Tell me about Loss Prevention

Question

I understand that if someone is caught stealing, the loss prevention officer will politely ask the person to come to the back and cooperate. Well, my question is... what if the person grabs an item and hauls butt straight out the door. (Keep in mind cameras don't always get a good picture of the face)

Answer 1

Then they will get away with it.  You can't always prevent loss, but you sure can minimize the loss.

Answer 2

If an LP officer sees him do that he will go and run after him.

If its juts the camera that sees it they will send the picture to all stores and ask to report if seen and if its something serious they will show it on the NEws.

And they will see your face as soon as you walk in the store

Answer 3

Most stores do not allow their loss prevention associates and officers to pursue people who are fleeing or attempting to resist with violence due to safety issues of the associates and of customers in the store.

When I was in college, we caught a guy stealing cigarettes.  We caught up to him outside the store, as he was lighting up.  We asked him to come back inside, he refused and pulled a knife.  It changed a simple shoplifting offense into a felony armed robbery in an instance.

I ran back inside the store and told them to call 911, while my partner stayed outside.  I then came back out and we simply tried to keep him in sight without jeopardizing our safety or the safety of anyone else.  We kept cars between him and us.  He took off running, but policy prohibited us from pursuing.  He got away before police arrived.

However, even if you intention is to grab an item and run out there are always tells, just like in poker.

What I tended to notice is that a shopper, looking for a pair of jeans will look at the size, may compare different brands and prices, someone intending to steal doesn't care about size or price and will just start grabbing pairs of jeans and putting them into their cart.  That is one common tell.  A good LPA could then keep them in sight and even stage near the entrance so that when they do run out ... you've got them.

Answer 4

If Loss Prevention is aware of it, they will pursue, in contact with local police. Loss prevention isn't always monitored solely in CATV but on foot as well. I was a store detective for many yrs in my day. There was a time when we had to wait till they left the store to apprehend them, that's not the case any longer.

Answer 5

You never know what type pictures they have. Most cameras start at the entrance. Look at the ceiling in Walmart and notice all those "bubbles". Some stores also have cameras on the outside.