Archived The Difference between AP and TPS?

[OGP Girl]

Ok so I was watching some YouTube vids of footage someone somehow got onto the internet from Target's security cameras.

This may have been back in the day however there were some in a black cop like uniform.

Is TPS still a thing? Because it seems like at my store (a Super Target overnight store) we only have AP. And all but one (the undercover guy who reminds me of the lead singer from Breaking Benjamin) wears khakis and a blue AP shirt.

Like, what is the difference or is there even a difference.

I'm lost on this so that's why I'm posting it here.

 

[Pale]

From my limited experience, TPS is basically making their presence known and trying to be the whole "We know you're stealing". They also check receipts of large purchases. With not much else, but please do correct me if I'm wrong. AP is what you think TPS would do, they're the ones in street clothes that follow people around and see if they're stealing. They're also the ones who make apprehensions, while also sharing the same duties as a TPS sometimes. Like I said, I have limited experience so correct me if I'm wrong in any way.

 

[OGP Girl]

From my limited experience, TPS is basically making their presence known and trying to be the whole "We know you're stealing". They also check receipts of large purchases. With not much else, but please do correct me if I'm wrong. AP is what you think TPS would do, they're the ones in street clothes that follow people around and see if they're stealing. They're also the ones who make apprehensions, while also sharing the same duties as a TPS sometimes. Like I said, I have limited experience so correct me if I'm wrong in any way.

Ok, it's just that the security guards (I'll call them that bc IDK if they are TPS or AP) have a blue shirt and khakis and they were called AP during orientation so yeah lol!

 

[theanimal]

AP is just Assets Protaction

TPS are the guys in uniform that scare off the bad stuff from going down and check receipts and such.
APS is the undercover person, usually in everyday street clothes (some stores you will know who it is others they don't really tell you as it is something they like to keep minimal so people don't get wind)
APTL is the team lead for assets protection when there is no ETL-AP at the store and is the equivalent to such.

I may be off some, but this is from what I know based on my store.

 

[soyaxo]

APS - Assets Protection Specialist (plain clothes)
TPS - Target Protection Specialist (uniforms)

 

[HardlinesGuy]

Assets Protection (AP) is the entire security department, made up of ETL-AP's, APTL's, APS's, and TPS's.

APS's , or Assets Protection Specialists, are the undercover guys.

TPS's wear the blue polo uniforms. We used to wear the black uniforms you see on YouTube, but the uniforms changed a few years ago. We still exist, and we ARE Assets Protection

Put simply..
TPS = AP but AP =/= TPS

 

[HardlinesGuy]

From my limited experience, TPS is basically making their presence known and trying to be the whole "We know you're stealing". They also check receipts of large purchases. With not much else, but please do correct me if I'm wrong. AP is what you think TPS would do, they're the ones in street clothes that follow people around and see if they're stealing. They're also the ones who make apprehensions, while also sharing the same duties as a TPS sometimes. Like I said, I have limited experience so correct me if I'm wrong in any way.

Pretty close! Mostly accurate, just TPS's are part of AP. All of the different positions, ETL-AP, APTL, APS, and TPS, all together make up AP as a whole department.

 

[OGP Girl]

Assets Protection (AP) is the entire security department, made up of ETL-AP's, APTL's, APS's, and TPS's.

APS's , or Assets Protection Specialists, are the undercover guys.

TPS's wear the blue polo uniforms. We used to wear the black uniforms you see on YouTube, but the uniforms changed a few years ago. We still exist, and we ARE Assets Protection

Put simply..
TPS = AP but AP =/= TPS

Thank you sooo much! I will say having TPS out there makes me feel safer because I have had a Guest who is a neighbor (long story, has not talked to us in years but hates us and I think he watches us, it's creepy) harass me.

Some ppl on here are saying that not so much time should be spent on the Front End but I kinda disagree.

 

[HardlinesGuy]

Thank you sooo much! I will say having TPS out there makes me feel safer because I have had a Guest who is a neighbor (long story, has not talked to us in years but hates us and I think he watches us, it's creepy) harass me.

Some ppl on here are saying that not so much time should be spent on the Front End but I kinda disagree.

It all depends on the store. If there's an APS, it makes sense. Not all stores have an APS to walk the floors, so having only a TPS in the building and forcing them to stand around leaves much of the store unguarded. Therefore, they tell us to stand around and do nothing while we get robbed blind on the floor.

 

[OGP Girl]

It all depends on the store. If there's an APS, it makes sense. Not all stores have an APS to walk the floors, so having only a TPS in the building and forcing them to stand around leaves much of the store unguarded. Therefore, they tell us to stand around and do nothing while we get robbed blind on the floor.

Oh we have a very good APS! Looks so unsuspecting! He even carries a basket sometimes which I think is genius.

 

[Kartman]

Ours likes to walk around hugging a pillow.

 

[Marcellow]

Oh we have a very good APS! Looks so unsuspecting! He even carries a basket sometimes which I think is genius.

My APS needs to do that because he's pretty obvious and I can guarantee that leaning over softlines clothing racks staring isn't undercover.

 

[soyaxo]

The APL who comes from another store to ours sometimes is super great. He pretends to shop. Our APS is not as discreet but he's very good at what he does anyway.

 

[HRZone]

Our TPS is amazing but as a TPS he is not allowed to apprehend a suspect unless our ETL AP is there.

 

[Octavian11]

The APS we have had at our store for awhile probably moonlights as a ninja. This person is scary good at undercover work/apprehensions and pairs nicely with our gigantic uniformed TPS. They'll all be looking at the huge guy in uniform while the little undercover guy has probably dropped silently from from the ceiling on a repel line. Poor thieves.

 

[redeye58]

*rappel line

 

[pinkp2ie]

My APS needs to do that because he's pretty obvious and I can guarantee that leaning over softlines clothing racks staring isn't undercover.

I've seen four APSes before in my life time... all are bad at being undercover.

 

[Kartman]

I would have elaborate disguises.