Tricks of the Trade

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 4:40 pm

We all know that there are a lot of scams and tricks operating within the retail environment here are a few that I’ve seen in operation to devastating effect! Shocked

Foil lined bag fill bag with goodies then exit the store and the tagging system will fail because of the magnetic interference. Embarassed

Very large cardboard box openly left on the shop floor and filled up by “shoppers” dropping items in the open box. The box is so large none even thinks to challenge them. Embarassed

What evil doings have you seen/dealt with?

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 5:55 pm

Foil lined bag fill bag with goodies then exit the store and the tagging system will fail because of the magnetic interference. Embarassed

Here in Portsmouth any one seen with a foil lined bag is stoped by the police and the bag tacken off them.

But what about when they use they own kids i.e. 4-7yrs olds to do the lifting then say "I did not know the kid took it". Twisted Evil

Paul

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:31 am

clockworkk9 Hi thanks for your input. Razz

Just by the fact of the persons having the lined bag with them is an arrestable offence called “Going equipped to steal”. Wink

Please note great caution must be used if suspects have a commercially obtained foil bag namely a “freezer bag,” as the burden of proof is with you to physically see the theft; as the “legal” bag could be explained by example “I’m going to Iceland’s or Farmfoods” Even though there isn’t one for miles around! Shocked

As for the kid(s) I think we could all think of the scum that would/do train their siblings to steal. It’s a tricky one again I would only intervene in an official capacity if I had seen the incident or if there were any CCTV images of the kid being coached into concealing the item.

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 12:59 am

Dave1812 wrote:

As for the kid(s) I think we could all think of the scum that would/do train their siblings to steal. It’s a tricky one again I would only intervene in an official capacity if I had seen the incident or if there were any CCTV images of the kid being coached into concealing the item.

i would agree totally with this Dave, it is a tricky one to deal with, i have had occasions of this very nature, i was retail for a LARGE super maket chain (the one with the annoying granny), the way i and my fellow officers played it was to approach the parent (mother in these cases) after the family had left the store in a very jovial and freindly manour, state that i had saw her child ( he was about 4-5 years old) had picked up an item (stating what the item was) when she wasn't looking and could i have it back or if she wanted to keep the item she could come back into the store to pay for it at customer services.

The responce was alway "so sorry, can't take them anywhere blah..blah..blah.." over a period 6 of months we gathered intel on this woman and corolated it with other stores security departments within the area and passed it to the police.
I believe that she was investigated and caught in the act of theft and was also charged with an offence under the child protection act......

we didn't see much of her for a while... wonder why ? Very Happy

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 10:47 pm

for every scam we learn to over-come another is made-up...it's a game that they play and we need to think like them to catch them..but you lot already know that!! and as for the kiddie coaching as long as we sticck to s.c.o.n.e. and always remember we dont need to give a reson to ban someone then we will always have the advantage..see you all soon...Dame Rolling Eyes

Newbie Joined: Oct 31, 2003 Posts: 17

Their's the nester as well, trolley lined all around with cereal boxes, spirits in the middle, multi crisp packs layed on top.

I caught someone once that had emptied a multi crisp bag of its crisps,and filled it with gillette blades.

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:18 am

I remember one we used to do for "child thieves". We would follow them from the store and wait for the parent to touch the item, watching their reaction. Some were generally suprised and we would then approach using the method described above. The ones that we could statement to show they were aware were detained as per normal procedures. We never had one go wrong but I did have a fantastic team.

Glad to see the old trolley oush out is still alive and good. I really miss the challenge of daily dealings with shoplifters and now have to limit it by only getting to play when I am out shopping. I still liken it to a game of tenins and there is nothing better than going up against a professional and experienced lifter. Always found you can develop a mutual professional respect between us and them.

Newbie Joined: Oct 31, 2003 Posts: 17

Leon I to miss the buzz of "catching shoplifters" as I am no longer in retail.
What an adrenalin fix you get as you follow them around, guessing is it an easy arrest or are they going to dump and run. Brilliant line of work, I wouldn't mind going back to it, but violence plays a big part in it now, too many drug addicts looking for a quick lift to sell on for a few pounds for drugs. Sad life these poor youngsters have got themselves into.
I can't go shopping without watching other people that act suspiciously,it sounds like your the same, it really winds my family up but I can't help it.

Credit card fraud seems to be the in thing now, buying high value items to sell on, trouble is there is always someone willing to buy a bargain without asking questions.

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 4:14 pm

I can just see Cathy and Leon on a Guild meeting/outing, Very Happy

Imagine how popular we would be with the local police, we’d never be able to have the same venue again! Cool

Or could we charge for the service? Wink

Over to you John, for the feasibility survey! Very Happy

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 11:20 pm

I must admit, i too tend to watch people when i'm out shopping, it really upsets the other half, but in fairness she has to put up with a lot seen as its a family business and her parents do the same, you should see us when we all go to asda!!
I also tend to keep my eyes peeled when i'm on a night out, having done a fair amount of door work.
We should all just get lives!!!

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 4:24 pm

I have to confess, I'm just the same when I go out and Zoe is even worse.
Too many years in the job I suppose, but it is no bad thing to be aware of your surroundings all the time.

We always get a smile from the 'greeter' at Asds becuase they know as soon as we walk in something is going to happen Laughing

And then there is the sigh of resignation on the security officers face as he watches us watching the other shoppers.

Had a good in town a couple of weeks ago, we were watching this shop lifter at work in a local Morrisons and we were also watching the plain clothes detective and security officer setting up the Stop, only they had missed an area were the shop lifter could get away, so I positioned myself in the spot and tripped him up as he ran out.

The faces of the store detective and security officer was a picture when they realised I had been watching the whole scenario unfold and had seen the lifter spotting their attempts to position themselves strategically.

I bet the lifter really needed that can of Lynx while waiting for the Police.

Newbie Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Posts: 20 Location: Reading

I think I can say without blushing that I have seen all of the above, but then I do operate in the largest 'annoying granny store' in the country.

A couple of extra ones:
Cut a can in half and put it over the new bottletop tags.
We caught a guy walking out with a brimming duffle-bag and two bottles of champagne up his sleeves! Rolling Eyes

Empty cans of babypowder. (Big tins)

Staff have a tendency to put reduction labels on products, particularly in the meat section where braising steak turnes out to be prime Aberdeen Angus.

A particularly annoying one is when thieves have a psychiatrist to back them up, we had a guy assault security staff and make several breaks for exits as we were manhandling him to the holding room only to have the hapless police officers get told that as he is NEVER in full posession of his senses and that they had to let him go. All we could do was ban him. Nonetheless he had enough wits to remember to run everytime I found him sculking around our carpark.

Pensioners seem to be turning criminal in a big way, we've had a spate of them, including one old fella shoving his trousers full of meat and then claiming he did it because he was diabetic and having a turn?!?
Thats a new one on me...

Pertaining to credit card fraud, down in my area we have a group of IC3 females, approx 25-26 years of age, who have a tendency of buying the cheapest item they possibly can and getting 50 squids worth of cashback. Hmmm, a bit dodgy methinks, but lacking evidence on such short notice we can do nothing other than inform the police. Prob. nicked them from the post office which is why the signiatures matched.

Difficulties with the drug scene I can attest to as I recently got stabbed in the arm with a syringe and am still waiting on results. Though the thought of catching something hideous and melting is mildly perturbing it's the 6 MONTHS ENFORCED CELIBACY thats killing me! Evil or Very Mad

Newbie Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 6

First up I would just like to say that this is a fantastic site. Well done.

When I first started out in the security industry many years ago, one of my first sites was a toy shop (two weeks before Xmas) in Romford. The shop manager showed me a flyer that was being handed out at the time in the town centre detailing how to shoplift (They called themselves FreeShoppers), what tactics to employ and what actions a security officer can & can not do legally.

One of the suggestions on the flyer was to 'Become a security officer and assist Freeshoppers where possible for an incentive'. It even listed several two bit local firms who would employ people with out any serious vetting.

Jags

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 5:52 pm

jags666 - thank you for the kind words, I'm sure everyone that participates in this site and makes it what it is will appreciate your comments.

I have never come across a flyer like that myself but I cannot help wondering if it was in fact a recruitment poster for the cheap skate companies you hinted Laughing

Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 7:35 am

First of all like jags666 i will commend you on a great site. I myself have been in security for many years and enjoy the job. I am now a trainner and have been for the past 3 years and do miss the shop floor the thrill of the chase. I have seen many tactics employed by shop lifters through out my 10 years on the floor and i have to agree using a child is the worst. It is something we will never stop because some parents know that we can do nothing.It the same with Juveniles i dont think that the system does enought to discourage them. I belive that any one over the age of 10 under 16 we should be able to serve civil recovery on them. But is the same now for the adult shop lifters the goverment send out the wrong signals i mean alot of my officers ring me and go mad about he new fixed penalty notice £80 one officer arrest a young woman for theft of £180 of goods and all she got was the fixed fine and let go. 2 hours later she was arrested for theft in another store for £26 she said she need to steal to pay for the fine its one big circle. What does anyone else thing of this fine system i would love to here your views