THIS BOOK IS CONCERNED WITH THE PREVENTION OF LOSSES FROM BUSINESSES AND SHOWS HOW KEY LOSS PREVENTION CONCEPTS CAN BE CARRIED OUT EFFECTIVELY. 'ASTOR LAWS' OF LOSS PREVENTION ARE OUTLINED, AND CASE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATE THEIR OPERATION. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WHICH ARE INEFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING, OR WHICH ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE, SHORTAGES FROM EMPLOYEE THEFT ARE DESCRIBED. MANAGERS ARE TAUGHT HOW TO DEVELOP A 'CORPORATE INSTINCT' FOR LOSS PREVENTION AND SEVEN MAJOR PREVENTION FUNCTIONS ARE EXPLAINED: (1) ISOLATING EXPOSURE TO LOSS; (2) DEVELOPING THE MEANS TO MINIMIZE SUCH EXPOSURE; (3) AUDITING THE MEANS TO MINIMIZE SUCH EXPOSURE; (4) CONDUCTING AN INTERNAL LOSS PREVENTION TRAINING PROGRAM; (5) PROVIDING WATCHFUL PATROL AND EMERGENCY ACTION; (6) INVESTIGATING SUSPICIOUS OR QUESTIONABLE OCCURRENCES; AND (7) MAINTAINING AWARENESS OF NEWLY DEVELOPED DEVICES AND PROCEDURES. THE EMPLOYEE FACTOR IN SECURITY IS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL -- THE NATURE AND RATIONALE OF INTERNAL THEFT, SELECTION AND SCREENING OF EMPLOYEES, EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF INTERNAL DISHONESTY, AND THE USE OF UNDERCOVER PERSONNEL TO DETECT HOLES IN SECURITY. PHYSICAL SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS ARE EXAMINED, AND SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR EVALUATING AN ESTABLISHMENT'S EXISTING ALARMS, LOCKS, AND OTHER SECURITY MEASURES. RETAIL SHORTAGE CONTROL IS TREATED EXTENSIVELY, INCLUDING LISTS OF COMMON DANGERS AT THE CHECKOUT STAND, DESCRIPTIONS OF COMMON INEFFECTIVE BUT EXPENSIVE 'SECURITY' PRACTICES, AS WELL AS AN ANTISHOPLIFTING GUIDE FOR RETAILERS DETAILING PHYSICAL MEASURES, EMPLOYEE TRAINING, AND USE OF SECURITY PERSONNEL. A NEW PROGRAM FOR RETAIL LOSS PREVENTION IS OUTLINED, WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH THE SIX FOLLOWING DISTINCT SUBDIVISIONS OF A LOSS PREVENTION DEPARTMENT: PHYSICAL SECURITY; SHOPLIFTING AND EMERGENCIES; EMPLOYEE CONTROLS; IN-PROCESS SECURITY (CONCERNED WITH DELIVERIES, TRANSFERS, ETC.); DOCUMENTARY AND COMPUTER CONTROLS; AND CASHIERING AND CASH CONTROLS. EACH OF THESE IS CONSIDERED TO BE A FULL-TIME AREA OF CONCERN. FINALLY, THE CHANGING ROLE OF SECURITY SERVICES IN BUSINESS IS DISCUSSED. APPENDIXES PROVIDE CHECKLISTS FOR WAYS TO PREVENT INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL THEFT AND FOR PHYSICAL SECURITY, SHIPPING AND RECEIVING OPERATIONS, AND SECURITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED.