What are the signs of employee theft?
Signs are patterns, not one awkward vibe. Owners who act on a single weird night with a shared drawer create more drama than clarity. Look for repeating cash and behaviour signals you can verify.
Short answer
Common signs: recurring till shortages after process is tight, spikes in voids/no-sales/cash refunds on the same shifts, resistance to drawer ownership or counting, and POS events that don’t match what cameras show at the counter. None of these alone prove theft — together they justify a closer look.
Cash and POS signs
- Shortages that survive dual-control counting.
- Void or no-sale spikes without matching customer complaints or training chaos.
- Cash refunds for tickets the floor never seemed to serve.
- “I’ll just fix it later” culture around the drawer.
Floor signs (careful interpretation)
- Defensiveness about camera coverage of the counter (not the same as privacy concerns about break rooms).
- Friends hanging around the till with no order.
- Pushback on simple cash process that everyone else accepts.
Interpret gently. Stress, bad training, and a messy POS setup create lookalikes. Use till short and catch employee theft for the verification path; staff stealing money from the till for the suspicion framing.
If you suspect someone
Document dates and amounts. Review clips with POS timestamps. Talk process first. Escalate with a fair process — especially in Australia, check Fair Work–aligned steps before you terminate. This is not legal advice; it’s owner hygiene.
Verify signs with timestamps, not rumours
When cameras already cover the counter, floor analytics can help you review the moments behind a suspicious void or short — then coach or escalate with clearer context. Soft trial link below when you’re ready.