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Author Topic: Catching An Embezzling Manager Adam Wilbert Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 590 From: Bellingham, WA, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 10-08-2004 02:17 PM                        A counter argument - I actually want to be on camera. At a previous location, the cameras were staged so that the money was on tape from the moment it was passed through the box window (or over the concession stand) until it was placed into the drop safe. The route between till and safe was very carefully taped and there should be no reason to have money moving outside of that corridor. IMHO, if ever something did turn up missing (legitamately misplaced or otherwise) I want to be able to go back to the tape and say, "look there, it wasn't me." That being said, the cameras serve a much more useful purpose in the day to day operations of the theatre in that you can assess everything that is going on in the building from one place.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Mehocic Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 804 From: New Castle, PA, USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-08-2004 02:46 PM                     quote: Edward Jurich The owner here did not want anyone to know where the cameras are but I informed our 17 year old female employee that the office has a camera and not to do anything she didn't want others to see like get dressed in there. That was noble, but didn't you think that she might compromise the whole sting by letting it slip to the manager. I mean I'm not trying to be a pig or anything, but I'd just as soon tell her to get dressed elsewhere and not include any reason as to why the office was now off-limits. If she or anybody else questioned, just tell her a story that seemed acceptable to all on your particular theater's staff and would not arouse suspicion of the manager.  |  IP: Logged Matthew Nock Film Handler Posts: 82 From: Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 10-08-2004 07:24 PM                     I have to agree with Aaron on this one. While it may have been noble to let her know .... it would have been simpler to say "The Office is an office. Nothing more" Our office is "off limits" to all staff except those on the management team. There is a lot of sensitive information, dealings etc that go on in the office that regular floor staff do not need to know etc. If our staff want to get changed, they get changed in the one of the single large Disabled Toilets. There is plenty of room in there. Unfortunately, it is in the nature of people today that its okay to steal from your employer... The crazy thing is, with the number of people wanting jobs in cinemas, why would any one risk it? (I suppose its because people think they are so good that they can get away with it).  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: California, U.S.A. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 10-10-2004 11:19 AM                     Isn't it illegal to surveil people with hidden cameras without their knowledge that they're being recorded? IMHO floor staff shouldn't be in the office without a manager and changing in there is just not neccessary.  |  IP: Logged Jim Ziegler Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 753 From: West Hollywood, CA Registered: Jul 99 posted 10-10-2004 01:51 PM                     It depends on your state law. There is no federal law that I am aware of that would prohibit it. Constitutional privacy protections only ally to governemnt actions, not actions by private entities.  |  IP: Logged Adam Wilbert Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 590 From: Bellingham, WA, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 10-10-2004 03:06 PM                        I think that such laws exist, but only in places where a person has "a reasonable expectation of privacy" ie bathroom, changing room, etc. I highly doubt that that would apply to public areas, such as the box office or concession stand, or private offices. quote: Matthew Nock There is a lot of sensitive information, dealings etc that go on in the office that regular floor staff do not need to know etc. Matthew, you sound like you're running a speakeasy upstairs!  |  IP: Logged Brandon Willis Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Richmond, VA, USA Registered: Apr 2004 posted 10-14-2004 10:55 AM                     We had some employees a couple years back devise a system of stealing where they'd take a customer's order, ring it in on the register so that the total showed up on the display, and if the customer gave exact change, pocket the money and then clear out the sale. By doing this, the money in the drawer matched what was rung up on the register and they were even. We caught on to this when our nightly inventory started coming up short whenever certain employees were working. We then watched the security tapes, and caught on to what they were doing. We now run a report of all cleared sales for each cashier and if any cashier is outisde of a certain acceptable margin, they get a write-up.  |  IP: Logged Matthew Nock Film Handler Posts: 82 From: Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 10-15-2004 05:22 AM                     quote: Matthew, you sound like you're running a speakeasy upstairs! Well, how else are we supposed to make money? what with all the ridiculous film distributor take!  |  IP: Logged Edward Jurich Master Film Handler Posts: 305 From: Las Vegas USA Registered: Jul 2003 posted 12-07-2004 09:30 AM                     Turn of events, the owner wanted "me" to falsify weekend box office reports so he wouldn't have to keep a feature another week. As it turned out, weekend box office was below the dollar amount anyway. However, I now have no further contact with this owner or theaters. As for the owner  |  IP: Logged Chris Brown Expert Film Handler Posts: 105 From: Fairport, NY, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 12-07-2004 11:57 AM                        We just got high quality cameras installed at my theatre in August. Great picture, zoom, etc. There is a camera now over each set of concession and box registers. The interesting thing is that if we were held up or robbed, they probably couldnt capture enough of the person to ID them, but they are specifically placed where they are to catch employees. This I dont really have a problem with. But if they are used like Jim was describing (like a Big Brother type thing keeping tabs on everything you do), then I would definitely say that's taking it too far. The purpose isnt necessarily high-tech surveillance; its there so if a theft situation arises, you can go back and watch the recordings to resolve it. Thankfully our unit records everything on a DVR, so we can go back and watch recordings if we have to. The employees dont like the fact that we can keep tabs on them, of course. And I dont totally blame them...but I think this day in age, it really is a necessary precaution.  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-08-2004 12:40 AM                        Oh Ed, I'm so sorry. You must be so depressed having formerly been associated with MUCH bigger, better, smarter, more brazen, corrupt, & entertaining entertainment industry operators. They don't make 'em like they used to. Well, we've all got our memories.  |  IP: Logged

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