BAD BOYS BAD BOYS!! Undercover Security

[mitchfishguard]

Was in the shops on Main Street and saw someone stuffing clothing in a big bag at back of store. Thought hey this is one of the many reason this stuff is so expensive and I told a cashier. We watched. No one else in the store even knew the person was being taken out of there for shoplifting. Tourist looking guys approached and escorted them out very ordinarily and behind the gated area at hat shop. Amazing... I swear not another guest in the store or street area was aware of what was going on. Smooth!!!

i found on the bsm tour that disney employ "foxes" to watch for shoplifters, especially those who carry stuff to another shop so not quite committing theft as they are still in the park. they then get them by the park entrance where there are lots of hidden spaces to take them. as for the "mall cop" sort of security, they are there to assist the general public in small matters, but they dont look inspiring, do they? !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JUS915]

bump

 

[Selket]

Well...a bit different as it was on the Disney cruise but our first night on we noticed A LOT of DCL officer looking crew members outside of one door in our hallway about 2 doors down (so very close). We thought someone may have gotten sick, etc. - we did see a young woman and small child come out of that room the first night. After we stopped in Key West the next day they were gone. They stationed 1-2 officers outside that door at all times (all night long).

I found out from my neighbor that there was a young family in that room (man, wife, little kid) and the man had apparently had too much to drink during the sail away party and tried to climb somewhere down the side of the boat! At the time I knew what spot and I was amazed - this was literally on the outside of the boat. We were underway at that point and the family was let off at the first stop which was close. They would let the wife and child out of the room but not the husband.

Tip: When on a cruise, don't drink so much you want to try to slide down the outside of the boat!

 

[asta]

I had a serious fall at Epcot a few years back that required me to be carried out by EMTs. My husband jokes that the EMTs and park management popped out of the trash cans. I wasn't real aware of what was going on around me at the time but I do remember dh talking with a man who whizzed up on a Segway. DH was giving him our contact info and quick description of what had happened. In just a few minutes, I was stablized, loaded up and rolled out a side gate to the waiting ambulance. Help arrived and took care of my needs VERY quickly. Probably less than 10 minutes from accident to ambulance.

I'm impressed. To show you the difference between WDW and Universal, I tripped and had a bad fall at Universal one evening. I tripped over a curb and into some landscaping. (The result of having an arthritic knee and being very clumsy.) The fall was so bad that in addition to a very bloody knee, I ripped my meniscus in three places and part of it ended up rolling under my knee cap. No one from Universal offered any assistance. My family helped me limp to the front of the park where we went to guest assistance. The only thing they offered was a small bandaid. I had to leave the park with blood oozing down my leg and limp back to HRH.

 

[Eljay]

Tip: When on a cruise, don't drink so much you want to try to slide down the outside of the boat!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirates Life For Me...

 

[budbeerlady]

Bump, anything to add?

 

[sharadoc]

Bump, anything to add?

Hi. I'll add one:

June 2010, walked out of DHS to the OKW bus stop around 2:00 in the afternoon. First ones in line, soon after a dad and two kids, and a mom and one kid join us in the line. Then a young couple, guy about 25, girl about 19 go and walk in front of the chain, essentially first in line.

I'm looking at them, wondering if they were planning to jump the line and thinking I should politely tell them they were in the "unsafe" zone for the bus to pull up, when they started arguing a little loudly.

Next thing I see, they are wrestling over a cell phone and she flings it away, almost hitting on the kids in line. She picks it up and says "I don't care, I'll break it" and slams the phone against a pole then throws it on the ground.

The mom says "if that happens again, I'm going to get security" just as the couple start running across the sidewalk with her holding the phone and him trying to grab it from her. I say to the mom, "you won't have to - here they come."

There was at least 3 uniformed officers, two plainclothes security and one or two bike guys. They slowly walked up one by one, talked to them, and eventually showed them the way out. I think they were checking to make sure the guy wasn't threatening the woman, too. It got a little loud on the guests' part, but security was totally calm and spoke quietly the entire time.

I was scared they were supposed to go to Old Key West and would raise a stink, but instead they just went walking across the parking lot.

We saw security right on top of the situation, and avoiding any problems with us. I said that's why we pay so much to stay there, that at least there's security watching.

I have never seen that much security in one place at Disney World. I was happy to see it.

 

[Mary T in PA]

I just got back yesterday and noticed alot more security in the parks, not plainclothes - the regular security guards in their uniforms strolling around.

 

[mrsbert]

I've been reading this thread from the begining and even commented on it. I can't believe I forgot about our Feb. 2007 trip.

My poor DS9 who was 6 at the time had some bad mishaps.

1st - The night we arrived, the boys wanted to go swimming. It was chilly out so I just watched. We were staying at Pop and they were swimming in the Computer pool. Little did I know that the closer to the center of the pool, the deeper it gets. It was dark out and I didn't see the markings on the side of the pool. DS9 somehow made it to the middle of the pool and forgot how to swim. He panicked. It was so quick. My DH was at one end of the pool with DS11 and he called out to me. I went to leap out of my chair and the lifeguard was already in the water. It looked kinda ridiculous since the water was ankle deep most of the way in. He pulled DS9 to safety....

2nd - While winding through TT queue, his foot slipped through a metal area and he skinned his shin up pretty bad. A CM asked if he was okay and I put a bandaid on it. He tried not to cry but I could tell it hurt pretty bad.

3rd - The only souvenir he wanted that trip was a double-sided lightsaber. At that time the only place you could purchase it was Once Upon a Toy. We made the lightsaber and I stood in line to check out. DS9 was mesmorized by the tv displays above, that showed clips from the Star Wars movies. I mean, he didn't budge. This was fine since he was only just feet from me. I handed the CM payment and got my receipt. I turned around and DS9 wasn't there. I called out to DH and DS11, who assumed I had DS9, and asked if they saw him. Nope. The panic set in...I immediately told the CM and two Disney suits came from the back and asked for a description. My DH went one way and I went the other. I'm talking minutes went by. I went up to the front of the store where the My Little Pony display is and he was around the corner building one!!!! Not a care in the world. The whole time, I'm thinking how upset he must be. I have to say, the two suits that showed up were there in an instant. They made sure we were okay and that my son was okay and then walked away.

 

[Absolutely Disney]

Either security got them, or the mother ship came back to pick them up - either way, they were gone in a split second.

 

[eeyoremommy]

I noticed that too. We were there July 14 - 16 and even got to see a security dog.

 

[Missytara]

i found on the bsm tour that disney employ "foxes" to watch for shoplifters, especially those who carry stuff to another shop so not quite committing theft as they are still in the park. they then get them by the park entrance where there are lots of hidden spaces to take them. as for the "mall cop" sort of security, they are there to assist the general public in small matters, but they dont look inspiring, do they? !!!!!!!!!!!

Reading your response made me wonder if that is why they do package delivery back to the resorts. May cost them at first to offer the service, but they save money in the end from people carrying bags from store to store....

 

[Missytara]

Regarding the bag checks, last year I was going into Epcot and had "female supplies" in the zippered compartment of my bag. The elderly security guard asked me to unzip it..when he saw what was in there, he blushed beet red and apologized. I thought it was funny and kind of sweet. Poor guy, I wasn't embarrassed at all-he was mortified. I told him he was just doing his job and that it was no biggie.

Same thing happened to me, but I didn't have them in a zippered case, just on the bottom of my backpack.

He asked me to remove my camera and looked in and there they were; god, I was mortified. He looked at me and smiled and said, "Try to have a nice day" and winked.

 

[Rainwater]

I suspect this is an urban legend, but ....

Apprx 23 years ago, an aquantaince worked at Epcot, she claims a young child was missing, undercovers were at every entrance. Suspect had taken child into bathroom, cut or shaved the female childs head & changed her clothes to make her look like a boy. Supposedly undercovers at exits noticed childs outstanding beautiful eyes & caught the kidnapper.


Again, not sure if this is a legend, seems I've heard it in other scenerios too. If it is true though....WOW!

Yes, Urban Legend. I've heard this story told many times, and with different endings.

 

[afwdwfan]

Reading your response made me wonder if that is why they do package delivery back to the resorts. May cost them at first to offer the service, but they save money in the end from people carrying bags from store to store....

I've always just figured that each resort probably has some of the more popular things on hand and the "delivery" is electronic. On the same note, the rest of the deliveries could come from a central warehouse somewhere. I honestly have no idea if that is true or not, but it is my best guess.

 

[Disney Spaz]

Not an US story but in January of 2009 we were at AK and saw a group of 3-4 teenage boys acting very silly toward the back of one of the store's. As we wandered over to that area looking at things I realized they were stealing soda and that colored powder sugar you get in the long tubes. I walked back to the CM's working and told them what they were doing and the CM's said they are not allowed to approach guests about stealing. So being the mother of 2 teenage boys and a hs teacher I decided to say something. I walked up to them and asked if they thought they were cute and funny for being able to steal? and added that disapproving mom/teacher look. Needless to say they were a bit shocked someone would confront them. I got a whole lot of stuttering and stammering then an apology and they ran out of the store. The whole rest of the day I looked to see if I could find them again with some adult cause if it had been my sons I would have wanted someone to tell me but I never saw them again.

 

[Eljay]

...I walked back to the CM's working and told them what they were doing and the CM's said they are not allowed to approach guests about stealing...
...The whole rest of the day I looked to see if I could find them again ... but I never saw them again.

The store CM's might not have had the authority, but you can bet that there was anti-shoplifting security that did catch up with them. Mickey Jail, I would guess that's why you never saw them again.

 

[FutureDis]

Am I the only one that thinks it is a bit odd how much they check out bags that are left lying around, and yet 1000's of bags are left unattended (in strollers) all over the place?

 

[pezheadmeg]

The store CM's might not have had the authority, but you can bet that there was anti-shoplifting security that did catch up with them. Mickey Jail, I would guess that's why you never saw them again.

I've worked my career in retail for a major store. Only LICENSED AND INSURED security staff is allowed to go after any shoplifter. It's a major liability issue, they need major stuff on camera before apprehending. I've actually known long term security directors who have been fired simply because one step was missing from the tape and the shoplifter sued.

I'm sure Disney follows the same steps. One wrong accusation without the back-up and hello major lawsuit.

 

[ori0les]

A few years back, my wife and I were waiting for a bus at Hollywood Studios. We heard a couple start to argue a few bus stops down, which quickly escalated into the man attempting to grab a small infant from the woman. Another woman was with them and trying to make peace, but the man continued screaming and attempting to take the baby and threatening the women. I saw one uniformed security guard standing outside across the road that the parking lot tram uses and yelled to him. Granted he was a good walk away (there was a fence between he and I), it was literally seconds before a TON of security had swarmed the place. I swear I think they came out of the trees. Uniformed, plain clothes, management types - they were all there. I couldn't believe that many security people got to one place that quick. We were asked to stick around and give a statement once the actual police showed up, which we done. Turned out they had just gotten married two days prior and the second woman was the females sister. The police took our name and address and said we may be contacted, but we never heard anything. We got a ride from Disney Security back to our resort from an older security guard who literally toured us all over property pointing out things once he realized what an interest in Disney we had. I'm sure that part was something he wasn't supposed to do, but we certainly appreciated it!!!