Inside a Lifetime in Retail Security and the Lessons Still Holding Up
How a Floor Walker Became a Leader in Loss Prevention
Greg Saputo didn’t plan on a lifetime in retail security. In college, his dream was to become a police officer. While working as a cook to pay for school, a hostess at the restaurant asked if he’d ever considered being a “floor walker.” He had never heard the term before. A floorwalker, she explained, was an undercover detective in department stores, watching for shoplifters.
Curious and driven, Greg applied for a job at Montgomery Ward. To his surprise, they called him the same day. He began part-time, walking the floor in plain clothes and catching thieves. It was an unexpected start but one that ignited a passion for retail loss prevention (LP). He quickly moved up the ranks and never looked back.
Lessons from the Kmart Era
Greg’s career took off. After managing LP at several stores, he landed at Kmart, then one of the biggest retailers in the world. He eventually became Vice President of Loss Prevention Administration, overseeing more than 3,000 stores and 8,000 employees.
At Kmart, Greg experienced both success and struggle. He was there during the retailer’s peak, when it outpaced Walmart and led the market. But he also witnessed its decline, traveling store to store to deliver difficult news about closures. “It was painful,” Greg says. “Great people lost their jobs, not because they failed, but because the business changed.”
These moments taught him leadership, empathy, and resilience. He learned how to manage teams during good times and how to guide people through hard ones. It shaped his belief that people, not just systems, are the backbone of good loss prevention.
How Theft Tactics and Tools Have Changed
Retail theft has changed a lot since the 1970s. Back then, catching a thief meant being observant and fast. “We relied on our eyes and instincts,” Greg recalls. Today, the industry has digital cameras, data analytics, and electronic tags. While these tools are powerful, Greg believes that experience and human understanding still play a huge role.
“Technology helps,” he says, “but knowing what to look for, how people behave, and where the risks are, that still matters.”
Why Experience Matters from a Lifetime in Retail Security
After 40+ years in retail, Greg made a move many don’t, he joined the supplier side. He became Vice President at Se-Kure Controls, a company that makes anti-theft devices. This shift gave him a new mission: helping create tools that actually work in stores.
Greg’s real-world experience gave him an edge. He knew what store teams needed because he’d been one of them. His input helps ensure Se-Kure’s products are easy to use, effective, and solve real problems. He brought empathy and insight to a space often driven by tech specs alone.
Advice for the Next Generation in LP
Now working as Director of Sales for the Eastern U.S. at Se-Kure, Greg is still going strong, well beyond retirement age. Why? Because he loves what he does. He enjoys mentoring younger LP professionals and sharing lessons from his journey.
His advice is simple and powerful:
- Set goals and don’t give up.
- Learn the technology, but also learn people.
- Stay curious and humble.
- Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom, every step teaches you something.
Greg’s story proves that with heart, grit, and a little luck, a part-time job can turn into a legendary career.
