See Something, Say Something

Submitted by Catherine Willse Stasiowksi
Regional Director of Loss Prevention & Safety Total Wine and More

April 26, 2012

We've all seen the phrase, "see something, say something", posted on the metro, at the airport, or in other public areas. This government awareness act is also important in loss prevention. When I walk my stores, I often see things that might be considered "odd" in our store environment. I have found that when I ask the right questions, I often get a lot more information than I thought possible from my initial observation. I've also learned that when I don't say something or analyze the oddity, I find myself down the road realizing I had ignored a valuable clue and probably could have already solved the problem.

I teach my managers to be aware of their surroundings, constantly challenging their store conditions and team member performance. Most importantly, I try to teach them to speak up right away when something doesn't make sense. A team possessing a culture that constantly challenges each other positively impacts productivity and quickly solves problems.

They become accustomed to asking questions and getting answers. When a person on the verge of making a poor decision contemplates their next move, we want them to consider their risk. Hopefully, we've helped to create an environment where they know someone might see something and most certainly feels comfortable saying something.