Shoplifting at Wal-Mart

[Chattyaholic]

It's amazing what people get away with. I was at Wal-Mart the other day, made my purchases and was putting the cart away and taking my bags out of the cart to leave when I heard that automated message go off at the door. I saw the couple that was leaving, and the greeter just looked at them and let them go, didn't call them back or anything. I was several steps behind them but saw that they did NOT have any bags!! Obviously they had "something" stuffed into a coat pocket or something!!

I could not believe the greeter wouldn't call them back into the store!!

It's no wonder people shoplift, when they can get away with it so easily like that!!!

 

[Planogirl]

Sometimes perscription drugs will set off the alarm. It's happened to me and they were certainly paid for. Maybe the greeter knew why they were there and why the alarm likely went off?

 

[poohandwendy]

Actually, I am not sure what the greeter could have done if they didn't have anything on them within sight, it's not like they can legally just pat you down or make you empty your pockets. (think lawsuit).

Pretty much here, you have to be seen taking/concealing something and actually attempting to leave the store before they can do anything about it. It's crazy how easily thieves can get away with it...and they know it. Those door beeper things only keep honest people honest (and embarrassed when they go off).

 

[BrerLizzie]

my moms old cell phone set those things off.. after the third or forth time, we got a new phone..

 

[mickman1962]

legally thay have no right to ask to look at your packages (hear that BestBuy). They can request it but if you refuse their only option is to call the police, so had better be sure. Not that I shoplift, it's just that when I buy something at Bestbuy I'm like 10 feet from the exit door. Mr. Greeter always then asks if he can check my receipt and packages (like I can stuff something in in those 10 feet). So I always tell them "Why yes you certainly may not". As for Walmart I've also set it off with my phone.

 

[auntpolly]

Those things go off all the time - it's starting to be about as "alarming" as a car alarm.

Maybe the person put a perscription, film, or a DVD that they paid for in the respective departments in their pocket or purse (like I do - I don't take a bag for one or two things) and the person there forgot to do whatever you need to do to the anti-theft device.

 

[tonyswife]

I set off the alarm at Mervyn's going in AND out a few weeks ago. I certainly didn't stop on my way out. I didnt buy or steal anything. I'm sure more than one person thought I was "obviously" stealing something. I have no idea what set it off, don't care.

 

[mckryan]

On Friday, I went into Wal-Mart to try on some work boots. When I opened one box, someone's old shoes were in it. So, I gave it to the associate that was working the section. She told me that the employees are not allowed to confront shoplifters, only the loss prevention people. If she sees someone stealing, she can call the LP folks and they will start watching the person to see if they take anything else. I don't know how this works when the alarms go off, but that's probably why the greeter did not stop them. Personally, I think that is wrong. If you are an employee of the store, you should be allowed to confront a shoplifter, either in the middle of the lifting or after they set off the alarm. Otherwise, what's the point?

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by tonyswife
I set off the alarm at Mervyn's going in AND out a few weeks ago. I certainly didn't stop on my way out. I didnt buy or steal anything. I'm sure more than one person thought I was "obviously" stealing something. I have no idea what set it off, don't care.

LOL you sound like me! I love the sign posted at Walmart "If the alarm goes off please wait for an employee to "assist" you. DD said it should read "hassel" instead.

 

[Gwene65]

I was humiliated at a Super Wal-Mart one Summer while visiting my family in Florida. I was only 15 and we went one evening to get a few items.
Everyone split up and I was looking at these bike plates that said your name on them. I saw my bf's name but they were all out, so I took the peice of paper that said to order more of blank name.

Anyway, we must have spent an hour in there walking around and this guy kept following us. Anywhere we went, there he was.

So we go to the checkout, pay for our purchases and leave the store. There are 2 cop cars out there and they stopped us. I was with my 8 month pregnant Aunt at the time and the cops were so persistent (as was the guy who was following us) that I had stolen something. At the time, I had no idea that the peice of paper I took would have caused such an uproar, but they searched our bags, purses, everything. Some customer complained that I took something to the store employees so that prompted the process.

So trust me, if they really think you are taking something, they will get the proper people involved.

They also banned me from ever entering the store again.

 

[princesstommi]

If you are an employee of the store, you should be allowed to confront a shoplifter, either in the middle of the lifting or after they set off the alarm. Otherwise, what's the point?

I disagree. I think a lot of it has to do with safety reasons. When I worked in retail, our loss prevention team were all security professionals. They had been trained in all the rules and regs of being able to stop someone for shoplifting, and were trained in self defense and asset (including employee) protection.

Our team leader had previously worked at WalMart...until he got hit by a car in the parking lot trying to apprehend a thief - by the thief's girlfriend in the getaway car. I don't know about anyone else, but the greeters at our Super Walmart are older men and women who are very friendly, and whose mere presence probably makes an impact on loss prevention. However, I would never expect them to confront an individual who may or may not be willing to use violence to get away.

And it does stink when the alarms go off for no good reason - cell phones, security tags from other stores, soft tags that didn't get disabled, etc. It makes them not as reliable, and are a hassle.

 

[mckryan]

While yes, it is possible for the shoplifter to get violent, I think they need to be confronted by any person that's employed by that company. I work retail and we are able to confront those that we catch shoplifting. More times than not, they are just embarassed.

 

[CarolA]

I have a coach purse that sets them off EVERYWHERE. I have been through the purse with a fine tooth comb looking for something that could be causing it, but I can't find it.

That purse is going in the next yard sale!

 

[gr8tpanther]

I am a retail manager in a mall. Our MALL SECURITY can do NOTHING about shop lifting except call the police. Our mall in in BFE, so by the time the police get there, it is over. Security is basically there for show and can't do anything. There was a shooting at our mall a few years ago, some guy shot his wife in the MIDDLE OF THE MALL! He KILLED her and security just called the cops, they couldn't intervene. They guy took off and the cops caught him later. Nobody tried to stop him (yes I know he had a gun) but, still, someone could have done SOMETHING after all, why else do they make movies but for us to learn heroics?

My point is... unless there are cops or someone to ENFORCE things LEGALLY, people can get away with nearly anything.

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by mckryan
If you are an employee of the store, you should be allowed to confront a shoplifter, either in the middle of the lifting or after they set off the alarm. Otherwise, what's the point?

Well, even if they put it in a pocket or whatever, it's not technically stolen until they leave the store with it. We're not allowed to confront someone unless we have followed them around and NEVER took our eyes off them - otherwise they may have had a chance to put it back.

This is one of the reasons I don't like working the register! I'm pregnant - no way I'm going to chase someone who just MAY be violent. I caught a 6-year old stealing from us once and he kicked me really hard in the shins. And that was a kid!!

 

[CamColt]

Boy is this a timely thread for me.
Just yesterday DH, I, and the kids were at the mall. We split up as much as possible to avoid the kids fighting and causing trouble together. We both bought separate stuff at CVS. DH finished first and left with 1 DS. I guess when he left the buzzer went off. The cashier realized he didnt remove the thing on what he bought(very small package, fit in his coat pocket), and he waved him off. I missed all this. Later DS and I met DH & DS in the Sports Authority. I guess the buzzer went off on DH when he went in there too, but no one noticed. I should add it was the grand opening so they were doing all kinds of games with giveaways. So now all 4 of us leave with all this junk the kids "won" and the buzzer goes off. Wouldnt you know as the man stopped us going out, and looking very guilty carrying all this stuff, a guy I havent seen since HS, 15 years ago was going in. I wanted to die!
So people can be innocent and look guilty.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

I've seen it go the other way recently. My mom and I were at the mall, she was in Mervyns and I was outside with the girls on the play boat. The high school down the street was letting out and the students were coming into the mall. This girl walked out and the buzzer went off, next thing you know there's a Mervyns employee running down the mall screaming at the girl to come back. She grabbed the girl told her to get back into the store with "her" merchandise. A fight broke out, the girl started out calmly asking her not to touch her and telling her that she didn't have anything. The Mervyns chick is still pulling on her, at this point dang near dragging her back into the store, the girl starts screaming now, get your f-ing hands off of me, don't touch me. Finally she drags the girl back into the store - guess what, the alarm didn't go off when the girl went back in, but when one of her friends went in a few seconds behind them it did.

I talked to security about it because they were called in for a fight. He just shrugged his shoulders and left. I couldn't believe the Mervyns employee - it's made me not want to shop there after that!

 

[robertsmom]

These alarms go off all the time for practically anything (especially at Walmart). The first time it happened to me I almost had a heart attack and started looking around for someone who could check my bags and see that I had paid for everything I had. After about three or four minutes when no one showed up, I just walked out the door (but my heart was still pounding ) No one pays attention to these things.

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

Originally posted by katerkat
Well, even if they put it in a pocket or whatever, it's not technically stolen until they leave the store with it.

same way where I work- until they leave the store without paying for it, it's not stolen, and once they leave the store there's nothing we can do....so basically our only option is REALLY good customer service. Just hassle the person (can I help you? how are you?) until they put the stuff down and leave. It sucks

 

[Shelby5514]

Our store has a great Security Team and cameras everywhere. Unfortunately unless they have a shoplifter on tape actually taking the item and walking out the door there is nothing they can do. They also have to apprehend the shoplifter before he/she steps off of the sidewalk. Once they are in the parking lot all they can do is get the license plate and call the police. Luckily we have quadrant policing so there is always a police car in the area. Many times they have brought shoplifters back to the store for us, but only if we agree to prosecute.
Because it is so hard for us to get shoplifters our Loss Prevention is now focusing on Employee theft. On one hand it infurates me but on the other I know that there's nothing in the store worth risking my reputation and 15 years of servce! Wanna search my bags...go right ahead fellas!