A Perth retail business owner had been experiencing stock losses and register discrepancies for months. Despite reviewing CCTV footage herself, she could not identify who was responsible. We went undercover and identified the employee within two weeks.
A small business owner in Perth had been experiencing unexplained stock losses and cash register discrepancies over a period of several months. The losses were not catastrophic individually, but cumulatively they were causing real financial harm — and the uncertainty about who was responsible was affecting staff morale and her own wellbeing.
She had reviewed her existing CCTV footage multiple times but the angles and resolution made it impossible to draw firm conclusions. She had also spoken informally with a few trusted long-term staff members, but nothing definitive had emerged. She contacted Alpha Investigation Services for help.
After a thorough briefing with our client — covering staff roster patterns, the timing of discrepancies, and the layout of the premises — we recommended a two-pronged approach: enhanced covert surveillance combined with an undercover operative placed within the business environment.
Working closely with our client, we arranged for an undercover investigator to be introduced to the business in a legitimate capacity. Over the following two weeks, this operative observed staff behaviour, workflows, and cash handling practices at close range.
Within the first week, our operative identified suspicious behaviour by one particular employee — specifically, irregular handling of cash transactions and undocumented removal of stock items on multiple occasions.
Covert cameras (legally installed with our client's authority on her own premises) captured this behaviour on several occasions, providing clear, timestamped video evidence.
We provided our client with a full investigation report, including the video evidence, a written account of the operative's observations, and a summary of incidents with dates and times.
Armed with this evidence, our client was able to confront the employee, who admitted to the theft. The employee was dismissed, and our client chose to involve the police, using our report as the basis of their complaint.
Our client later told us that the losses stopped immediately and that the atmosphere in her workplace had improved significantly now that the issue was resolved.
Internal theft is a significant problem for businesses of all sizes. When CCTV alone isn't enough, professional investigation — including covert surveillance and undercover work — can provide the clear, actionable evidence needed to take decisive action.
If you suspect theft or misconduct within your business, contact Pete for a confidential consultation. We work discreetly and professionally, minimising disruption to your operations while getting results.
Contact Pete for a free, confidential consultation — no obligation, no pressure.