

While the focus is restaurant-centered, many of the tactics discussed are applicable to other fields like retail as well. O'Dell Restaurant Consulting offers a comprehensive guide to common employee theft tactics, some of which take advantage of these special functions, here.Reports or print-outs (dishonest employees may pocket money paid while the register system is undergoing a report).Register functions that you may want to monitor closely include:.The customer is unlikely to notice, and no sale is recorded. For example, a dishonest employee may use a register's "no sale" function to steal - when a customer hands over cash for her purchase, the employee may input the "no sale" command (which opens the register), pay the customer their change, and pocket a bill from the now-open register. These basically involve inputting certain functions into the cash register incorrectly, then using the opportunity to pocket some cash.

Employees that steal cash from their register at work often use a set of related tactics to cover their tracks. Pay extra attention to special register functions. This alone may be enough to discourage further theft, but if it doesn't, you'll be better prepared to catch thieving employees in the future. If you don't have this information, start recording it once you suspect a theft.If possible, records of access card swipes, etc.Names of employees working at the time the theft may have taken place.Inventory counts and sales reports (for when goods are being stolen).Starting and final totals for each register or point of sale (for when cash is being stolen).The exact time and date of when the cash or merchandise was first noticed missing.Data you may want to record and/or search your records for can include:.As soon as you notice that a theft has occurred, make a major effort to gather information that can help you pinpoint when, where, and, if possible, around whom the theft took place. Your biggest friend when it comes to catching thieves in your workforce is information. Carefully document each instance of theft.
