Shoplifting FAIL!

[fireheart]

So today's shoplifting episode is fairly brief, but still....this is how it went down.

I'd just taken over from a coworker when I saw my manager head out to escort these two ladies back into the store. They didn't put up a fuss or anything like that. Very unclimatic, but I had a feeling that this was a shoplifting incident.

It was confirmed two minutes later when I heard the following call over the PA system.

"Security call to the manager's office."

Me and CW's:

Turns out that they'd gotten quite worked up, so needed to be calmed down.
I still haven't found out WHAT got shoplifted exactly....only the gossip network will tell...

[LillFilly]

Huh. Usually they make the scene before and after the office; it gets them more attention and pity that way!

[Misanthropical]

Why would they think it would get them pity? I never feel sorry for anyone that has been busted shoplifting and I have seen plenty of people busted for it.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Why would they think it would get them pity? I never feel sorry for anyone that has been busted shoplifting and I have seen plenty of people busted for it.

Tell me about it . . . IMO, it makes them look even guiltier and I'll often ask myself "How many times before have they been in here stealing stuff before they got caught today?"

[chainedbarista]

i can say i feel no pity for them either; thanks to morons like them, shrinkage has raised prices everywhere.

i say make them wear orange and clean our streets; nothing like a bit of public service and humiliation to clear the fog.

[EricKei]

i say make them wear orange and clean our streets; nothing like a bit of public service and humiliation to clear the fog.

I would recommend something far, far more cruel and inhumane -- make them WORK at the store that they stole from until they had paid everything off (but with a minimum time of one month, and not allowed to pay it back out of their "own money", only in Time Served), complete with namebadges that identify them as shoplifters who are paying for what they did. This would, of course, be in lieu of actual jail time/fines.

[Sarlon]

I would recommend something far, far more cruel and inhumane -- make them WORK at the store that they stole from until they had paid everything off (but with a minimum time of one month, and not allowed to pay it back out of their "own money", only in Time Served), complete with namebadges that identify them as shoplifters who are paying for what they did. This would, of course, be in lieu of actual jail time/fines.

Oh god I'd agree to that....and every time they refused to/flat out didn't show up...triple their time and wear a bright orange vest with a large sign on the back that says "Shoplifter". Employees are to treat them as "fairly" normally as possible, but watch the reactions of the customers.

[Jay 2K Winger]

I would recommend something far, far more cruel and inhumane -- make them WORK at the store that they stole from until they had paid everything off (but with a minimum time of one month, and not allowed to pay it back out of their "own money", only in Time Served), complete with namebadges that identify them as shoplifters who are paying for what they did. This would, of course, be in lieu of actual jail time/fines.

I third this suggestion. And make sure to heavily "advertise" this policy in the local media upon its first enforcement, so that the busted party gets further humiliation.

[fireheart]

Thank you everyone, I have now choked on my drink.

But seriously, I do think it's a good idea. Might also put some of them in their place since they also seem to be of the notion that retail workers can't/don't study, don't have lives etc.

[Boozy]

I'm currently fighting a losing battle in my store with thieves, so I like seeing stuff like this.

Just last week I saw a shoplifter get escorted out of the grocery store by a cop. It made my day.

[Ben_Who]

Entitlement mentalities are BIZARRE. I've heard all the rationales that casual shoplifters use to swipe stuff. (Some of them are hilarious.) One might think that having been allowed to get away with shoplifting repeatedly at a particular store that they're somehow "entitled" to keep doing it, and when caught out on their BS, they get all huffy and offended. The rationale is actually, "Well, if stealing from here is so wrong, why did you let me get away with it for so long?"

Love, Who?

[Hyndis]

I strongly agree with this idea.

Also, it really is just community service. Some people get sentenced to clean up garbage. Why not sentence them to work retail as their community service?

No pay, they just need to put in X number of hours, whatever the judge assigns, and this will work off the crime they committed. Bonus points because it gets the store they robbed a bit of extra help.

After all, I'm sure the store could use a few extra baggers. The garbages also probably do need to be emptied as well!

[fireheart]

Entitlement mentalities are BIZARRE. I've heard all the rationales that casual shoplifters use to swipe stuff. (Some of them are hilarious.) One might think that having been allowed to get away with shoplifting repeatedly at a particular store that they're somehow "entitled" to keep doing it, and when caught out on their BS, they get all huffy and offended. The rationale is actually, "Well, if stealing from here is so wrong, why did you let me get away with it for so long?"

Love, Who?

The most common one I've heard is "well you guys charge so much for <insert item here>, if you didn't charge so high prices, we wouldn't shoplift!"

THat one broke my brain quite a bit actually.

(the rationale being that if we charge so much, yet we have to raise prices every time someone shoplifts....)