Shoplifting, Technology And The Customer’s Privacy

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For many retail stores the holiday season is a time when they see a huge jump in sales, and profits hopefully follow.  For many of those same stores, the problem of shoplifting is something they have to deal more than ever during this time of year.  Billions of dollars are lost due to this crime and stores spend a lot of time and money to combat shoplifting.  So, what are some of these big retailers doing this holiday season to combat this crime?  Follow the links below to read more about this topic.


Walmart’s Use of Sci-fi Tech To Spot Shoplifters Raises Privacy Questions

Retailers are scanning shoppers with high-tech tools to automatically pick out suspected thieves, absent rules to protect privacy.

In the old days, when a store caught someone stealing, a detective would march the thief to a backroom and take his picture with a Polaroid camera. The photo would be added to the retailer’s in-house rogues gallery to help store security keep an eye out for bad guys.

But earlier this year, Walmart  WMT -0.70%  showed how times have changed. It tested a system that scanned the face of everyone entering several of its stores, identified suspected shoplifters, and instantly alerted store security on their mobile devices.

The potential of such facial recognition technology has been discussed for years. But now some stores are actually using it.


Shoplifting – is it worth the price? | Your legal corner

The holiday season is quickly approaching as we begin to plan our Thanksgiving feast.  Yes, families will gather around the Thanksgiving table and give thanks once again for the blessings received throughout the year.  For many, Thanksgiving will also be the official start of the holiday shopping season.

Don’t ruin your holiday season by attempting to shoplift.  A moment of weakness is not worth the ultimate price. Shoplifting cannot only put a damper on your holidays but the penalties imposed may follow you around for the rest of your life.

Types of Shoplifting

Shoplifting can take many forms.  Most people believe shoplifting is limited to removing merchandise from a store.  However, just concealing merchandise may be considered shoplifting.  Or, what if you simply switch or alter a price tag?  This also may be considered evidence of your intent to steal and is considered shoplifting.


Legendary jewel thief caught trying to swipe earrings — at age 85!

Cops nabbed an international jewel thief who was allegedly up to her very old tricks again at an Atlanta department store.

Security personnel at a Saks Fifth Avenue store spotted 85-year-old Doris Payne — who’s been stealing pricey jewels for over half a century — on video trying to swipe a $690 pair of earrings, Atlanta Police said.

The sticky-fingered 5-foot-1, 110-pound woman was found some time later at a shopping mall next door with the earrings in her pocket, authorities said.

She was taken into custody and charged with shoplifting.

Payne, who was still in the Fulton County jail on Tuesday, was the subject of a 2013 documentary titled “The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne.”


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