Haven’t you heard in police shows on TV how you have to think like a criminal to catch a criminal? Well, in shoplifting prevention you have to know the methods these criminals are using to be able to protect your merchandise and your employees. There are shoplifting rings that are professional and make their living stealing. They may target a specific store or chain of stores, but they always have a plan and different people working to steal as much as they can without getting caught. The shoplifting prevention team in your store may not be aware of some of these “methods,” and being aware of them may be the difference between a profitable store or one that is constantly loosing money. For more news about this topic, follow the links below.
Suspects arrested after aluminum foil used in shoplifting
SNOHOMISH — Money-making schemes are a popular topic of conversation among the criminal community. One such scheme ended in three arrests earlier this month in Snohomish. A group of suspects was accused of working in tandem, using aluminum foil to defeat anti-shoplifting devices.
The trick is widely known among heroin addicts who pilfer goods to support their habit, Police Chief John Flood said. He credited the Nov. 2 bust at the Snohomish Station Kohl’s to increased anti-shoplifting patrols and proactive store security.
Snohomish police started seeing thieves trying the foil ruse about a year ago, Flood said. The crooks wrap bits of foil around the security tags.
Dubai shoplifters’ tricks: Cut magnetic tags
Two Egyptians, who allegedly fled with garments they stole from a shop after removing the magnetic tags, returned after 45 minutes to steal more, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.
AM, 27, truck driver and HS, 28, clerk were noticed roaming around in a well-known store by a security staff.
“I noticed two Arabs roaming around in the shop and kept an eye on them. They picked up a pair of shoes and a T-shirt and one of them entered the trial room while the other waited outside. Then the man came out of the room without the shoes and the garment.
“The two then stepped out of the shop and as the security device did not beep, I thought they had left the T-shirt and the shoes in the room,” the security staff told investigators.
However, the two returned to the shop after 45 minutes and picked up a pair of jeans, a wallet and two pair of shoes.
“One of them entered the dressing room and after they stepped out of the shop, the security gate did not beep this time too. I followed them and caught them near their car while calling police. When asked about the stolen items, they replied that they are in the car,” the security man said.
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — Retailers lose $45 billion dollars annually to theft, about $10 billion of that to shoplifting.
Yet the last thing stores may want to do is catch a thief.
Chris Mcgoey knows all the tricks. He’s been in the loss prevention business for almost 40 years. On an undercover tour of a big box store he showed us how shoplifters stash things and how to pick out what he calls “likely candidates”, like women with big purses in shopping carts. Or shoppers with baby carriers.
Mcgoey admits it’s profiling. “It’s not based on race, religion, sex, age, any of those, it’s really based on behavior. But he says these days some retailers would rather lose the merchandise than detain anyone. “America is just shaking in their boots, they are scared. If you stop someone and they haven’t stolen anything you are sued.”
Earlier this year Barneys in New York paid half a million dollars to settle accusations it was singling out minority shoppers. The state launched an investigation after 19-year-old Trayon Christian sued the store for detaining him and questioning his ability to pay for an expensive belt.
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