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Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Occupation Detailed Description

Retail Loss Prevention Specialists career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Retail Loss Prevention Specialists

The main tasks and work activities of Retail Loss Prevention Specialists are to monitor operations to ensure compliance with safety or security policies or regulations, investigate crimes committed within organizations, collaborate with law enforcement or security agencies to respond to incidents, direct security operations. In general, for the Retail Loss Prevention Specialists, critical Thinking, monitoring, speaking, active Listening and other 10 skills are required.
Retail Loss Prevention Specialists Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Retail Loss Prevention Specialists jobs. 68.63% of Retail Loss Prevention Specialists have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 4.29% of Retail Loss Prevention Specialists have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
5.15%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
68.63%
Post-Secondary Certificate
4.29%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
11.43%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
10.50%

Tasks and Work Activities of Retail Loss Prevention Specialists

  • Implement or monitor processes to reduce property or financial losses.
  • Investigate known or suspected internal theft, external theft, or vendor fraud.
  • Collaborate with law enforcement agencies to report or investigate crimes.
  • Conduct store audits to identify problem areas or procedural deficiencies.
  • Direct work of contract security officers or other loss prevention agents.
  • Identify and report merchandise or stock shortages.
  • Inspect buildings, equipment, or access points to determine security risks.
  • Maintain documentation or reports on security-related incidents or investigations.
  • Monitor compliance with standard operating procedures for loss prevention, physical security, or risk management.
  • Perform covert surveillance of areas susceptible to loss, such loading docks, distribution centers, or warehouses.
  • Prepare written reports on investigations.
  • Recommend new or improved processes or equipment to reduce risk exposure.
  • Train establishment personnel in loss prevention activities.
  • Verify proper functioning of physical security systems, such as closed-circuit televisions, alarms, sensor tag systems, or locks.
  • Testify in civil or criminal court proceedings.
  • Apprehend shoplifters in accordance with guidelines.
  • Conduct employee background investigations and review reports with operational or human resources managers.
  • Coordinate with risk management, human resources, or other departments to assist in company programs, investigations, or training.
  • Identify and report safety concerns to maintain a safe shopping and working environment.
  • Recommend methods to reduce potential financial fraud losses.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Analyzing Data or InformationIdentifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Monitor operations to ensure compliance with safety or security policies or regulations.
  • Investigate crimes committed within organizations.
  • Collaborate with law enforcement or security agencies to respond to incidents.
  • Direct security operations.
  • Communicate situation details to appropriate personnel.
  • Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.
  • Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with security or safety regulations.
  • Maintain operational records.
  • Maintain surveillance of individuals or establishments.
  • Prepare investigation or incident reports.
  • Recommend improvements to increase safety or reduce risks.
  • Train employees in proper work procedures.
  • Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
  • Apprehend criminal suspects.
  • Investigate personal characteristics or activities of individuals.
  • Collaborate with outside groups to develop programs or projects.
  • Respond to emergencies to provide assistance.

Skills and Abilities for Retail Loss Prevention Specialists

  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Security or access control systemse.g. Access control systems
  • Mechanical lock systeme.g. Automated locks
  • Closed circuit television CCTV systeme.g. Closed circuit television CCTV surveillance systems
  • Scannerse.g. Computer data input scanners
  • Alarm systemse.g. Contact alarm systems
  • Photocopierse.g. Copy machines
  • Digital camcorders or video camerase.g. Digital video cameras
  • Digital video disk players or recorderse.g. Digital video recorders DVR
  • Security or access control systemse.g. Electronic article surveillance EAS sensing devices
  • Cash registerse.g. Electronic cash registers
  • Security metal detectore.g. Electronic wanding devices
  • Fire alarm systemse.g. Fire detection systems
  • Laser cutting machinee.g. Key cutters
  • Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
  • Laser fax machinee.g. Laser facsimile machines
  • Two way radiose.g. Mobile radios
  • Special purpose telephonese.g. Multi-line telephone systems
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Alarm systemse.g. Security alarm systems
  • Security camerase.g. Security surveillance cameras
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Law and GovernmentKnowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Personnel and Human ResourcesKnowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.