Loss Prevention Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Would being a loss prevention detective help me to get a private investigator license in texas or california? I read on the bureau of labour and statistics that this is one of the specialties under the umbrella of the private investigation field. So my question as stated is to anyone who knows about or has been in this situation. I know in texas you have to have three years of investigative experience, and loss prevention investigators do investigate theft, credit card fraud, and check fraud but does this count to qualify for licensing? Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you!

Answer: Possibly but you would need to work your way up to LPM or at least DLPM to have it compare to that. That process can take years. I know of a site that has a forum section for Loss Prevention questions you might get reliable info there. I have linked it here

Question: What are the loss prevention laws in california? What are the loss prevention laws in california? What are they allowed to do? How long are they allowed to hold you before police arrives?

Answer: Usually a person can be held until the police arrive but there are limits,Reasonable Detentions While detaining someone, you must do so in a reasonable manner. Tackling and injuring a customer in the parking lot over suspected petty theft might be deemed excessive, especially if no other means of detention were attempted first. Detentions must also be for a reasonable time period. Holding someone for three hours while you investigate a check, credit card, coupon, or refund fraud attempt is excessive. Some juridictions have a problem with police response times that may take over two hours to respond to your store. This business reality must be factored into the store policy of detaining shoplifters or releasing them after recovering the merchandise.~

Question: What are the restrictions with Loss Prevention at major retail stores? Is Loss Prevention allowed to chase you down? Are they allowed to drive after you in an unmarked car?

Answer: Yes they can chase you. They can use a car as long as they aren't violating any laws by speeding or running stop signs, etc. You can do the same if someone comes into your home, steals something and runs away.

Question: What are some jobs/ways to get a job around the area of loss prevention? I really would like to get a job with security or loss prevention but I am having a tough time finding places that actually have that.. I live in Brockton, Mass.. Any stores or ways to find stores with this would be helpful.

Answer: Copy ur resume and just go and drop it at every single store on ur block, anything and everything close by to u... Ur resume should include that u want or are looking for a job as a security officer or loss prevention guard. So good luck, cuz jobs are scarce now, it took me 6 months to find one, and im kind still looking. I hopefully got the position that I called on the other day, will find out later, Key is dont give up.... For every 10 resume's u put out u will or should get at least 2 calls back.... So make lots of resume's and cover lots of ground...

Question: How can i get a job in Loss prevention at Walmart, Sears, and bestbuy? I have applied for all of those in loss prevention but no one is calling me. What am i doing wrong? i am open/flexible to any schedule but i cant seem to get an interview. I am planning to apply for Targets Assets protection not Targets protection specialist. Is it possible to get that job position? What should i do?

Answer: You can call the stores and ask to speak with their manager for an "informational interview". Just let them know you'd appreciate a few minutes of their time to learn more about the job and what the requirements are they'd be seeking. If it's a job you really want, it's well worth taking the time and effort to do that, because then they'll remember you when you have the experience they need. I wonder if being a security guard for a few months first would be helpful, but ask them that when you talk with them.

Question: Can anyone help me out? What are the requirements to work as wal-marts loss prevention? If anyone who has applied for walmarts loss prevention or works as their LP what are the requirments? I really want a job in the field of loss prevention but i can't seem to find any loss prevention job openings. CAn anyone help?

Answer: You just need to apply online at the stores and then chose loss prevention. When they contact you for an interview make sure you tell them what department you are interested in. I have worked in loss prevention before and recently applied in Target and Old Navy- both places didnt show that they needed people in that area and they did!! It is a secret job in away because they dont want to admit that they need more help to the public. Good Luck!

Question: What kind of certified you need to be for loss prevention? What kind of certified you need to be for loss prevention?

Answer: Each store has its own hiring guidelines. For many years now the LP community has tried to have a standardized training program. That really has not come about yet. You can visit the forum site below as there are some LP on the site. They even have a Loss Prevention section you can ask your question on

Question: Is Loss Prevention allowed to tell a person that is found stealing, who alerted them of the situation? My Friend told Loss Prevention that someone is stealing from their company. He told them that he does not want his name to be a part of this issue. He gave them all the specifics and it turned out to be true. Is Loss Prevention fired the lady for stealing. If the other agents found out that he was the one that told LP. Is there something that this gentleman can do about this? Because he was assured it would be confidential?

Answer: in the 2 secureity jobs i've had the answer is not just 'NO' but HELL NO!!!.. you'll have to deal with that in court if you choice to pleade not guilty. then you have the right to face your acuser which then we would have to bring in the witness inless of course we have you on camara as well then we would just use that data.

Question: What are requirements to work in Retail Loss Prevention? I want to work in Loss prevention or Assets Protection for retail stores like Macy's, Wal-mart, Target, bestbuy and etc.. i have a security guard card liscence, and Completed security courses in Powes to Arrest, weapons of mass destruction, terrorsm awareness, and Public realtions. I dont have experince because i quit during my first day as a Public safety officer at the mall. it was really boring and i hated it. If i applied for a loss prevention or assets protection job will i be consired for an interview?

Answer: Maybe... but the courses and certifications you list aren't really geared towards loss prevention in a retail environment. Experience in a retail environment would help. There are various types of Loss Prevention aspects in retail. There are external aspects like shoplifting, fraud (check, credit and the like) and internal aspects like internal theft by employees, bad data integrity and the like. LP people in a store watch for all of these things and many others.

Question: I want to know how far a loss prevention person for a company can go in investigating theft in a company.y? Someone was question by a loss prevention personel and made to confess that he took money. The loss prevention person then had the person write and sign that he did take the money but he did not show no evidence.

Answer: I don't see how the loss prevention person did anything wrong in getting a written confession, as long as no improper threats or coercion was used. Dana (attorney)

Question: Wondering about Security and Loss Prevention Careers? I am almost a senior in college majoring in criminal justice. I have been applying to retail stores (Home Depot, Roundy's, and a few others) for loss prevention positions. I also have applied multiple places for security positions. My problem is I'm not having much luck. Anyone who works in these positions, what are your qualifications? I have no experience in it but I am in school and you have to start somewhere. Someone please enlighten me on whats going on. Im located in Milwaukee, WI if that matters.

Answer: Some kind of prior retail experience is usually helpful. I worked at a retail store while I was in college and then eventually transferred to Loss Prevention a couple of years later. Also you may want to talk to your advisor/department head and see if there are any stores around you that offer Internship programs in Loss Prevention. You won't be getting paid but you will get hands on experience. Best of luck to you.

Question: How dangerous is loss prevention? I've been a guard for six months now, mainly patrolling apartment and business site during grave yard. On Tuesday my company wants me to get trained for loss prevention so they can send me to a supermarket doing LP. How dangerous is LP? Can i get hurt? What happens if I make a false arrest?

Answer: Well, anyone involved in preventing crime run the risk of getting shot or assulted; that's part of the job. Just this Black Friday a security guard was killed at Wall Mart. If you make a false arrest you are on your own (you will get fired, sued and possibly might even face jail time), because private security don't have the same legal protection and authority that cops do. My advice: find a safer job, it's not worth getting sued or shot so a greedy supermarket can sell their over-priced junk.

Question: What is it like working for Macys Loss Prevention? Thanks for looking. I was wondering what its like to work in Loss Prevention at Macys? Did you like working there? What were your main duties? What was the average hourly pay? Thanks in advance.

Answer: I can tell you what its like working for Sears LP, which im pretty sure is just like anywhere else. Mostly you watch recorded video cameras. We can move our cameras around and zoom in on people. You'll probably be responsible for switching out and filing the recorded tapes. You watch for people acting suspicious. We have to watch & transport money & diamond jewelry to the safe room. We have to check in any high value merchandise. We do daily safety checks. We also have to verify alot of paperwork on the high value items. We check in all jewelry & escort it to the department. When you actually catch someone you have to stop them, get a witness, and transport them back to your office & fill out paperwork, call the cops, & take pictures. You basically have to verify alot of things by watching people, signing things to verify that you saw the items get where they were suppose to go, & you just have to carry yourself with confidence when stopping people. Perosnally, I love the job. We only get paid $8 and hour but JC Pennys pays $10, which about average. If you live in a high theft or high risk area you'll get paid more.Good luck!

Question: Is working as retail loss prevention a carreer job? Is working as retail loss prevention a carreer job? I was thinking of working in this field. I just wanted to know if I'm wasting my time. I need to focus on a long term gig. Is this it?

Answer: No it's not. You'll get fired so easily if a customer complains about you. You don't want to rely on a job like that if you have a mortgage, car note, or kids. Be a cop. Good luck!!!

Question: has anyone ever worked loss prevention for the company the gap? just was trying to get some opinions about the company, and their loss prevention?? i beleive they own old navy and banana republic also.

Answer: I work at Old Navy and can speak for my opinion of loss prevention. Each district has an L.P. manager, and only a few LP agents working underneath them that supposedly float around to the stores in the district. However, it seems that they rarely spend time in the store (I seriously can't remember the last I've seen the one at my store). However, when they do come in, they usually spend most of their time in the office looking at paperwork. Their main focus is internal theft, and it seems like they dont' care about customers that attempt to steal. We used to have an LP guy who would walk around with his coat on and talk on his cell phone and watch customers. They are more concerned with shortages on registers, discount abuse, etc. As far as what I think about the company, Gap Inc is a good company to work for. I find they are very accomodating to my schedule, and they have great benefits for full-time employees.

Question: What are TJ Maxx Loss Prevention associates? Can anyone tell me what TJ Maxx Loss Prevention associates are? What do they do? and What are the requirements to become an LP associate?

Answer: I work at TJ Maxx and our LP guy walks around the store dressed as a regular customer and watches other people as so they do not steal. If someone is caught stealing he waits until they exit or about to exit the store, confronts them and brings them to the store office where the police are called. To be a LP associate I imagine you must be over the age of 18 with experience in LP training and security. I hope this helped :)