Exposure to the elements for any length of time can lead to devastating consequences. Skin unprotected from the sun may result in serious sunburn. Extended exposure to freezing temperatures, human tissue may be susceptible to frostbite. A body in cold water succumbs to hypothermia. All of these conditions of exposure are risk factors to tragic outcomes. Exposure to violent crime relates directly relates to serious injury and death.

The number of Americans using cocaine while at work has declined sharply in the last few years, falling from 29% to just .29% is good news. The bad news is that since the federal government tightened testing requirements last October for drug testing employees like pilots, airplane mechanics, and train operators, the random tests have revealed that twice as many employees as previously thought are using prescription painkillers and heroin on the job. There are frequent news reports of police closing down “pain clinics” and arresting culpable doctors for providing vast amounts of unlawful prescriptions for extremely potent medications.

The 2010 Marquet Report on Embezzlement was released recently. It’s an annual study on major embezzlement cases in the United States over $100,000. In what has been described as a banner year, 485 such cases were studied. An assumption can be easily made that in this bad economy the thefts were triggered by deep financial problems. The study found however, that the most major embezzlers were driven by greed or a need to live a more lavish lifestyle that could not afford otherwise.

Two weeks ago I wrote about a city employee in Monroe, LA who stole thousands of dollars from her employer while collecting cash payment for lodging and shelter rentals at a city facility (see "Financial Controls Somewhat Limited", Jan.11, 2011).  I mentioned the absence of financial accountability and audit processes as a key ingredient in the “theft triangle”.   Because of the lack of accountability, there was a perceived low risk of detection, which lead to motive for stealing the cash. 

The article headline stated “Restaurant Robbery May Have Been an Inside Job”. A headline like that usually grabs my attention. It detailed a Subway’s front glass had been shattered and cash stolen from the safe. Current and former employees are suspected, because after all, a few of the employees were on the verge of being fired and someone used the combination to enter the safe. That’s a given, but what’s more relevant to me is the fact that this was NOT a robbery – it was a burglary; two very different crimes. I’ve heard many times, “My store was robbed last night!” My response was usually, “Wow! What happened? Was anyone hurt?” “ Uhhh, no someone broke in when no one was there.” So, it is common mistake to interchange the crimes.

 This article from Monroe, LA reports the theft by a city worker.  She worked at a city park venue where she collected the payments for lodging and shelter rentals since 2004.  When the payments were in cash, she stole it.  Her thefts totaled thousands of dollars.  She allegedly issued receipts, but did not turn in the cash to City Hall. 

An employee of a fast food (QSR) or Fast Casual restaurant walks across the kitchen floor slips on a wet, greasy tile floor and falls. He or she gets up and brushes debris from their clothes and go back to work. A few minutes later another employee slips on the same wet or greasy tile floor. He or she hits their head on the edge of the sink on the way down, a knee twists awkwardly and ligaments snap. Within minutes emergency services rushes the employee to the hospital.

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.