A shoplifting case in any state can run from an infraction or a misdemeanor to a felony charge. Many communities across the United States are urging government officials to make a shoplifting case charge into something serious to deterred shoplifters from entering their stores and getting away with stolen merchandise.
Policies across the retail industry vary tremendously. Regardless of the policies you want your employees to adhere to, those policies have to be understood and follow through regardless of the situation. Law suits against retail stores are prevalent and costly, educating your security employees about the policies and laws in the state and your store can prevent expenses your business can do without.
Follow more stories about shoplifting by following the links below.
Target security officer fired after reporting shoplifting
Dallas Northington spent nearly eight years working for Target in loss prevention, roaming the stores and scanning the surveillance cameras. In an episode at the Leesburg Target store in May that he said was typical, a man was allegedly captured twice on video shoplifting, and Northington responded as he said he always did: He called the Leesburg police, made a report and provided them the videos of the two incidents.
But the man in the video may have been a Fairfax County sheriff’s deputy, Northington said he soon learned. And within days, two things happened: The deputy retired from the sheriff’s office and Target fired Northington, 29, a married father of two with a third child on the way.
Northington said Target officials told him that he had violated procedure by not filling out the proper paperwork before contacting the police, though he said his office had operated the same way for years. He said he also was told that he had been insubordinate for not seeking approval before calling police, though he said the standard practice was for him to act as needed.
Va. sheriff’s employee to be charged in shoplifting
WASHINGTON (AP) – Leesburg police say a Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office employee will be charged with shoplifting in a case that drew attention after the Target security guard who reported the alleged crime was fired.
The sheriff’s office employee has not been identified, and formal charges have yet to be filed.
Leesburg police say they identified a suspect a few days after the theft in late May and were awaiting word from Target on whether to proceed with charges. Police say they got that word from Target on Monday.
Police say the decision to fire the security guard was a corporate decision made by Target. Dallas Northington told The Washington Post that he was fired after Target told him he violated procedure by filling out paperwork before calling police.
Man wanted for shoplifting at Suffolk Walmart
Suffolk, Va. – Suffolk police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a man involved in a shoplifting incident at Walmart.
It happened on July 12 shortly after midnight at the Walmart located in the 6200 block of College Drive.
The suspect is described as a black male in his late teens or early 20’s wearing a dark tank top, camouflage shorts, a dark do-rag, flip flops and dark socks.
Surveillance cameras captured the suspect pulling a plastic Walmart bag from his pocket and placing several items in the bag and then proceeding past the register.
A loss prevention officer saw the suspect driving off in a tan colored Ford SUV.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Line at 1-888-Lock-U-Up.
When calling Crime Line, callers do not have to give their names or appear in court.
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