Feel free to shoplift...go right ahead.

Last week I (a fellow shopper, not an employee)
caught a shoplifter in the act. I promptly
told a clerk, who informed me there was nothing they
could do about it.

Confused, I thought the employee must have just
been brushing me off so they could continue standing
around talking with pay, so I approached another employee
with the same report.

What???

The clerk said that shoplifting was pretty much highlighted
on a recent television show, so everyone who shoplifts was basically informed
that if the dollar amount was under $25.00, you'll be
frowned at and that was the extent of it. A license to shoplift.
Go ahead, we can't do anything about it. Wow. Under twenty five
bucks and you walk. So other than a conscience, what keeps people
from lining up at the door to take stuff???

If you are under 18 or above 64, you may shoplift all you want without
fear of prosecution, it sounds like. Fall between those numbers and
you just have to watch the dollar amount you steal.

Could someone explain this to me? I thought shoplifting was
a crime? Against the law? Nothing they can do? Pitiful.

Okay, that's weird! I worked in retail for many years, and the rules were always the same: Try to detain them and call law enforcement.

There were some other requirements, such as you had to wait until they were past the last place they could pay before you could detain them. Concealment wasn't enough; they had to be walking out without paying. It was a royal pain to have to deal with, but I've never heard of refusing to deal with it at all!

I agree with you, that's incredible!

Now days..it is true, you cannot approch the shoplifter and should not for good reason. In most retail businesses you will be terminated if you. This rule is for the safety of employees. However if the shoplifter is caught by loss prevention they are usually barred from returning to the store ever.

Try shoplifting in the town near us and I think it will be a different story. Our PA is really hard on shoplifters. I don't know all the rules, but we hear nearly daily about arrests made for shoplifting. Especially at WalMart.

Most major corporations have changed their policies within the past year. I heard a story about two clerks approaching a couple of kids in the parking lot for stealing a six pack of beer. One of the clerks got killed over it. Sad that the shoplifter gets away with it but it is not worth a person's life. Most store employees have not been trained how to handle a shoplifting situation and therefore can end of getting the store sued, which has happened also. It doesn't make it right, just a different perspective on the subject. As a matter of fact, stores lose more money on employee theft than on shoplifters.

I've seen police come to Home Depot to bust someone who was stealing a screwdriver! I mean, you have to bust them...they may only be taking a small item but until they are out those doors you don't know when their spree will end! But it is all to sad we live in a scary world and you can be killed for stopping someone. I've even seen Walmart employees in El Paso run out of the store after some guy...his getaway girl peeled away so that was funny--glad he was caught.

Our police blotter does have reports all the time for that. They must have been instructed to stay back and not confront the shoplifters themselves. You would think they could stop them up front.

I agree with you Tir, stop them before they steal more. I worked retail and hated it, I did see people walk out the door with stuff and just had to ignore it...sad!

It's sad and disgusting. The problem is that it costs
an arm and a leg to presecute someone, also SHAME
has gone out of style.

I agree...it's a shame and ultimately the price of the goods being stole are passed on to the consumers.

between the shoplufters and the people that run up a credit charge bill and never pays, we are not going to afford to shop!!!!!

hap

I am an assistant manager in a retail store.Let me tell you though,if I catch you shoplifting,you will be arrested and prosecuted to the best of my ability.I was in court last month for a shoplifting case,and have another one coming up Dec.8th.Here if we stop you inside the store,it's called shoplifting, a misdimeanor,once you go through the door,it becomes larceny,a more serious crime.Theives are why we all pay so much for everything we buy today.Merchants have to cover their losses someway,so we pay more!! I have no sympathy for anyone who steals.A few months ago,I caught a woman in her seventies stealing for herself and her grandson,of all things,expensive Rainbow Sandals!!!And yes she did go to jail.

you're a tough cookie there,rose.

thr world should have more like you!!!!

hap