All restaurants suffer employee theft to some degree.  For some employees, it's snacking or drinking.  For others, it's giving extras to customers (usually regulars), hoping for bigger tips.  For some, it might be forgetting to ring something in that they get themselves, such as soft drinks, desserts, or salads.  Bartenders often "forget" to ring drinks in because they serve and sell everything themselves.  Some employees unfortunately, commit out and out larceny.  Here is a list of behaviors to look out for to protect yourself.

These early warning signs may seem obvious, but they still bear constant attention and reinforcement for the managers.

Secretive conversations among employees, phone conversations that stop abruptly when you approach. Anyone engaged in sending or receiving cryptic messages needs additional attention.

Excessive loitering of around your business of off duty employees, ex-employees or friends.   The reasons for excessive hanging around after hours by employees might be valid, but many times they are not.  The managers need to find out why they are doing this, but under no circumstances should off-duty employees be in any work areas.  Surveillance cameras can be useful for finding this behavior.

Attempting to distract or hold the attention of a supervisor for no good reason while another employee is in the work area or signaling by hand gestures, whistling, etc. when a supervisor approaches. This behavior should be obvious, but sometimes the managers miss it when they become friendly with the staff.

Repeated violations of such security regulations as use of unauthorized exits or keeping personal packages in the work area.  Security cameras with motion detection should be able to help spot this activity.  The employees need to know that if they are found in unauthorized areas, you will assume that they are there for the wrong reasons.

Habitually returning to the work area after others have left to retrieve something.   The managers need to keep an eye out for employees visiting the same place repeatedly and for reasons that don't seem to have anything to do with normal service activity.

Frequent cash shortages on the same employee's shift.   Cash shortages need to have plausible and valid explanations.  Keep track of shortages and overages over time.

An unusual eagerness to "make up" the shortages rather than relinquish cash handling responsibilities. Sounds like they might be trying to cover their tracks.

Frequent cash overages on the same employee's shift. This may indicate that an employee is stealing cash at the register but not "light ringing" sales enough to totally cover it. It may also indicate that the server or bartender has not had the opportunity to move the cash yet.  This will be especially true with recommended mid-shift drawer counts.

Unusually high number of "no sale" transactions registered on any one shift. A high number of no- sales and cancels needs additional investigation.  Your point-of-sale (POS) system should be able to highlight those employees.

Voids left unrecorded until the end of an employee's shift. The craftiest servers will always keep their options open until the end of the shift.  They will then make the "adjustments" to their work to work to their benefit.

Receipt slips held by an employee until the end of a shift or notes found in the trash. Be sure the receipts go to the customers.  Any time a customer doesn't get a receipt, a red flag should go up.

The employees need to know that if they are found in unauthorized areas, you will assume that they are there for the wrong reasons.

Employees making excuses for theft.  One "bad apple" can slowly infect the entire staff.  Once the other employees become convinced that "everybody is doing it", they will ultimately give in to the temptation they face all shift long.

Overzealous work habits. Employees who work through their lunch breaks, seldom take a breather and never ask for time off. may be covering themselves.  Also, employees who refuse to go on vacation may be afraid that their substitute will discover their dishonesty.  

Brian McMillan is Director of Product Development of In Sight Commander System, Inc.  a software development company specializing in restaurants and video surveillance systems.  He can be reached at (714) 940-9800 or http://www.insightcommander.com/