Van Nuys : Meeting Targets Theft in Holiday Season
Strategies to stymie fraud and prevent employee theft during the holiday season top the agenda for this month’s Sepulveda/Van Nuys Boulevard Business Watch meeting at 6:30 tonight.The reason for the meeting is simple, said Los Angeles Police Department Officer Tim Bergstrom: “Crime tends to increase over the holidays. . . . People need money for the holidays. If they don’t have it, they ‘borrow’ it from you and I.”
Aside from giving the standard tips about watching groups of people entering stores at once or eyeing individuals who wear bulky coats in balmy weather, a Van Nuys Division police officer will alert business owners to new loss-prevention strategies.
Among them is a pen that allows cashiers to authenticate $100, $50 and even $20 bills.
“If the pen marks clear or a light yellow, the bill is good,” explained Business Watch Chairman Flip Smith. “If it marks brown, the bill is bad.”
Merchants will also be cautioned about credit-card fraud and dealing with aggressive panhandlers.
The hourlong meeting is free and open to interested business owners.
It will take place at Economy Office Furniture, 6300 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys.
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