The best way is to learn the five steps retailers’ use and how to legally approach a shoplifter is to attend a loss prevention workshop. There they can walk you through the steps and answer most of the legal questions you might have when it comes to approaching and apprehending a shoplifter.
While it might seem like common sense as to how to make the approach, it is surprising how many employees make their own deviations and decide what is best at the time. I have seen the following examples happen when employees have accused customers of shoplifting.
You walk up to them, outright accuse them and demand to search their bags to find the (suspected) stolen items.
For others, the answer is to not confront them and to call the police to have them arrested.
The rest of the employees have determined that the best approach is one of denial- “He was a shoplifter? Really? I didn’t notice.”
If you accuse a shoplifter directly, you open yourself up to a variety of scenarios.
The first is an open/ aggressive confrontation can escalate into a potentially dangerous situation. The shoplifter might be armed, or prepared to fight his way out.
If you do not have any proof of the shoplifting act and are relying on your “gut feeling”, you might open yourself and your business up to a wrongful detainment/ accusation lawsuit. It can cost tens of thousands of dollars and potentially negative press. Same thing goes for calling the police without actual proof.
A passive/ non-existent approach can lead to shoplifters coming back because they do not fear getting caught.
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.
