What's in the Guide
This comprehensive self-audit covers 50 assessment points across 6 loss prevention categories. Score your operation honestly to identify your biggest vulnerabilities — then prioritize the fixes that have the highest impact.
Category 1: Cash Handling (10 points)
- Individual register drawer accountability
- Standardized starting bank procedures
- Safe drop frequency and documentation
- Cash counting and deposit procedures
- Daily reconciliation process
Category 2: Video Surveillance (8 points)
- Camera placement and coverage gaps
- Recording system functionality and retention
- Register area camera angles
- Back door and receiving area coverage
- Video review frequency and process
Category 3: POS Exception Monitoring (8 points)
- Void tracking and review
- Refund authorization procedures
- No-sale drawer open monitoring
- Employee discount controls
- Price override authorization
Category 4: Receiving and Inventory (8 points)
- Delivery verification procedures
- High-value item tracking (tobacco, lottery, alcohol)
- Cycle counting schedule
- Variance investigation process
Category 5: Hiring and HR (8 points)
- Background check procedures
- Employee theft policy in handbook
- New hire onboarding loss prevention training
- Exit interview process for departing employees
Category 6: Operational Compliance (8 points)
- Opening and closing procedure documentation
- Manager override tracking
- Key and access control
- Vendor access supervision
How to Use the Guide
- Score each point: 0 = not implemented, 1 = partially implemented, 2 = fully implemented
- Calculate category scores: Identify which categories have the lowest scores — these are your highest-risk areas
- Prioritize fixes: Address the lowest-scoring categories first for maximum loss prevention impact
- Reassess quarterly: Run the audit every 90 days to track improvement and identify new vulnerabilities
Key Statistics
- Employee theft = 42% of all theft-related losses (Safe and Sound Security)
- Average employee theft incident: $1,890 (Embroker)
- 58% of small business retailers experienced employee theft (Forbes)
- Only 10.9% of employee theft is recovered without proactive LP (industry data)