Beyond An Apprehension- Loss Prevention Workshop

July 19, 2014 by
Going to a loss prevention workshop isn’t only about learning how to apprehend a shoplifter. It is about finding ways to identify your store’s vulnerable areas and finding plausible, financially sound, and effective solutions for them. Some store’s do not want to make apprehensions, but do not realize there are other ways to prevent shoplifting.
The reality is most shoplifting is preventable. Some of them might be easy fixes, and some of them might require a more complex system to keep the shrink losses at bay. 
The more training and education you have, the better your chances of reducing your overall shrink losses. The key is in knowing what your specific store vulnerabilities are and how they happen. 
Maybe you have inattentive employees on the weekends. Perhaps your high theft merchandise would benefit from being placed at the front of the store where employees can watch it better. 
Can you use EAS and other retail anti theft devices to keep your desirable products on the sales floor for customers, but deterring theft at the same time?
Does your shoplifting happen at a certain time of day or week? What are your biggest loss items? Have you found evidence that the shoplifting seems to happen in the same location of the store (fitting room, back corner)?
By identifying the key areas, the information from a loss prevention workshop can be applied to how to deter shoplifting, saving you and your employees from actually having to apprehend a shoplifter. By deterring the theft ahead of time, you reduce your inventory losses without putting your employees at risk.
For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Going to a loss prevention workshop isn’t only about learning how to apprehend a shoplifter. It is about finding ways to identify your store’s vulnerable areas and finding plausible, financially sound, and effective solutions for them. Some store’s do not want to make apprehensions, but do not realize there are other ways to prevent shoplifting.

The reality is most shoplifting is preventable. Some of them might be easy fixes, and some of them might require a more complex system to keep the shrink losses at bay.

The more training and education you have, the better your chances of reducing your overall shrink losses. The key is in knowing what your specific store vulnerabilities are and how they happen.

Maybe you have inattentive employees on the weekends. Perhaps your high theft merchandise would benefit from being placed at the front of the store where employees can watch it better. 

Can you use EAS and other retail anti theft devices to keep your desirable products on the sales floor for customers, but deterring theft at the same time?

Does your shoplifting happen at a certain time of day or week? What are your biggest loss items? Have you found evidence that the shoplifting seems to happen in the same location of the store (fitting room, back corner)?

By identifying the key areas, the information from a loss prevention workshop can be applied to how to deter shoplifting, saving you and your employees from actually having to apprehend a shoplifter. By deterring the theft ahead of time, you reduce your inventory losses without putting your employees at risk.

For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

 

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Are You Letting Your Employees Steal From You?

July 14, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (2)Employee theft is one of the most difficult issues a business owner faces. An employee is 15 times more likely than a non-employee to steal from an employer and they are responsible for approximately 44% of business’s theft losses (National Federation of Independent Business). And yet it’s one of the problems owners and managers are least likely to address.

However, the denial method of management doesn’t work causing nearly a 1/3 of businesses to fail due to employee fraud (U.S. Department of Commerce).  There are many reasons why owners are resistant to addressing the problem of employee theft. Three of these reasons are centered in the owner’s personal beliefs.

I’m a good guy – Some managers simply refuse to consider the idea that their employees would steal from them. They believe “I’m a good guy, so my people will never steal from me”. They misinterpret the issue of employee theft as a personal issue, a referendum on their character, rather than the personnel, business and legal issue that it is.

It’s not that much – Many loss prevention specialists, accountants and business analysts are aware of the open “secret” in many small businesses. Some owners and managers know and don’t care that their employees are stealing. They think, but don’t actually know, the loss is a small amount and for a variety of poorly thought out reasons believe it’s “not worth dealing with”.

There’s nothing I can do about it – These owners or managers don’t want the responsibilities of their jobs. They develop beliefs which permit them, in their minds, to not be held accountable for their managerial duties. For example, they have convinced themselves thatit’s impossible to find good quality workers, so employee theft happens all the time and everyone does it. In this rationalization, there’s nothing the manager can do, so he’s justified in doing nothing.

One of the most important components to any comprehensive loss prevention program is management’s commitment to and involvement in it. Many times business owners can be the biggest obstacle to a successful program due to their erroneous personal beliefs. Regrettably, many have found that ignoring the vital issue of employee theft leads to drastic consequences.

Nicole Abbott – writer, educator and psycho-therapist

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Employees and Business Longevity- Loss Prevention Training

July 2, 2014 by
For the companies being sold to investment firms, many will not be around in five to ten years. They will be sold, or may go under completely after all of the assets have been striped of any redeeming value. As far as an investment firm is concerned, the longevity of the company is not important, the short-term profits are.
To fulfill these profit goals, the investment firms will make massive staffing and payroll reductions. They reduce the employee hours to about as minimum as what they can get away with. Employee benefits are next to go. What you are left with are employees who are viewed as disposable assets, instead of valuable ones. Needless to say, employee training and development whether it is in the form of computer based learning, seminars, workshops, or one on one development is non existent.
Depending upon which side of the coin you are on, this is either a completely brilliant or completely inane business strategy. The deciding factor falls within what you want the longevity of your business to be.
For companies who are looking for longevity, treating employees as assets to be nurtured and developed is essential.
The more training employees have, they more they will feel in control, and valued. They are more willing to go the extra mile for the business, and want to further their own growth and development as an employee. This makes your business profitable for the long haul.
For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia
Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

For the companies being sold to investment firms, many will not be around in five to ten years. They will be sold, or may go under completely after all of the assets have been striped of any redeeming value. As far as an investment firm is concerned, the longevity of the company is not important, the short-term profits are.

To fulfill these profit goals, the investment firms will make massive staffing and payroll reductions. They reduce the employee hours to about as minimum as what they can get away with. Employee benefits are next to go. What you are left with are employees who are viewed as disposable assets, instead of valuable ones. Needless to say, employee training and development whether it is in the form of computer based learning, seminars, workshops, or one on one development is non existent.

Depending upon which side of the coin you are on, this is either a completely brilliant or completely inane business strategy. The deciding factor falls within what you want the longevity of your business to be.
For companies who are looking for longevity, treating employees as assets to be nurtured and developed is essential.

The more training employees have, they more they will feel in control, and valued. They are more willing to go the extra mile for the business, and want to further their own growth and development as an employee. This makes your business profitable for the long haul.

For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

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Same Time Next Week

July 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (5)Shoplifters are surprisingly creatures of habit. My initial assessment was that a shoplifter, who is desperately trying not to get caught, would work hard to vary the times and days that they would come into a store to steal. I thought they would want to take a surprise approach to their thieving ways. I was actually quite wrong in my assessment.

The truth is most shoplifters want to find a comfort zone to steal in. They are looking for a tried and true way to get in and out of a store undetected. That is why if they steal something and get away with it on the first try, they will continue to use those same methods and manners in their subsequent thefts.

Luckily for us, when a shoplifter develops a pattern, it makes it easier for us to catch them and put a stop to the shrink losses they are creating. By identifying the pattern they created, we can be one step ahead of them and can be waiting to catch them, just like this shoplifter.

I was working for a home improvement store. We started loosing large rolls of electrical wire worth several thousands of dollars. Since these were large, heavy items that were not frequently shuffled around, we set up a camera to see if we could find out where they were going. After a few weeks of watching, we saw that every Friday around noon a man came in, loaded a roll onto a cart and then switched the price tag out for a less expensive one. The cashier charged him for the roll of wire based on this lower priced tag.

Since we found his pattern, we waited until the following Friday. Sure enough he was just like clockwork. Noon came and so did he to walk off with another one of our rolls. This time, we were there to intercept the transaction and have him arrested.

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A Deeper Understanding- Loss Prevention Seminars

June 30, 2014 by
Loss prevention Seminars can take many forms. Some of them are self-monitored, such as computer based learning programs, or handbook reviews. Any way you go about conducting this loss prevention training, the end result is the same- to train your employees so they have a more through understanding of how certain actions affect a store’s shrink and profit lines.
The supervisors in the store directly give the most common kind of loss prevention training. These kinds of trainings or mini loss prevention seminars center around store specific policies and procedures designed to minimize risk and exposure. Others are aimed toward store operations and how to handle day-to-day tasks and assignments. These are processes like in store recovery efforts, cash handling and close out procedures. It is also the way a company handles the receipt of products and goods.
Loss prevention seminars are a way for employees to understand what to look for and why thieves act the way they do. All of this loss prevention training is done because employees who are knowledgeable are also more comfortable with how to handle situations as they come up. Some times employees need to handle situations swiftly and still professionally. The more training they have, the more they will feel comfortable in handling the situation appropriately. If an employee is not comfortable, they will not act for fear of mishandling a situation and loosing their job.
For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia
Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

Loss prevention Seminars can take many forms. Some of them are self-monitored, such as computer based learning programs, or handbook reviews. Any way you go about conducting this loss prevention training, the end result is the same- to train your employees so they have a more through understanding of how certain actions affect a store’s shrink and profit lines.

The supervisors in the store directly give the most common kind of loss prevention training. These kinds of trainings or mini loss prevention seminars center around store specific policies and procedures designed to minimize risk and exposure. Others are aimed toward store operations and how to handle day-to-day tasks and assignments. These are processes like in store recovery efforts, cash handling and close out procedures. It is also the way a company handles the receipt of products and goods.

Loss prevention seminars are a way for employees to understand what to look for and why thieves act the way they do. All of this loss prevention training is done because employees who are knowledgeable are also more comfortable with how to handle situations as they come up. Some times employees need to handle situations swiftly and still professionally. The more training they have, the more they will feel comfortable in handling the situation appropriately. If an employee is not comfortable, they will not act for fear of mishandling a situation and loosing their job.

For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

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A Tried And True Prevention- Loss Prevention Seminars

June 23, 2014 by
If an employee is thinking about stealing, they know that the more people who are aware of methods and red flags will make it more likely to be caught. The less of an emphasis on security, operational controls and checks, and internal audits means it is easier for employee theft to occur.
One tried and true way of preventing employee theft in your stores is to send your entire team of employees through a loss prevention workshop. When you take your team of employees to these loss prevention seminars, you are actually showing them why they should not steal.
These seminars are designed to create more eyes and ears in an otherwise oblivious location that will now be aware of what is going on at the store level. By sending your employees to loss prevention training sends a message that you are raising awareness of all facets of your business. Employee theft adamantly will not be tolerated.
The businesses that are most prone to employee theft and embezzlement are the ones who have minimal employee awareness and lackadaisical operational controls. Any actions you can take to improve on these substandard business practices will reduce the risk you have of an employee knowingly taking advantage of you and your company’s assets.
For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia
Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

If an employee is thinking about stealing, they know that the more people who are aware of methods and red flags will make it more likely to be caught. The less of an emphasis on security, operational controls and checks, and internal audits means it is easier for employee theft to occur.

One tried and true way of preventing employee theft in your stores is to send your entire team of employees through a loss prevention workshop. When you take your team of employees to these loss prevention seminars, you are actually showing them why they should not steal.

These seminars are designed to create more eyes and ears in an otherwise oblivious location that will now be aware of what is going on at the store level. By sending your employees to loss prevention training sends a message that you are raising awareness of all facets of your business. Employee theft adamantly will not be tolerated.

The businesses that are most prone to employee theft and embezzlement are the ones who have minimal employee awareness and lackadaisical operational controls. Any actions you can take to improve on these substandard business practices will reduce the risk you have of an employee knowingly taking advantage of you and your company’s assets.

For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Systems for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

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Getting What You Really Wanted- Shoplifting

June 16, 2014 by
One of the most commonly sought after loss prevention training programs are ones that focus on recognizing and prevention of shoplifting as opposed to other kinds of inventory losses. Shoplifting can happen to your store regardless of your location, client base and product assortment.
Because of this commonality, these loss prevention seminars are equally well suited for a wide majority of retailers. Since most shoplifters exhibit the same basic strategies and methods, the prevention tactics taught within these classes are therefore equally as universal as the crimes they are deterring and eliminating.
When you understand what your store specific concerns are, it is easier to find a loss prevention training program or class that will fit your needs.
Why would you and your employees want to waste your time in an ineffective loss prevention workshop that is too generalized or do not focus enough on your particular problems or worries? Why spend hours listening to ways employee theft hurts you when you have bigger losses from shoplifting?
The smart decision is to work with the training facilitators to make sure they understand exactly what your expectations are.
There is no point in spending your time and your hard earned money on programs that will not produce a return on your investment later on.
For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia
Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

One of the most commonly sought after loss prevention training programs are ones that focus on recognizing and prevention of shoplifting as opposed to other kinds of inventory losses. Shoplifting can happen to your store regardless of your location, client base and product assortment. Because of this commonality, these loss prevention seminars are equally well suited for a wide majority of retailers.

Since most shoplifters exhibit the same basic strategies and methods, the prevention tactics taught within these classes are therefore equally as universal as the crimes they are deterring and eliminating. When you understand what your store specific concerns are, it is easier to find a loss prevention training program or class that will fit your needs.

Why would you and your employees want to waste your time in an ineffective loss prevention workshop that is too generalized or does not focus enough on your particular problems or worries? Why spend hours listening to ways employee theft hurts you when you have bigger losses from shoplifting?

The smart decision is to work with the training facilitators to make sure they understand exactly what your expectations are. There is no point in spending your time and your hard earned money on programs that will not produce a return on your investment later on.

For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

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Tips and Tricks That Might Be Free- Loss Prevention Seminars

June 9, 2014 by
Sometimes the best solution is the most obvious solution. Loss prevention seminars can give you tips and tricks to mitigate some of your inventory losses for free or for a minor expense to your bottom line. Even though EAS systems are proven deterrents to shoplifting, they are not an immediate fix. You have to decide which system you want, have it installed and then EAS tag or label your inventory.
In the mean time, you need to have alternative methods to mitigate shoplifting (and employee theft) losses in your stores. Taking a loss prevention workshop can help you with some industry proven tips and tricks to reducing your losses in lieu of an EAS system.
One of the tips is to remerchandise some of the more desirable products within your store.
Do you have small, high theft items on a shelf location in the middle of your store? Shoplifters seek out those items and then look for unwatched corners to conceal these items.
Why not move these high theft items closer to the POS system? They will have a better chance of being continually monitored, and anyone who picks one up can easily and immediately pay for it. Making these kinds of minor merchandising changes to your high theft inventory products can reduce shoplifting.
For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia
Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

Sometimes the best solution is the most obvious solution. Loss prevention seminars can give you tips and tricks to mitigate some of your inventory losses for free or for a minor expense to your bottom line. Even though EAS systems are proven deterrents to shoplifting, they are not an immediate fix. You have to decide which system you want, have it installed and then EAS tag or label your inventory.

In the mean time, you need to have alternative methods to mitigate shoplifting (and employee theft) losses in your stores. Taking a loss prevention workshop can help you with some industry proven tips and tricks to reducing your losses in lieu of an EAS system.

One of the tips is to remerchandise some of the more desirable products within your store.

Do you have small, high theft items on a shelf location in the middle of your store? Shoplifters seek out those items and then look for unwatched corners to conceal these items.

Why not move these high theft items closer to the POS system? They will have a better chance of being continually monitored, and anyone who picks one up can easily and immediately pay for it. Making these kinds of minor merchandising changes to your high theft inventory products can reduce shoplifting.

For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Systems for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

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Catch All The Steps- Loss Prevention Seminars

June 2, 2014 by
Loss prevention seminars are extremely important if you are going to make shoplifting apprehensions in your store. The elimination of even one step can create a huge lawsuit and liability for your business.
First, you need to see the subject enter the store. The point is to see what they have, what they are wearing or carrying, so you can conversely know what merchandise they are stealing from you.
Secondly, you need to see them enter the area where the merchandise is sold. You absolutely need to see them select (pick up) the merchandise in question.
Again, this ensures you can verify the merchandise is absolutely your property and not theirs.
At this point you need to see them conceal the product or otherwise demonstrate that they are intending to steal.
Maintain constant observation of the merchandise. If you loose contact, can you be sure they did not discard the merchandise somewhere along the way? Some shoplifters do get spooked and drop the product.
Finally they need to exit the store and pass the last point of sales.
Loss prevention training is designed to assist retailers with making decisions to stop shoplifting or not. These loss prevention seminars are out there to further expound on these steps, and explain the subtle nuances that can arise during an actual shoplifting stop. That way the retailer can make a better determination if shoplifting apprehensions would be beneficial to their stores.
For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia
Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

Loss prevention seminars are extremely important if you are going to make shoplifting apprehensions in your store. The elimination of even one step can create a huge lawsuit and liability for your business.

First, you need to see the subject enter the store. The point is to see what they have, what they are wearing or carrying, so you can conversely know what merchandise they are stealing from you.

Secondly, you need to see them enter the area where the merchandise is sold. You absolutely need to see them select (pick up) the merchandise in question.

Again, this ensures you can verify the merchandise is absolutely your property and not theirs.

At this point you need to see them conceal the product or otherwise demonstrate that they are intending to steal.

Maintain constant observation of the merchandise. If you loose contact, can you be sure they did not discard the merchandise somewhere along the way? Some shoplifters do get spooked and drop the product.

Finally they need to exit the store and pass the last point of sales.

Loss prevention training is designed to assist retailers with making decisions to stop shoplifting or not. These loss prevention seminars are out there to further expound on these steps, and explain the subtle nuances that can arise during an actual shoplifting stop. That way the retailer can make a better determination if shoplifting apprehensions would be beneficial to their stores.

For more information on Loss Prevention Seminars, Loss Prevention Training, or Loss Prevention Workshop contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Systems for more information on Retail Employee Theft and Retail Shoplifting problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminars, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

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Working On The Ground Level

May 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment

theft (8)In spite of all of my years of experience in catching shoplifters, I am always worried that they will spot me watching them. It’s not that it would be the worst thing that could possibly happen, mind you. More than likely the shoplifter will discard the merchandise before they make any attempts to walk out the door with it. It prevents the loss of product, which is ultimately what retail theft prevention is about.

What I personally don’t like is feeling like I have wasted all the time watching them, and the potential shoplifter leaves without any recourse. That means that they will probably come back in and make another attempt at stealing from my stores.

I spoke with one of my mentors about the concern and he gave me an interesting piece of advice- Get down on the ground to avoid detection. Now he wasn’t talking about sprawling down on the floor and staying there. He was talking about lowering down to avoid being in the shoplifters line of sight.

A shoplifter is trying to avoid detection at all costs. They are maintaining constant vigilance and eyesight towards anyone that comes within their line of sight. As such, they are focused primarily on the movements that are straight ahead, at their eye level.

A shoplifter is not looking down, to see if someone is kneeling down, spying on them. I have since developed my own trick to watching shoplifters closer up. I kneel down beside a table, or a rounder of clothing. So I don’t look suspicious to the shoplifter, or any other customers, I pretend to be tying my shoe. Even if my shoe doesn’t have actual laces on it, if I am fiddling with my shoe, no one is suspicious, and I am below the shoplifter’s line of sight.

Of all the cases I have watched that I have used this trick, not one shoplifter has known that I was watching them from a few feet away. I still feel like I could be noticed at any time, and I guess that feeling will never go away. I do know that my trick has been proven to work for me in the past, and will stay successful in the future.

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