Shoplifters

[Chantel]

I was reading a thread on another site and people aren't even allowed to intercept shoplifters anymore at some stores, at least not physically (can't stand in their way, etc.). If they keep walking they can't touch them. One said they had a person come in every once in a while, try on shoes and bolt with them on. They couldn't even stop them.

In 2011, I highly doubt anyone would not sue the hell out of somebody who whipped a CAN at them. That could cause serious damage, screw up your spine or give you a head injury. Blunt force trauma is serious stuff.

[nadiabreckon]

I've worked in retail/customer service for almost 15 years, and have always followed the "Don't be a hero" rule...it's not worth my health, or even life, to intercept a shoplifter.

My mom (literally a 5'0, 160lbs woman) was a loss prevention officer for Zellers quite a number of years ago and she used to walk around the store and keep an eye out for shoplifters (yes, there are people paid to do this). She was not able to do anything unless she saw them actually take something, and even then could only apprehend them as they walked out the door. She was not allowed to touch them, and if they ran away as they got out the door then all she could do was give the cops their general description.

[c_mcarthur]

Ive caught 2 shoplifters at my work and was declared ''the LP hero" (loss prevention) lol I got a pin and a certificate

on to my story:

1st person, she was buying a couple balls of yarn and as I picked them up to scan them, I have a habit of sticking my fingers in the sides and twirling them as I scan. My finger hit something hard. So I stop and pull out 2 packs of knitting needles.
the customer says oh I didnt put them there I dont know how they got there.
So I said okay fine, and put them on a different counter, I went to scan the second ball of yarn... and what do i find... 2 more packs stuck in the yarn!
she says she didnt put them there but by this time shes getting red and nervous..
so I said Okay if you say so.
The people behind her were looking at her like ''Yea okay''
So she pays for her yarn and leaves..
she comes back maybe 10 minutes later, and comes to my checkout, looks down and says, '' can I buy those needles...''
So I smirked and said , ''Sure you can BUY those needles if youd like..''

LOL

My second story:
This one happened recently
It was a busy saturday and I had a million people in line, plus a few customers asking about our classes we offer so Im scanning a lady through while talking to another customer about the classes..
I tell the classes lady one second please, I finish bagging my current customer, and turn my back for a second to total her order..
I see her from the corner of my eye, she grabs her bag and starts running towards the exit!
I turn around and yell, '' EXCUSE ME!! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOUR GOING? You havent paid!!'' the lady turned bright red and said oh... right.. and came over and paid. LOL
after she left the people behind her were like oh she was trying to pull a fast one on you!!

oh man I have so many stories

[c_mcarthur]

this ones good too,
one of my old managers (who was a complete a-hole)
saw someone filling up baskets with merchandise, sticking them near the entrance, and then when someone came in hed pick it up and run out the in door!

So the second time the guy tried it my manager yelled at him and chased him out the door!!!
The guy dropped the basket and ran to his car, and my manager got his plate number and notified the police..

one of the only redeeming factors of this manager lol

[xox2010]

At my work, there are so many shoplifting issues. The two most common things I find stolen (meaning the empty package is left lying around the store) are:
Condoms and laxatives
Almost every single time I have worked in shoes, I've found either an empty package of condoms, or an empty package of laxatives. LOL
People also steal jewellery a ton, and from cosmetics...

[jayne_a]

I've worked in retail for years, so i have seen lots of shoplifting. But i never went after them, i always just followed them, and got the license plate # and called the police.
When i was the ASM of payless i had 2 girls come in to the store, they put on new shoes and ran out. I had their old shoes, i called the cops with the plate number. About an hour later, the girls were back. With the driver's father. He was called at work and was told his car was reported in a shoplifting. He was dragging his daughter into the store, and made her apologize. Everyone in the store was watching as he was yelling at his daughter in the store. They paid for the shoes and left them for me. I banned her from the store. he made her leave bare foot. He was so mad, i was a little scared of him.
That was really my only interaction with a shoplifter. I always leave it for the police. I wont risk my life for some job.

[tidytaurus]

When I shop I am followed by security 50 % of the time I must look like I am one. Must be the bag of bags and the bag of binders I load into the cart. Then again I do spend alot of time reading signs and containers to see if its the right size for the coupon. My dd's say I am a magnet for security I say its nice to have someone who knows the store hanging around that I can ask for directions. lol

[win-star]

few days ago when the gas prices jumped insanely high [149.9 i believe] a guy with a Cadillac SUV [extended version] came in in front of me and I was behind him. I came out about 2 or 3 mins after him cuz I was on the phone. I started filling and half way through, he finishes and just dash, I was surprised ... he had no rear license plate on too

[jayne_a]

I did have someone try to steal gas and leave me with the bill, I pumped my gas and went inside to use the restroom, i got a snack and went to the till, the lady in front of me tried telling the cashier that the little white car (mine) was her's and that she only had to pay 30$ I interupted and said "excuse me that's my car" she then tried to say that i was scamming her, b/c i didn't want to pay the 120 in the truck. I don't have a truck. I then proved it was my car by showing the registration, which was locked in MY car and i had to use MY keys to get. I gave the cashier my money and left. Some ppl.

[TheSaltyDog]

I did have someone try to steal gas and leave me with the bill, I pumped my gas and went inside to use the restroom, i got a snack and went to the till, the lady in front of me tried telling the cashier that the little white car (mine) was her's and that she only had to pay 30$ I interupted and said "excuse me that's my car" she then tried to say that i was scamming her, b/c i didn't want to pay the 120 in the truck. I don't have a truck. I then proved it was my car by showing the registration, which was locked in MY car and i had to use MY keys to get. I gave the cashier my money and left. Some ppl.

Yeowza!!