how do you interview an employee suspected of theft

Steps to Take When Conducting an Employee Theft Investigation

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How do I conduct a workplace theft investigation?

Here are some basic steps you can take when conducting a workplace employee theft investigation: The first thing you should do is look into the circumstances of the case and decide if you need to conduct a formal investigation. Not every incident is complex enough to require detailed analysis.

What to do if you suspect an employee is stealing?

As an employer, suspecting or discovering employee theft is highly upsetting. However, it’s best to keep your cool and to remember that the only aspects of the situation that matter are: a) evidence; b) the severity of theft; and c) company policy.

How do you corroborate evidence in a theft case?

To corroborate the evidence you have compiled to date, present your case to the employee you suspect of theft. Make it clear to the employee that this is a preliminary interview to capture their version of the story, not to secure a confession.

What questions do you ask an employee about theft?

The questions you ask an employee about a suspected theft may differ depending upon the type of theft. There are, however, areas that you want to be sure to cover: Extent. The incident that concerns you may be only part of a pattern stretching back a long time. Ask about dates and amounts.

What to do if you suspect theft?

How to respond to employee theft?

What is anonymous reporting?

How to corroborate evidence?

How to keep employees honest?

What is the best way to deal with petty theft?

How to gather witnesses' perspectives?

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About this website

How do you question employee theft?

Here are some basic steps you can take when conducting a workplace employee theft investigation:Evaluate the Situation and Protect Confidentiality.Notify Your Insurer.Assign an Investigator.Conduct Interviews and Document Everything.Gather and Evaluate the Evidence.Make a Decision and Take Action.

What would you do if you saw an employee stealing interview question?

When the interviewer asks what you'd do after seeing a coworker stealing, you should explain that you would avoid a confrontation in the moment, but then report the theft to your direct manager or boss as soon as possible (the same day that you saw the theft is best).

What steps should staff take if they believe a customer is stealing?

How to Investigate Theft in the WorkplaceFollow Company Policies. If you discover that workplace theft might be occurring in your business, the first thing to do is consult your company policies. ... Emphasize Confidentiality. ... Begin the Investigation ASAP. ... Notify the Police. ... Discipline or Terminate the Employee. ... Recover Losses.

What are good interrogation questions?

Questioning the ReporterWhat happened? ... What was the date, time, and duration of the incident or behavior?How many times did this happen, that you're aware of?Where did it happen?How did it happen?Did anyone else see it happen? ... Was there physical contact? ... What did you do in response to the incident or behavior?More items...•

What to do if you saw someone stealing?

"If you want to get involved, just be a good witness. Don't go hands-on. Tell us what they are wearing, give a good description," he said. Letting the police or store deal with the criminal ensures nothing unpredictable happens to you.

How do you deal with someone who steals at work?

How to deal with a co-worker who steals your ideasConfront the culprit. The most obvious thing to do is to call the thief out. ... Don't look for revenge. Though the most tempting of reactions, revenge is never worth it. ... Tattle on them. If all else fails, it's time to speak to your manager.

How can you tell if an employee is stealing?

Warning signs of employee theftrefusal to turn over job tasks to others.unusual working hours.poor work performance.unjustified complaints about employment.defensiveness when reporting on work.an unexplained close relationship with, or unjustified favoritism by, a supplier or customer.More items...

What are 5 indicators of a potential shoplifter?

Other tell-tale signs of shoplifters include:Wearing large coats or baggy clothes.Avoiding eye contact.Watching the staff, not the merchandise.Seeking shelter in dressing rooms to stash smuggled merchandise.Lurking in corners.Taking advantage of stores during peak hours.More items...

What are three signs of a potential shoplifter?

Other shoplifting signsWatching the staff and security, not merchandise.Avoiding eye contact.Loitering near store exits.Occupying dressing rooms for a long time.

What are the six basic investigative questions?

The "6 W's"Who? Who wrote/created this information, and who are they in terms of this information and in this context? ... What? What is the source? ... When? When was this information gathered, posted, or published? ... Where? Where (a physical place or otherwise) was the information gathered, posted, or published? ... Why? ... How?

How do you interview an employee who is accused?

Questions for the Accused EmployeeWhat occurred?If denied, what motive would anyone have to make these allegations up? ... When did it happen?Where did it happen?How did it happen?Who did or said what? ... How did the complainant(s) respond?Are you aware of any other incidents involving the complainant(s)?More items...•

What are the 8 interrogation techniques?

The following techniques were authorized by the U.S. military:Yelling.Loud music, and light control.Environmental manipulation.Sleep deprivation/adjustment.Stress positions.20-hour interrogations.Controlled fear (including use of dogs)

What would you do if you saw a coworker doing something unethical interview question?

Q: If you saw a coworker doing something dishonest, what would you do? A: According to the employee handbook, contract, or past practice, inform the most relevant authority(ies) about specific behaviors witnessed. Follow handbook, contract, or past practice concerning handling the potential dishonest behavior.

What would you do if you saw someone being unsafe at work?

Report unsafe and unhealthy situations and injuries to your supervisor immediately in the company. You should speak up if you think you or anyone in the company could be hurt while working. It is a priority to maintain safety and health of the workers and to prevent and lower the number of worker accidents.

What would you do if you witnessed someone doing something wrong job question?

I would talk to the colleague, explain what's wrong, and ask them to return to work. If it didn't help, however, and the situation repeated several times, I would tell the manger about it.

What NOT to Do When an Employee Is Stealing | Kiplinger

Go to the police - Just don’t threaten to unless paid. So, Jill can go to the police and request that criminal charges are filed against Taylor, but she cannot use that as leverage to get the ...

If you saw a co-worker stealing, what would you do? 7 sample answers

Collegiality and team spirit is important, but everything has some limits. Many retailers promote team spirit and teamwork in the workplace. It may suggest that you should perhaps forgive a small misstep of your colleague, maybe even repeatedly, as long as it isn’t something major.And a theft of a small item can hardly have an impact on a supermarket with a turnover in millions of dollars…

What Can I Do if My Employer Wrongfully Accuses Me of Theft?

Plan your defense by developing concrete ways to refute each point of argument your employer made. For example, if your employer accuses you of padding your expense account from a certain time period, go back through all of your credit card receipts, mileage logs and other documentation that shows individual transactions and the purpose for each expenditure.

What to do if you suspect theft?

If you’re convinced that theft has occurred, conduct a thorough investigation to gather the evidence you need to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt. Consult your attorney for guidance, and take these steps without delay: Begin promptly so the statutes of limitations don’t run out.

How to respond to employee theft?

The best way to respond to employee theft is to prevent it from occurring in the first place: Use caution when recruiting. Insist on references and validate them. Require criminal background checks of all new employees. Implement internal controls to safeguard your assets.

What is anonymous reporting?

Provide an anonymous means for employees to report suspicious activity. Employee theft can be a significant drain on your business. Preventive measures, ongoing vigilance, and a prompt and thorough response to any suspected incidents can help you keep your business resilient and your employees honest.

How to corroborate evidence?

To corroborate the evidence you have compiled to date, present your case to the employee you suspect of theft. Make it clear to the employee that this is a preliminary interview to capture their version of the story, not to secure a confession. Focus on the facts and communicate in a respectful, even-handed manner.

How to keep employees honest?

Monitor your employees and operations to keep your staff honest, but steer clear of micromanaging employees unless it’s welcome or necessary. Perform routine financial audits. Check stock and equipment on a regular basis. Provide an anonymous means for employees to report suspicious activity.

What is the best way to deal with petty theft?

For petty theft, a written warning, probationary period and restitution may be sufficient. Present the evidence and disciplinary measures to the employee in a confidential meeting. Have one other person in the room to deter any aggression that may arise.

How to gather witnesses' perspectives?

Gather the perspectives of any witnesses through one-on-one interviews. Before you meet, formulate the questions you wish to ask to ensure you cover all key points. Take detailed notes.

How to stop an interview at any time?

Provide the employee a document stating that they acknowledge that they can stop the interview at any time and are free to leave at any time. Have them sign that document for your file. Document the start and stop time of the interview and document any offering of a break for use of a restroom or drink even if it is refused. Document the time of those offerings and acceptance/refusal. Prepare a document ahead of time that has the following:

How to reduce guilt in an interview?

This is especially true when they see a member of management steal. There could be others involved. Use that as a method to reduce the person’s feelings of guilt. They were simply going along with others. “Was this your idea or were you just going along?”

How long should an interview be?

How long? Be very mindful of the duration of the interview. If an admission has not been made within an hour then it is unlikely that any further discussion will bring one. It is important to understand that this does not mean there is a standard to length of interviews nor does it suggest that haste is important. Simply keep in mind that the employee should never be given the impression that they will sit there until they confess or that they do not have the option to end the interview. However, my experience of well over 1000 such interviews tells me that an hour is on the outer edge of reasonable time when interviewing someone and no admissions have been obtained.

What happens if an interviewer is not trained?

If the interviewer is not trained, at the very least there should be company procedures established to guide non-investigative personnel. Conducting “cold” interviews whereby a series of people are interviewed in hopes of gaining an admission, is not for the untrained.

What are interview and interrogation skills?

Interview and interrogation skills are a mixture of recognizing body language, knowing that no one admits to wrongdoing initially, being patient and knowing how and when to ask questions. The examples on TV shows are nothing like they are in reality, especially when dealing with theft and embezzlement.

Why do people get admissions in interviews?

Admissions in interviews come as the result of the person’s belief that you, the interviewer, understand why they did it. In other words we all create internal rules that allow us to do certain things that may be “bad”: I’ll start my diet tomorrow, Lying just a little bit is okay, I needed the money to care for my family, etc. Regardless of the justification the person has created in their mind, unless you can empathize (truthfully or not) with the “why”, admissions will never come forth.

Is it personal to interview someone for theft?

It’s not personal. But it is difficult for some to place themselves in the role as the simple interviewer. This is especially true in small companies. A direct supervisor is probably the last choice to conduct an interview alleging theft or embezzlement.

What is employee theft?

From Bplans.com: “Employee thefts run the gamut from nicking office supplies from the storage room and stealing from coworkers’ lockers to falsely filling out time sheets, mishandling company intellectual property, customer identity theft and worse. Because there’s so much variation in severity of possible workplace theft, there’s almost never a hard and fast rule for how to deal with it when it happens.” [Emphasis added]

Can employees steal from you?

Regardless of how it happens, employee theft is upsetting. It is a betrayal of trust in you and your business, can jeopardize your business, and damage your reputation. While you can minimize the risk of employee theft by keeping staff honest, insisting on references, performing background checks, and implementing security procedures, you can’t eliminate the possibility that an employee will steal from you.

How to reduce the chances of theft?

Prevention always beats the cure. So, what measures can a company implement to reduce the chances of theft? The following tactics are great ways to dramatically lower those fast-growing rates of employee stealing.#N#1. Recruit with caution - All potential employees should be screened via human resources before being welcomed into the team. This involves checking and validating references and insisting that all new staff undergo a background check.#N#2. Have a fraud and theft policy in place and ensure all staff members are aware - Developing a strategy to deal with theft and gross misconduct ahead of time will make it easier for an employer to take quick and decisive action, while further serving as a warning to staff that theft is taken seriously. Employees should be regularly trained in this policy and understand the consequences of a violation. Provide an anonymous avenue for employees to report suspicious behavior as part of this.#N#3. Regularly oversee employees and operations - This will ensure staff members know they are being watched, but not micromanaged. Also, remember to conduct regular financial audits alongside inventory counts of stock and equipment.

Should you threaten to prosecute someone?

Don't threaten to prosecute unless the intent to press charges is there - Taking someone to court is expensive and time-consuming. Depending on the case, this might not be the best way forward so don't threaten prosecution unless it is necessary.

Can you restrain a suspected employee?

Do not restrain or attempt to detain the suspected employee - Falsely detaining someone is not only unlawful, but it can lead to charges being brought against the detainer. It can also spark a dangerous scenario for both parties.

How to investigate a theft?

If you suspect an employee has been stealing from you but you cannot prove it, you should investigate before accusing them of anything. For example, you could: 1 interview witnesses (i.e. other employees); 2 search for evidence of the theft; and 3 review CCTV/surveillance footage.

What to do if employee is engaged in theft?

If you are convinced your employee has been engaging in significant theft, you should contact the police. The police can investigate the issue as they would any other allegation of theft.

How Do I Manage More Serious Employee Theft?

The National Employment Standards allow you to terminate an employee without notice if they have committed serious misconduct.

What Can You Do to Prevent Theft?

Realistically, you cannot prevent all potential theft. However, there are measures you can put in place to attempt to curtail this. For example, you may:

How Do I Find Out if an Employee Is Stealing?

If you suspect an employee has been stealing from you, but you cannot prove it, you should investigate before accusing them of anything. For example, you could:

What happens if you discover theft?

If you discover more significant theft, you may have grounds to terminate the employment. You should always consult the employment agreement and speak with an employment lawyer before you take serious action. If you need help dealing with a workplace issue, contact LegalVision’s employment lawyers on 1300 544 755 or fill out the form on this page.

What happens if an employee takes office stationary?

If an employee has been involved in a minor theft, such as taking office stationary, you are unlikely to be in a position to immediately terminate their employment. In this case, you should first issue the employee with a verbal or written warning. If the theft continues, it might amount to serious misconduct. ...

Why Employees Steal

When caught stealing at work, research shows many employees say that the company made it easy to act dishonestly. They say the temptation was too good to resist, even though they knew stealing was wrong.

Investigating Suspicions of Theft

In dealing with the possibility of theft, a company must seek to gather evidence that theft has happened. They must also be able to link that to a particular person. Accusing somebody of theft is a highly risky move to take unless you have hard evidence to back it up. Obviously, the likes of CCTV can help prove guilt in certain circumstances.

Seek Legal Advice Before Confronting an Employee

If an employee suspected of theft isn’t caught, once you have gathered enough evidence, you need to seek legal advice. If your advisor feels you have enough evidence to prove their guilt then you should have a disciplinary interview. It’s important that you conduct any interview with the person in a calm and rational manner.

The Interview

If you opt for the interview, you need to tell them the reason why you wanted to see them. Explain the situation in a calm and rational manner and then give them the right to respond. At first, they might deny your claims, but the more hard evidence you can give, the more likely they’ll confess.

How to ask a suspect a question?

Ask the suspect a question the answer to which you already know. This way you can see whether they're willing to answer your questions correctly.

How to interview a person who is nervous?

1. Start the interview with light conversation. While doing so, establish the character of the questioned person. This may involve their occupation, musical preferences, family, etc. During this preliminary chat look for signs if the person is nervous and scared, prone to bragging, confident or not.

What does it mean when a suspect says they don't remember their license number?

Some questions, like the color of a hit-and-run vehicle are easy to answer and the suspect saying they don't remember is an obvious attempt to conceal something. On the other hand, it would be strange for the interrogated person to have seen or remember the license number, so answering this question would show them having thought the whole thing over.

How to tell if someone is lying?

These may include crossing the hands (defensive position), sitting on the edge of the chair, too relaxed posture, tilting their head to the right, looking up as they think of the answer .

What is the best way to interrogate a suspect?

You shouldn't try to interrogate anyone if you lose your nerve or have a prejudice as to the innocence of the person. Be calm and try to find the truth, not to prove you're right in your suspicions. Be suspicious yourself so that the suspect is mystified.

What to do when you find a major inconsistency in the suspect's story?

When you find a major inconsistency in the suspect's story don't be too quick to point it out. Let them build the rest of their story on a false base.

Do you lie when questioned?

Remember that everyone lies when questioned. It does not mean they're a criminal.

How to prevent theft in the workplace?

It’s also good practice to provide a clear zero-tolerance policy regarding workplace theft, along with a definition in your employee handbook as to what can constitute theft. Restricted access areas should be clearly marked to ensure that there is no confusion. Provide your employees with storage lockers to avoid interpersonal theft. And last but not least, install a professional security system that suits your company’s needs, such as security cameras and an alarm system. In the best-case scenario, you’ll be able to prevent workplace theft using these methods. But even if theft does happen, you’ll be equipped with evidence and clear information.

How long does it take to stop stealing from a company?

A common behavioral trend of employees who regularly steal from the workplace is to stop their criminal behavior for up to several months before continuing again, once their employer has relaxed and stopped watching them closely. If your decision was to terminate their employment, it’s especially important to supervise your employee while they leave—allowing the terminated employee to leave with store keys, company ID or sensitive company information invites retribution later. If your company uses keypads, you should consider having the codes changed immediately. However, terminating an employee is not something to take lightly; unless explicitly stated in company policy, it should only be considered if the circumstances are severe or take place over a long period of time.

What do you need to terminate an employee?

Should you decide to later terminate the offending employee, you’ll need documentation. Catalogue every piece of evidence, including physical evidence, witness testimony, security footage, financial documents, etc. Remember to document every incident along with the date and time. 2. Evaluate the situation at hand.

Is theft big enough to get the police involved?

Is this theft big enough to get the police involved? It may be very useful to acquire a police report for additional documentation, and it gives you the testimony of the police should complications arise later. However, there are drawbacks—you may erode trust between yourself and your other employees, and you may lose control of the situation by unwittingly putting the police in charge of what happens to your employee.

Is there a hard rule for workplace theft?

Because there’s so much variation in severity of possible workplace theft, there’s almost never a hard and fast rule for how to deal with it when it happens. The following guidelines can help you make wiser and more informed decisions about how to handle employee theft:

What to do if you suspect theft?

If you’re convinced that theft has occurred, conduct a thorough investigation to gather the evidence you need to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt. Consult your attorney for guidance, and take these steps without delay: Begin promptly so the statutes of limitations don’t run out.

How to respond to employee theft?

The best way to respond to employee theft is to prevent it from occurring in the first place: Use caution when recruiting. Insist on references and validate them. Require criminal background checks of all new employees. Implement internal controls to safeguard your assets.

What is anonymous reporting?

Provide an anonymous means for employees to report suspicious activity. Employee theft can be a significant drain on your business. Preventive measures, ongoing vigilance, and a prompt and thorough response to any suspected incidents can help you keep your business resilient and your employees honest.

How to corroborate evidence?

To corroborate the evidence you have compiled to date, present your case to the employee you suspect of theft. Make it clear to the employee that this is a preliminary interview to capture their version of the story, not to secure a confession. Focus on the facts and communicate in a respectful, even-handed manner.

How to keep employees honest?

Monitor your employees and operations to keep your staff honest, but steer clear of micromanaging employees unless it’s welcome or necessary. Perform routine financial audits. Check stock and equipment on a regular basis. Provide an anonymous means for employees to report suspicious activity.

What is the best way to deal with petty theft?

For petty theft, a written warning, probationary period and restitution may be sufficient. Present the evidence and disciplinary measures to the employee in a confidential meeting. Have one other person in the room to deter any aggression that may arise.

How to gather witnesses' perspectives?

Gather the perspectives of any witnesses through one-on-one interviews. Before you meet, formulate the questions you wish to ask to ensure you cover all key points. Take detailed notes.