The headline in the local newspaper caught my eye, “Pizza shop owner disarms robber”, accompanied by a photo of the grinning business owner with one of his delivery drivers. As loss prevention professional I understand there are differing perspectives on this. I will give my perspective, but want to first state the facts of the article.

Losses to restaurants can occur from just about anywhere. We talk about cash stolen from registers and from customers by a multitude of internal fraud schemes. Food losses can mount from poor inventory controls and thefts through the POS or out the back door. Crime can generate huge losses from robberies, burglaries and external fraud scams such as credit and gift card fraud. Neglected safety precautions may result in losses from slip and fall accidents or OSHA fines. But how about losses generated from members of the restaurant chain’s executive team to the tune of $1.9 million!

The operation was dubbed “Operation Easy Money”.  Apparently the name was a pretty accurate reflection for the 62 individuals involved in food stamp fraud in Palm Beach County, Florida.  Store employees rang purchases, giving cash back to the holder of government issued food stamp cards, and keeping a cut for the store – or themselves.  Little or no food changed hands.  The simple fraudulent transactions converted the food stamps to cash, thus – easy money.

The Shift Manager of the fast food restaurant sat in his car, under a shade tree in a parking lot. On the floor board are unused disposable deposit bags and a used deposit bag that had been sealed with last night’s closing deposit. The manager had sliced open the deposit bag and the passenger seat is littered with the contents - ones, fives, tens, twenties, and change. He will use one of the unused bags to make a new deposit. The manager counted the funds several times, his stress level mounting. The amount is not enough to match a deposit slip for a deposit dated two days ago. Two days ago? What is going on here? Why did he open a deposit bag today for funds to match a deposit ticket that is two days old? Do you know?

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