Signs to watch for
- Stock or till differences that recur regularly
- Losses concentrated on a particular shift, user or product
- Unusual cancellations, returns and discounts
- An employee who never takes leave or shares documents
- A marked mismatch between lifestyle and income
- Personal closeness with suppliers
These signs are not proof
Each sign can have an innocent explanation. So it is the pattern, not the person, that needs to be examined. Collect the data first; an accusatory attitude both creates legal risk and may alert the real culprit.
First steps
Keep the records unchanged, review access rights, consult your legal counsel and define the inquiry scope in writing. For an impartial outside inquiry see the internal theft and embezzlement inquiry page.
Afterwards
If the findings are sufficient, routes such as termination for just cause, compensation or a criminal complaint are assessed with a lawyer. For prevention, measures such as internal control, segregation of duties and regular counts reduce the risk of recurrence.
