Holloman AFB Exchange combats shoplifting

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Colin Cates
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- --  The Holloman AFB Exchange is working to combat shoplifting, with the aid of Electronic Article Surveillance systems, closed circuit television cameras and a shoplifting awareness campaign.

These security resources and programs are very important in reducing the amount of theft at the Exchange, which is experiencing more shoplifting than last year.

"The key to preventing shoplifting is educating the public on what will happen to them to hopefully deter them from stealing," said Dave Fankauser, area loss and prevention manager at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland, Texas. "With the help of our security systems, people will find that we are watching and they will not get away with shoplifting."

If someone has an item in his or her possession and acts suspiciously, the loss and prevention team watches on camera to see what the person does with the item.

The loss and prevention team watches popular and expensive items closely and the Exchange staff will make announcements over the public address system to remind shoppers that there is a camera system watching, said Fankauser.

Video games and electronics are the main items being stolen from the Exchange, said Phyllis Keister, general manger of the Holloman AFB Exchange, who reported a loss of more than $6,000 in video games alone last year.

When shoplifting occurs, the Holloman AFB Exchange's loss prevention office turns the issue over to local law enforcement or the 49th Security Forces Squadron, said Keister. Penalties for shoplifting include community service, suspension of Army and Air Force Exchange Services privileges, and loss of job opportunities. In some instances, repeat offenders face banishment from the base. Also, the Exchange is allowed, through the Federal Claims Collection Act, to enact a Civil Recovery administrative cost of $200, along with additional fees that may be charged depending on the condition of the stolen merchandise.

The Exchange has a dual mission to provide quality goods and services at competitively low prices and generate earnings to support Morale, Welfare and Recreation and service programs, said Keister. Holloman's Exchange contributed more than $450,000 last year to MWR fund.

"Shoplifting from the Exchange affects the entire military community," said Keister. "Because Army and Air Force Exchange Service is a military command with a mission to return earnings to quality of life programs, shoplifting impacts the bottom line and, in essence, takes money directly from the pockets of military families."