Shoplifting
Ten minutes ago, in the Duane Reade at Flatbush and 7th Ave., I saw a man stuffing items into his duffel bag with no apparent intention to pay for them. I walked by, thinking, "Hm, can't be what it seems." A couple minutes later, I walked down that same aisle, and he kept going without an apparent care or qualm. Then he walked right out. The alarm went off. Nobody batted an eye. When I remarked to the store clerk standing by the door that I'd witnessed what appeared to be shoplifting, he shrugged and said "Oh well."
Perhaps I'd be less nonplussed (plusplussed?) if the guy had been trying to steal essentials, like toilet paper or baby food or dark chocolate. But he was apparently loading up on Aveeno moisturizers. Oh well. In these tough economic times, after all, it's getting more and more difficult to afford oat-y lotions.
Perhaps I'd be less nonplussed (plusplussed?) if the guy had been trying to steal essentials, like toilet paper or baby food or dark chocolate. But he was apparently loading up on Aveeno moisturizers. Oh well. In these tough economic times, after all, it's getting more and more difficult to afford oat-y lotions.
Comments
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I would be willing to bet he is going to sell those. I cant even count the amount of times people on the subway have tried to sell me weird shit like that- shampoo, conditioner, body wash, crest whitestrips...always the expensive ones like aveeno or oil of olay. "$3! This size goes for $9 in the store!" Nothing screams "legit" like a toothless guy with a plasticbag full of large-size Aveeno Tinted body lotions...
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That's funny (not really) and extremely common. The cashiers are instructed not to do anything because of the risk of violence.
The guy stealing was actually stealing a popular item I have seen people selling on the street before. About 2 months ago I was on Waverly Ave. and a cute guy on a bike asked me would I be interested in buying some Aveeno face wash. I totally would've but I use Oil of Olay
. It was so random that I had to laugh! I thought he was trying to flirt with me! But he had a backpack full of the stuff.
In past years Dove bodywash and Axe body spray have been extremely hot items. -
Yah, they're totally selling it and the cashiers are not going to fight somebody. I've seen some ballsy thefts before. One SoHo store told me that somebody came in the front door with a garbage bag, swooped all of the expensive cashmere off of the front display into the bag and walked out. Nobody even tried to stop him
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I would've gone with disposable razor blades like the fusions or venus'; they're a more value dense item.
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heynow06 wrote: That's funny (not really) and extremely common. The cashiers are instructed not to do anything because of the risk of violence.
not just violence- I was a manager at a major retail chain store (apparel) and it was company policy to not ever confront shoplifters or call the police or security if we suspected theft due to lawsuits. It was better to eat the shrink than to be involved in a lawsuit (specifically about racial profiling.) its pretty standard across the board- most of the time the security cameras and stuff are just there to scare people. If the camera is used and there is absolutely NO possible way that the person could have NOT stolen (meaning one camera followed them as they clearly concealed something and walked out) it was possible to call security/police but that barely ever happened and relied on us also being able to physically see someone the ENTIRE TIME they are in the store without our eyes ever leaving them. Career thieves know the game and know how this shit operates...which is why they get away with it. It was very discouraging having to operate a store where payroll was dictated by % shrink (among other things) but there was basically nothing we could do to prevent theft... -
Flexichick wrote: Yah, they're totally selling it and the cashiers are not going to fight somebody. I've seen some ballsy thefts before. One SoHo store told me that somebody came in the front door with a garbage bag, swooped all of the expensive cashmere off of the front display into the bag and walked out. Nobody even tried to stop him
That EXACT same thing happened at the store I managed- $4500 worth of cashmere tshirts gone. We didnt see it specifically because (as usual) they came in a huge group with 15 kids under the age of 3 who were climbing the displays and distracting us...I was pulling some kid off of the wall and looked behind me and it was all gone.
As a sidenote, these same people (this one group stole from us about twice a week) actually tried to sue one of the managers when one of her 4 kids "fell" after CLIMBING UP THE SHELVES in the store. Obviously the suit was dropped but it was enough to put the fear of god into my corporate office, who basically instructed us to keep those kids safe at any cost...making it amazingly easy for them to continue to rip us off.
People reaaaally suck. -
This is all pretty interesting. I didn't realize that prosecuting shoplifting was so discouraged, although the reasons given have some merit. I would guess this varies by store / neighborhood, depending on the value of the product and the perception of potential violence.
Still, it seemed pretty ballsy. I guess I'm a straight-edge who finds the possibility of arrest a pretty powerful deterrent. Yeah. When I was a kid I was convinced my mom set up cameras to catch me watching MTV when I got home from school. MTV!
Clearly I don't know a lot about relative values of lotions, either, because I was surprised he was going for the Aveeno (which I didn't realize was pricey) rather than the $20+ Oil of Olay a couple of feet away. But maybe it's a tougher sell: "Excuse me, miss, would you like some wrinkle-diminishing eye souffle with virgins' tears for mature skin?"
What do I know. -
Aenigma wrote: This is all pretty interesting. I didn't realize that prosecuting shoplifting was so discouraged, although the reasons given have some merit. I would guess this varies by store / neighborhood, depending on the value of the product and the perception of potential violence.
oddly enough, it seems to be a pretty standard practice across the board for retail chains passed down from corporate offices. I dont know about drugstores specifically, but I do know 4 or 5 major retail HQs who have the same policies for ALL stores. I won't say exactly who but think along the lines of Limited Worldbrands which at one point owned [and still owns some of] The Limited, The Limited Too, Express, Express Men, Bath and Body Works, Blue Mountain Candle, NY And Co and 5th Ave Plus Size (stores like the GAP and the like are almost always owned by larger corporations, for example GAP also owns old navy, banana republic, gap kids etc.) I worked in retail 6 years ago but I highly doubt the policy has changed since then. -
Mougar wrote: I would've gone with disposable razor blades like the fusions or venus'; they're a more value dense item.
Yeah, that's why they lock those up now. -
Wow, if stealing is this easy, perhaps I should hop the counter of the pharmacy and make off with some xanax, percocet, klonopin, and vicodin!
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sweet.i'm never paying for anything again
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vidro3 wrote: sweet.i'm never paying for anything again
honey, pick me up some xanax please. -
...there's no way I could just watch somebody steal stuff from where I worked.
Especially if my pay was tied to shrinkage.
Carmen, a fine job to quit. -
Carmen wrote: [quote=heynow06]That's funny (not really) and extremely common. The cashiers are instructed not to do anything because of the risk of violence.
not just violence- I was a manager at a major retail chain store (apparel) and it was company policy to not ever confront shoplifters or call the police or security if we suspected theft due to lawsuits.
You're not the first person from whom I've heard this. I've also heard that in large department stores, short of locking away every item, there's nothing that can be done to stop the shoplifting. So even if the store felt strongly about stopping the thefts, very little could be done.
I guess that this wouldn't make me feel too bad about buying some of that stolen stuff (although nobody's ever approached me on the subway to buy some Aveeno). If the store doesn't care, then why should I? It's probably fueling a drug trade, though. -
when I worked retail (forever ago) most of the theft was by employees.
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Only armed security guards go after shop lifters.
If I were working at Duane Reade behind the cash register, I'd have to be paid A LOT of money to run after robbers.
if the economy keeps heading south, more people will probably steal stuff. If I had no money and a killer headache, I'd walk into Duane Reade and swipe some Tylenol myself.
There are cameras EVERY WHERE, so if any one is interested they can report the crime to the police and catch the thief. -
Aenigma wrote: This is all pretty interesting. I didn't realize that prosecuting shoplifting was so discouraged, although the reasons given have some merit. I would guess this varies by store / neighborhood, depending on the value of the product and the perception of potential violence.
All through out New York State the robber strolling out the 711/CVS/Duane Reade doors while the staff watches helplessly scenario has been happening forever.
If a store really wants to deal with shoplifters, they plant a cop with a gun in the store.
I have heard that a lawsuit could break out even if an employee verbally accuses a customer of stealing in the store. A friend of mine works in retail and has seen people steal and confronted them, but he must use some phrase that does not directly accuse the thief of stealing...something like "can I help you with everything you are carrying?" -
This is indeed very surprising. So, if I'm understanding this right, all of us can just walk into any store without an armed guard at the front and steal? And, no one will stop us? The only thing stopping us is our ethics and morals? No wonder we pay such mark-up! We're also paying for all the items stolen!
What also sucks is that we as a country are so scared of being sued that we can't do the right thing in these situations and confront people. -
doublediamond wrote:
Pretty much.
What also sucks is that we as a country are so scared of being sued that we can't do the right thing in these situations and confront people.
And to the above who mentioned trying to carry people's shit if they suspect stealing- this is generally the accepted way to try to deter theft but it doesnt work for people who know the system. They will either A) just say "no I ca carry stuff myself" or, more likely in the case of people who do this as a job,
Cause a huge scene about how you think they're stealing ("OH LOOK, THIS BITCH HERE THINKS I CAN'T AFOOOOOOORRRRDDDD THE SHIT THEY SELL IN HER FANCY STORE! SHE THINK SHE CAN JUST LOOK AT ME AND TELL WUT I CANT AFFORD! SHE GON FOLLOW ME AROUND LIKE IM GON STEAL SOMETHING!?)
the moral of this story is to be nice to retail employees...they get paid next to nothing and are only a very very small step above fast food employees as far as the amount of shit to put up with. -
Compared to what Greenberg, Fuld, Madoff, and Thain pulled off, this is the minor leagues of theft.
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Aenigma wrote:
No, that fact that you grew up with MORALS is the thing that keeps you, and all normal society, from doing this.
Still, it seemed pretty ballsy. I guess I'm a straight-edge who finds the possibility of arrest a pretty powerful deterrent. Yeah.
Your mom raised you right, cameras notwithstanding.
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Whatchuwant wrote: [quote=Aenigma]
No, that fact that you grew up with MORALS is the thing that keeps you, and all normal society, from doing this.
Still, it seemed pretty ballsy. I guess I'm a straight-edge who finds the possibility of arrest a pretty powerful deterrent. Yeah.
Your mom raised you right, cameras notwithstanding.
Exactly - being "straight-edge" has nothing to do with it. You're not the freak for actually following the law or doing the right thing - the folks who do otherwise are the dirtbags. It's a sad state that our country's in, that we're afraid or otherwise unable to enforce basic property laws. -
heynow06 wrote: That's funny (not really) and extremely common. The cashiers are instructed not to do anything because of the risk of violence.
About three years ago, I served on a grand jury in Manhattan, and one of the cases we got was this dirtbag who was brazenly stuffing his overcoat with DVDs at a Blockbuster on the Upper West Side. When the dirtbag exited the store, an employee chased after him and tackled him on the sidewalk. As they were tussling, the dirtbag produced a meat cleaver and started chopping away at the poor employee. The employee survived the attack, and I assume the dirtbag was eventually sent away for a long time, but I can't see how a few DVDs and a shit job at Blockbuster is worth risking one's life. -
Danny Hellman wrote: [quote=heynow06]That's funny (not really) and extremely common. The cashiers are instructed not to do anything because of the risk of violence.
About three years ago, I served on a grand jury in Manhattan, and one of the cases we got was this dirtbag who was brazenly stuffing his overcoat with DVDs at a Blockbuster on the Upper West Side. When the dirtbag exited the store, an employee chased after him and tackled him on the sidewalk. As they were tussling, the dirtbag produced a meat cleaver and started chopping away at the poor employee. The employee survived the attack, and I assume the dirtbag was eventually sent away for a long time, but I can't see how a few DVDs and a shit job at Blockbuster is worth risking one's life.
This.
I think major corporations are more concerned with harm coming to their employees than with a multitude of frivolous lawsuits from shoplifters alleging false arrest or something like that.
as long as the cost of shrinkage is less than the cost of preventing it, either through security guards or cameras, the policy of non-engagement will continue. -
When I think of the word shrinkage....I don't think of shoplifting....kbye!LOL.
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vidro3 wrote: [quote=Danny Hellman][quote=heynow06]That's funny (not really) and extremely common. The cashiers are instructed not to do anything because of the risk of violence.
About three years ago, I served on a grand jury in Manhattan, and one of the cases we got was this dirtbag who was brazenly stuffing his overcoat with DVDs at a Blockbuster on the Upper West Side. When the dirtbag exited the store, an employee chased after him and tackled him on the sidewalk. As they were tussling, the dirtbag produced a meat cleaver and started chopping away at the poor employee. The employee survived the attack, and I assume the dirtbag was eventually sent away for a long time, but I can't see how a few DVDs and a shit job at Blockbuster is worth risking one's life.
This.
I think major corporations are more concerned with harm coming to their employees than with a multitude of frivolous lawsuits from shoplifters alleging false arrest or something like that.
as long as the cost of shrinkage is less than the cost of preventing it, either through security guards or cameras, the policy of non-engagement will continue.
I dont know if I agree with this. I was threatened with bodily harm twice in my retail days- once to the extent of being met at opening time with a knife with a comanager and being told that if we didnt "stop it" they would "slit our fucking throats." HQ SPECIFICALLY instructed us to not call the police saying that they would "not support" any charges filed. That sounds like being scared to me
as a sidenote, I quit after that. -
Carmen wrote:
WOW. That makes me soooo mad!!! I would have called the police on both the robbers and HQ. What a horrible thing to go through!
I dont know if I agree with this. I was threatened with bodily harm twice in my retail days- once to the extent of being met at opening time with a knife with a comanager and being told that if we didnt "stop it" they would "slit our fucking throats." HQ SPECIFICALLY instructed us to not call the police saying that they would "not support" any charges filed. That sounds like being scared to me
as a sidenote, I quit after that. -
what company was this so i can be sure i never shop there.
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Years ago, I worked at The Gap on Montague Street for a summer. All the new employees were shown a loss prevention video detailing how a potential shoplifter should be dealt with. Such a funny video, I really wish I could get my hands on it.
One part of the video attempts to explain what a sales associate should not do when confronting a shoplifter. It shows a woman standing by a sales rounder and shortly thereafter, placing a belt she finds inside of her purse. Sales associate is right on her:
"Hey. You can't steal that belt!"
The following scene is virtually the same, except this time, the sales associate follows proper Gap protocol and does not accuse the belt thief of wrongdoing.
"Hey there. I was wondering if I might show you a pair of pants that would go along great with that belt in your bag."
I don't think the makers of that video knew how such a suggestion would have been received by our "regulars" at the Montague Street store. -
These anecdotes are fascinating and in some cases appalling. (Carmen, I'm sorry you had to go through something like that.) It seems as though the primary reasons corporations institute non-apprehension policies with respect to shoplifting are based on the following, albeit not necessarily in this order:
1. Fear of violence towards employees;
2. Fear of racial profiling lawsuits;
3. Fear of false arrest lawsuits
Do you suppose therefore that certain stores -- say, those with a young white female demographic -- are more likely to apprehend suspected shoplifters than others? Or are corporations unwilling to make any assumptions at all about who might be most likely to steal, and therefore likely to make universal policies against apprehension or arrest?
(For the record, I chose "young white female" simply to illustrate a group that is ostensibly less likely to be violent by virtue of youth and gender, and unlikely to claim racial profiling by virtue of non-minority status. Please no one get het up.)
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