General Chat

as I have worked in a few different shops over the years you get to recognise all the local prolific shop-lifters (if thats the correct term) Alot of them are just stealing to feed their drug habit. But we have a new kid on the block. We have told her time and time again that she is barred from the shop and next time we will ring the police. She just says sorry and looks all apologetic. Trouble is I never seem to see her coming in but always see her when she is heading towards the door. I didnt actually see her take anything but knew that she would have something in her bag so chased after her aand asked her for the stuff she hadnt paid for. She handed me bakc 2 blocks of cheese almost a fivers worth and again said sorry. I told her Look this is your last warning. If you come in we are ringing the police. Trouble is she knows that its an empty threat as teh police probably wouldnt bother coming out for a fivers worth of cheese!!!
But when we played back the video it was the same old trick that most of them use. She had also taken some bacon but as she had given me the cheese I was happy and she was content cos she had gotten away with the bacon!!!! argh
What on earth are you supposed to do?

How frustrating. I'd call her bluff and get the police involved. Is she a minor?

Sorry I had a little laugh, all I can picture is Vicky Pollard pushing a pram out of the shop with a cash drawer in it covered with a baby blanket :)

Deb

Get her cautioned at least...... if you don't try to stop her now she will continue to steal and eventually take more than bacon and cheese!

she is not a minor. Trouble is you have to actually see her take something and she has to leave the shop to prove she has no intention of paying. I am also wary that she may have a knife or needle hidden in her pocket etc.....

I can't understand why you didnt call the police when you had her stopped with stolen items in her possession.....?

If you dont want to detain her yourself, employ a store detective.

Having had 30 years experience in retail management,I understand the problems with shoplifting.
store detectives are usually not worth the extra cash either, their just another person to pay.
I did employ a security guard at one point, my audits were no better,so I think that says it all really!

as you say most of them are feeding a habit,it is a problem and I'm sure it must be getting worse now a days.
its over 12 years since I was In retail, I have to say I'm glad I'm out of it now.

Why not have a word with someone at your local police station - explain everything that is going on and ask them for advice of what you should do in this situation, bearing in mind the safety aspect of it (as you wouldn't want to do anything to endanger yourself).

I am pretty sure that they will come out to you if you call them next time there is a theft, regardless of how much the stolen goods are worth. Stealing is stealing, even if the item only costs £5, that person is still acting unlawfully. As you have CCTV and a good description of the person, they should be able to find them soon enough.

The thing is, if you don't do anything about it, the word will get around that you are a pushover and how easy it is to steal from your shop.

Hope you manage to sort something out!

Athena

Roxanne
I worked as a security manager on leaving the forces, When I asked the store manager for funding to improve security within the store (a large department store on 7 levels) to reduce losses was told by him that the only reason the store employed security was to reduce insurance costs.

Oh and five staff to cover 7 floors monday to sunday and one of the security team had to remain in the office to search/monitor staff leaving shop.

Had to do staff searches supposedly random bosses told me when and whom to search.
Decide to do it on own initiative searched 3 x department managers in 1 week and guess what they were caught stealing, called police who attended asked manager re thefts .............. manager decided not to persue it.
Three dep managers suspended (not sacked...gross misconduct)

needless to say I left thier employ very quickly.

Paul

I also work in retail. We had a shoplifter in this morning. I recognised him from previous shop I had worked in. Got the manager to play back vidoe, sure enough was seen pocketing something but never went to till. It's a difficult question as where I worked before the manager was redhot on shoplifters but the police when called used to ring in & if theif not known to them they were reluctant to take it further as they had to take them to the next town, tie up two policemen to go with shoplifter, so they always wanted to caution unless it was a good haul. The manager I work for now does nothing & boy do the theifs know. I used to go after them as it makes me angry but don't put myself out for this manager. Could you get the police to look at the video to see if they recognise her at least. I would name & shame if I had my way as we are all paying for their thefts. Also hardly any of the ones I know work. Get thei r money from us every week. So we are paying twice.
Unless you have the manager behind you though it is useless.
Hilary.

She came in again today but as soon as she saw me she turned and left. I discussed this with our manager and she said its not worth bothering to ring the police as they take 3 days to turn out. Tell her that we are sending the videos to the police. They must know who she is. If I see any local bobbies I will ask them if they know who she is. But unless the company decide what their policy is then there really sint a lot I can do. One of our other stores is in a bit of a rough area and all the police do is issue a crime number.

Sad isnt it? when the polica are SOOOO stretched!!

Really, I know that they ARE thin on the ground....yet their bosses can demand extortionate amounts of money for speed cameras, and hi tech gadgetry, radios computers and stuff, it gets up my nose...... that the REAL copper on the ground has his/her hands tied......

Bob.