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Preventing and Addressing Theft

What to do when customers are removing stickers. There are loose stickers in my fridge.

Chloe Flowers avatar
Written by Chloe Flowers
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Your FoodSpot smart fridge is equipped with a deadbolt lock that only releases with a payment method. Because each item inside is tagged with RFID stickers, customers are charged for whatever they take, preventing any blatant shoplifting. However, even with this feature, dishonest customers may unlock the fridge, remove a sticker from a food item, and take the item to avoid being charged.

Below are the best practices you can implement to prevent theft at your microstore.

  • Delivery staff should immediately remove loose stickers in the fridge and note the time and date. This makes it easier to identify shoplifters and not cue others to remove stickers. You can identify which products correspond to detached stickers with these instructions.

  • Some operators cover the RFID sticker with their own label, making it difficult to remove.

  • Our FDA-approved smart stickers can be applied inside the packaging. Test the readability with one or two products before scaling up this solution.

  • Post signage reminding customers that theft will be prosecuted.

  • If you have the BA 1 model (with a security camera), use signage to draw attention to the security camera, reminding customers they are being recorded.

Addressing Theft:

When shoplifting does occur, our platform makes it easy to find the culprit.

  1. In your dashboard, click on the Transaction tab to see all transaction data.

  2. Make sure the “Hide NIL Type” is switched off at the top of the screen. NIL transactions are those transactions where the fridge was unlocked, but no purchase was made. This is your short list of suspects.

    smart fridge dashboard snippet with NIL type toggle circled

  3. Search for NIL transactions during the time you suspect the theft was committed. NIL transactions are indicated in the first column:
    ​

    rows of data with type of transaction in first column

  4. When you have identified possible suspect NIL transactions,

    1. Those with a BA1 model (with a security camera): submit a ticket to the FoodSpot team to request security camera footage during that time. The availability of footage is dependent upon cellular connectivity in your location.

    2. Those without a BA1 model: consider placing your microstores in a location with existing security cameras or installing security cameras nearby. If there are existing security cameras, request footage from your security team during the dates and times of the suspect NIL transactions.

  5. Submit this footage, along with the suspected customer and transaction data, to law enforcement. Once theft is addressed, it typically dies down.

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