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Employee Theft NZ Investigations

Regardless of your business industry or size of your company, employee theft has happened and will occur in the future. Theft can be in the form of proprietary information, data, company stock, cash, stock manipulation, and the list is endless. We can help.

With over 25 years experience in employee theft matters - we can help.

Learning more:

The biggest deterrent to employee theft is the creation of a culture of honesty among employees. Such a culture is more likely to engender good rapport between staff and management.

To create a culture of honesty

  • Implement strict hiring practices using pre-employment screening checks.
  • Introduce policies to prevent theft of your stock - it is THEFT not shrinkage - and discuss these with employees. Impress upon them how important it is for the business to prevent stock loss.
  • Train your staff in the correct way to do things. Make it clear that a position of low tolerance will be taken if procedures are not followed.
  • Make staff aware that they have a shared responsibility to reduce theft from the store. This will help reduce customer (and employee) theft.
  • Make it clear that ALL thieves will be prosecuted, whether they are employees or customers.
  • Let staff know that colleagues who steal from the business are also capable of raiding workmates' bags, coats and lockers.
  • Hold regular meetings with staff and give them regular reports on the business's performance - in particular any shrinkage or unaccounted losses.
  • Provide a means for employees to report illegal or suspicious behaviour.
  • Keep accurate cash flow records, stock balances, stores and equipment levels.
  • Use an independent auditor regularly and at irregular times.
  • Limit access to computerised records, the safe, keys and alarm codes.
  • Consider changing locks and access codes if an employee is asked to leave their job through misconduct etc.
  • Take swift action when internal theft is discovered. Send the message to your staff that theft will not be tolerated.

What to do when you suspect or have evidence that a staff member has been stealing

You need to address the issue of their employment and whether they have committed any criminal offences.

Employment case law allows an employer to make a decision based on a full and fair investigation, and on the balance of the probabilities.  This is where The Investigators Investigations comes in.

It is advisable to carry out all steps of the fair investigative process before you report a suspected staff member to police. Otherwise, if police decide not to prosecute, any later decision to ask a staff member to leave could be problematic.

Have a question about an employee theft or fraud issue? contact Daniel Toresen by Emailing us. We’ll reply in total confidence by email or by phone.

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