Supermarket News - October 10, 2001

Rosauers, Others are Taking a Bite Out of Crime


by Liza Casabona

ABSTRACT - Rosauers Supermarkets has joined a growing list of retailers taking steps to minimize check fraud and identity theft. Rosauers is fighting check fraud by using the CrimeBite Authentiprint system in all 20 of its stores.  Mick Mikalson the Director of Security at Rosauers said about the CrimeBite Authentiprint System, "If we can force that person cashing a fraudulent check to put some personal, identifying feature on that check, I know we can get a prosecution.  Mikalson also said "I know it's forcing them to give their true identity at some point in time.  I wanted to take that extra step.  To me it's been very effective and very worthwhile for our stores."  Rosauers places a CrimeBite Authentiprint sticker on cashed checks or credit card slips at the point of sale then the customer touches a special activator pad then touches the Authentiprint sticker leaving a bright blue print behind with no residue left on the customer's finger.  Rosauers uses the CrimeBite Authentiprint system on instant credit application as well as job applications.  Mikalson comments on the CrimeBite Authentiprint system "We have had hardly any, if any, negative comments.  In fact, a lot of people were surprised that we hadn't begun it sooner."  The CrimeBite Authentiprint system  has been implemented in retail locations in 27 states and 4000 corporate headquarters since the company's start in1995.  CrimeBite's customers include Food ion, Harris Teeter, Low's Foods, Fred Myers, and Safeway.  Mikalson also said about the CrimeBite Authentiprint system, "It has been well worth the extra cost.  In a region known for its methamphetamine problems, eliminating the risk of cashing a fraudulent check has forced those people to move to other retailers.  It's a nice, clean, simple solution to a complicated problem.