We hate you.

[Red_Dazes]

Not my Hobby Tales... but I felt like sharing...

We scared a bunch of shoplifters out of the store today. There were 7 of them, they came in three different cars. Split up when they got into the store and hit every department. And we were all on them like GLUE from the second they stepped into the door. We are still sure they managed to snag some stuff (fast little buggers), but we also caught them dumping stuff they had been trying to put up their sleeves.

After wards (when they checked out and all the employees were up at the registers) the stock men when out to do a "cart run" and get their license plate numbers... one of the guys got out of the car and just stood in front of the license, trying to act all casual (in his wife beater out in the snow...while it was snowing). haha... we still got their license though. And they have been added to the stores "suspicious persons" list.

Just an interesting afternoon. Fracking thieves..

[LillFilly]

It's awesome that you were so proactive about preventing them from even having the opportunity to steal! Great job! Hee, fail trying to hide his plate.

Although, once we had a guy park in our lot, cover his plate with a file folder, and go into a store that had had a few problems with suspicious people lately; I peeked under to get his plate number just in case. Turned out he was worried that he might have been banned from property for something minor years ago, but still, we'd have never noticed him if he hadn't acted so suspicious!

[barainga]

I know its not the intention, but shoplifters help raise prices for the rest of us. For that matter so do sucky managers that always override return policies

[chainedbarista]

wow, i never thought of shoplifters as pack animals...good job on nailing those scumbags.

[blas]

Oh yes, a lot of times shoplifters are teams, not solo acts.

When I worked at DEB, we had training videos on shoplifters. A common tactic is the team method, one person distracts the salesperson (or two or three, however many shoplifters are on the team) while another plays scout and another or a few others do the stealing.

[crazyofficeclerk]

We had a situation a few years ago where a LARGE group of shoplifters came to town. Within 10 minutes, six store had been hit and were trying to call the polices. I was in charge and I knew something was up. They had actually parked a few stores away and had come in as a pair. I had been in the meat room after filling up the case. I walked out the door and watched the one guy put the pack of markdown pork chops into his coat. The second guy saw me and as walked up front right behind the first guy the second guy just stood there and babbled at me that they weren't together. I couldn't keep him there and we couldn't get the police there because they were busy at wally world where the people had gone into the back room and went out a back door with lots of stuff.

[Jester]

Amazing the idiocy of these people. At 13, I knew how to shoplift better and more discretely than them!

Come to think of it, considering my experience, I would probably make an awesome Loss Prevention guy. I was good. I was really, really good.

Which makes me think, as it should anyone paying attention, that these people who were so obvious distract you from the people who are actually good at stealing. Trust me when I say there are quite a few shoplifters out there that you don't see, that you won't see, that you would not expect to see, and odds are that you'll never see them. Because, unlike the idiots in the OP, they know what the fuck they're doing.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

Amazing the idiocy of these people. At 13, I knew how to shoplift better and more discretely than them!

Come to think of it, considering my experience, I would probably make an awesome Loss Prevention guy. I was good. I was really, really good.

Which makes me think, as it should anyone paying attention, that these people who were so obvious distract you from the people who are actually good at stealing. Trust me when I say there are quite a few shoplifters out there that you don't see, that you won't see, that you would not expect to see, and odds are that you'll never see them. Because, unlike the idiots in the OP, they know what the fuck they're doing.

My first high school was right across the street from a shopping center. I knew a group of guys who used to take stuff from there, a LOT of stuff. The things they'd managed to get were incredible. Stereos, full size hardcover books, Whole outfits and such.

[Jester]

I'll admit, I'm impressed with the stereos. Not just that it would be difficult (electronics tend to be better protected), but that it takes some serious stones to pull that off.

The rest of the stuff, I hate to admit it, but I could have walked out with without any problem. Hell, books were my specialty. I never did clothes, but I have no doubt I could have. Stereos? Stones, man. Pure brass ones.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

A sign on a local gun store that many wish they could get away with.

Shoplifters will be shot. Survivors will be shot twice.

[Aisling]

A sign on a local gun store that many wish they could get away with.

Shoplifters will be shot. Survivors will be shot twice.

I'd never want to shoot a shoplifter. All that blood and screaming, and the paperwork! Can you imagine?

[Jester]

I'd never want to shoot a shoplifter. All that blood and screaming, and the paperwork! Can you imagine?

With relish. And great joy..........pardon me, I'm having a moment.....

[Andara Bledin]

I'll admit, I'm impressed with the stereos. Not just that it would be difficult (electronics tend to be better protected), but that it takes some serious stones to pull that off.

I think Irv has a tale of someone walking out with a large-screen TV that was unpaid for, or something similar.

^-.-^

[Mytical]

Not sure about Irv, but when I worked at Wally World..a large plasma TV walked right out the front door. As everything was deactivated on the TV, and the greeter was mysteriously absent, the belief is that there was some 'inside' help. It was a $4000+ TV.

[eltf177]

I remember Kusanagi mentioning once losing a chair; it was on hold but _not_ paid for, something that wasn't clearly communicated. Two people came in, took it and left without paying.