landscape face. Even in an age that has seen countless advancements in protection for physical and digital assets alike, it can still seem like maintaining adequate security levels is a constant battle. This is especially true with warehouses, in which the mix of many assets, large spaces, and a large number of people going in and out throughout the day all come together to create a difficult security situation for those that aren’t fully equipped to handle it.

At ICSYS, we exist to provide warehouses, work sites, and businesses with better solutions to their inventory and security requirements. So, let’s take a look at a few ways that your security can be improved, and how to protect your warehouse from theft in sustainable ways.

Understand What the Warning Signs Are

Before you can begin to reduce and/or prevent theft in your warehouse, it’s important to first know how said theft can be detected. This will ensure that you know what to look for, and where to focus your efforts in prevention. There are several ways in which you can do this:

1. Check all sales records against your stock records. While small differences may be simply due to human error or losses due to broken/outdated stock, larger differences that remain unaccounted for may suggest theft is taking place with certain items.
2. At the same time as your stock records, also pay attention to any missing documentation or documentation that may have been duplicated. Missing or willfully inaccurate documentation may be a cause for concern and should be checked semi-regularly for discrepancies.
3. Speak with your staff if you believe theft may be occurring and see if anyone has noticed anything. This shouldn’t be an accusatory process, but if you have a large number of staff members, it’s possible that, in the case of theft taking place, someone may have noticed something off that could prove useful.
4. Observe where certain stock is being placed within the warehouse. In the case of theft, items may be left near doors or open areas. A considerable amount of theft that occurs is, after all, opportunistic, and stock that isn’t being adequately protected within the facility is far more at risk.

These are by no means the only signs that your warehouse may have a theft issue, but they are important to look out for when managing a facility. It’s also suggested that you look out for people that you don’t recognise, as well as staff that appear to be working strange hours or acting in strange ways that seem incongruous with the effective completion of their duties. Neither is confirmation that theft is occurring, but paying attention to changes of this kind will allow you a higher level of control over your warehouse’s security.

Keep Your Employees Informed & Updated

Whether theft is occurring from inside or outside the company, it’s important to give your staff information on any theft policies and anti-theft measures that should be taken within your business. After all, each business, warehouse and area is likely to have different standards and mechanisms in place for dealing with theft issues, and having your staff informed of these mechanisms is the best way to ensure they will know what to do if a crime is potentially taking place.

Consider More Stringent Stock Checking Methods

Just as warehouse requirements have changed significantly over time, so too have the technologies used to meet those requirements. Thanks to a mix of advanced hardware and state-of-the-art CribMaster technologies, Inventory Control Systems has a range of stock oversight solutions to suit the needs of modern warehouse spaces. This includes specialised PPE vending machines for easily-managed PPE stocktaking and management, as well as storeroom and tool crib management solutions to make sure that all of your more expensive, high-level equipment is accounted for and tracked throughout its work cycle.

With additional crib and vending protections in place, you can then look at creating more granular checking methods to ensure that missing stock is detected earlier. This may take the form of cycle counting, in which stock can be counted more regularly within a particular location. Large stocktakes and inventory checks can be imprecise and it can take time to properly detect issues, whilst smaller batches checked more regularly will allow a clearer picture of which inventory may be at risk.

Protection and security of assets is an ongoing process, but with systems like ICS, you can at least know that your equipment is well taken care of. To learn more, request a quote or contact Inventory Control Systems today, and bring an extra layer of security to your workplace.