With their long hours, changing shifts and inventory turnover, warehouses are a perfect place for theft. But how do you stop stock "shrinkage" without slowing materials handling operations? A new booklet from WERC (the Warehousing Education and Research Council, www.werc.org) spells out the challenges and solutions.

"Everyday reality in the DC can make a facility a prime target for various forms of theft and crime," says Barry Brandman, author of the 76-page "Security Best Practices: Protecting Your Distribution Center from Inventory Theft, Fraud, Substance Abuse, Workplace Violence, Cybercrime, and Terrorism."

Vignettes and quizzes lead to security tips, such as installing perimeter fences, locking loaded trucks with unique seals, performing unannounced inventory counts, and designating employee parking areas far from warehouse doors.