The art of shoplifting

THE ART OF SHOPLIFTING

SPONSORED BY COEBURN POLICE DEPT.

CREATED BY H. STALLARD NOVEMBER [email protected]

SHOPLIFTING

SHOPLIFTING

THIS PRESENTATION WILL

Define shoplifting by the Code of Virginia…

Identify your rights and responsibilities as a merchant…

Identify the types of shoplifters…

Show you how to identify possible shoplifters…

Show you the techniques shoplifters use…

Identify steps to take to help prevent shoplifting…

Identify the steps you should take if you have a shoplifter…

IN VIRGINIA SHOPLIFTING IS

• § 18.2-103. Concealing or taking possession of merchandise;


• § 18.2-103. Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags


• § 18.2-103. Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags ; transferring goods from one container to another;


• § 18.2-103. Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags ; transferring goods from one container to another; counseling, etc., another in performance of such acts.

Code of Virginia § 8.01- 44.4

• "Shoplift" means any one or more of the following acts committed by a person without the consent of the merchant and with the purpose or intent of appropriating merchandise to that person's own or another's use without payment, obtaining merchandise at less than its stated sales price, or otherwise depriving a merchant of all or any part of the value or use of merchandise

"Shoplift" means any one or more of the following acts

Removing any merchandise from the premises of the merchant's establishment;

concealing any merchandise; substituting, altering, removing, or disfiguring

any label or price tag; transferring any merchandise from a container

in which that merchandise is displayed or packaged to any other container;

"Shoplift" means any one or more of the following acts

disarming any alarm tag attached to any merchandise;

obtaining or attempting to obtain possession of any merchandise by charging that merchandise to another person without the authority of that person or by charging that merchandise to a fictitious person.

From the Code of Virginia § 8.01- 44.4

CONCEALMENT PROVES INTENT

The willful concealment of goods or merchandise of any store or other mercantile establishment, while still on the premises thereof, shall be prima facie evidence ( a fact presumed to be true unless it is disproved) of an intent to convert and defraud the owner thereof out of the value of the goods or merchandise. From the Code of Virginia § 18.2-103

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to detain a subject that you suspect of shoplifting…

• § 18.2-105.1. Detention of suspected shoplifter. • A merchant, agent or employee of the merchant,

who has probable cause to believe that a person has shoplifted in violation of § 18.2-95 (Grand larceny) or § 18.2-96 (Petit larceny) or § 18.2-103 (Shoplifting), on the premises of the merchant, may detain such person for a period not to exceed one hour pending arrival of a law-enforcement officer.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-95



YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

§ 8.01-226.9. Exemption from civil liability in connection with arrest or detention of person suspected of shoplifting.

A merchant, agent or employee of the merchant, who causes the arrest or detention of any person pursuant to the provisions of §18.2-95, § 18.2-96 or § 18.2-103, shall not be held civilly liable for unlawful detention,

if such detention does not exceed one hour, slander, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, false arrest, or assault and battery of the person so arrested or detained…




PREVENTING FALSE ARRESTThe retail security and loss prevention industry have developed six universally accepted steps to minimize the potential for a false arrest claim.You must see the shoplifter approach the merchandise You must see the shoplifter select the merchandise

PREVENTING FALSE ARRESTYou must see the shoplifter conceal, convert or carry away the merchandise You must maintain continuous observation of the shoplifter You must observe the shoplifter fail to pay for the merchandise You must apprehend the shoplifter outside the store

ASSAULT AND BATTERY

In Virginia you are not allowed to put hands on a shoplifter to detain them.

PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAIN

The activation of an electronic article surveillance device…

PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAIN

The activation of an electronic article surveillance device… provided such person is detained only in a reasonable manner and only for such time as is necessary for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the activation of the device…

PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAIN and provided that clear and visible notice is posted at each exit and location within the premises where such a device is located indicating the presence of an antishoplifting or inventory control device.

PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAINYou see or have on video a subject concealing any merchandise…

PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAINYou see or have on video a person substituting, altering, removing, or disfiguring any label or price tag…

PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAINYou see or have on video a person transferring any merchandise from a container in which that merchandise is displayed or packaged to any other container…

PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAINYou see or have on video a person disarming any alarm tag attached to any merchandise…

Types of Shoplifters

Shoplifters fall into several basic types or categories.

Professionals: This group represents a rather small percentage of

shoplifters, but they proportionally can account for significant losses. Due to the fact that they operate in a very smooth manner, they are the most difficult to detect. Professionals usually steal to return for cash, or sell to a "fence".


Amateurs: This group represents the majority of

shoplifters. Typically, they are more opportunistic in nature, not as skilled as professionals, and are generally nervous and self-conscious.


Drug Users/Addicts: This group steals to fund their drug habit.

They will either resell their booty to a fence, or attempt a cash refund. Their methods are crude and usually not well planned. Remember, an addict can become frantic, or even violent, when apprehended.


Kleptomaniac: Very few shoplifters fall into this category. This

type of individual has a psychological compulsion to steal. They will commit a theft whenever the urge hits. Normally they are nervous and shy.


Vagrant: These individuals generally take food items,

alcoholic beverages, or clothing needed for personal use. A vagrant often steals to exist and may be under the influence of alcohol.


The Juvenile : Steals mainly for the thrill or to gain status in the peer group… Most of these thieves are girls…They work in groups but not necessarily organized gangs…They usually take merchandise they intend to use (jewelry, make-up, clothes, small electronics, sporting or recreational items)

What does a shoplifter look like?

Unfortunately, there is no typical profile of a shoplifter. Thieves come in all ages, races and from all backgrounds.

What does a shoplifter look like?

However, there are some signs that should signal a red flag for retailers.

While the following characteristics don't necessarily mean guilt, retailers should keep a close eye on shoppers who exhibit the following…

RED FLAGS Someone … who spends more time watching the cashier

or sales clerk than actually shopping…

RED FLAGS Someone …

who wears bulky, heavy clothing or coats during warm weather…


who carries a coat or sweater or a large OPEN bag ,purse, or slightly open umbrella…


who walks with short or unnatural steps, which may indicate that they are concealing lifted items between their legs.

RED FLAGS

RED FLAGS

Someone …who is pushing a baby stroller or carrying a bundled infant…


who takes multiple items into dressing room…who seems nervous and possibly picks up random items with no interest…

who frequently enters store and never makes a purchase…who has a backpack or purse that look light when entering the store but heavy when leaving…

TECHNIQUES USED BY SHOPLIFTERS

Concealing the merchandisePalming…hiding a small item in their hand and concealing it later.The drop…sliding an item off the counter or dropping it into an open bag, purse, umbrella, baby buggy, etc.Knocking over a display and palm or pocketing an item while helping to pick the other items up.Carrying an item around until they are in a blind spot in the store where they conceal it.


Concealing the merchandisePlacing it in hidden pockets or modified

clothing.


Concealing the merchandisehiding it inside of loose fitting garments…


Concealing the merchandisehiding it in the baby’s buggy or blankets…


Concealing the merchandiseWearing the item out of the store…


Concealing the merchandiseCrotch walking…holding the item with their

thighs under a dress or long coat…


GRAB AND RUNSubjects either alone or in a group grab items

and runs out of the store.


DEFEATING THE ELECTRONICSBOOSTER BAG


DEFEATING THE ELECTRONICSBOOSTER BAG

• It shall be unlawful to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, distribute or possess any specially coated or laminated bag or other device primarily designed and intended to shield shoplifted merchandise from detection by an anti-theft electronic alarm sensor, with the intention that the same be used to aid in the shoplifting of merchandise.

• A violation of this section shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. 18.2-105.2


DEFEATING THE ELECTRONICSREMOVING OR DEACTIVATING THE TAG


DEFEATING THE ELECTRONICSREMOVING OR DEACTIVATING THE TAG

There are hundreds of web sites that give detailed instructions on how to remove or deactivate every type of electronic tag.


DEFEATING THE ELECTRONICSIf no one is looking, they simply hold the item with tag in the air ABOVE the electronic article surveillance device.


HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT


HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHTThe shoplifter selects a large item that is too big to be bagged and simply walks out of the store with it…They usually do this when the clerk is distracted or when a large number of people are in the store.


DISTRACTIONThe shoplifter will either create or take advantage of something that distracts the clerk to hide the item.


The switch

The shoplifter brings an item into the store that is similar to but a cheaper version of the item they wish to lift.

They ask to see the expensive model, distract the clerk, switch the items, then give the clerk the cheap model to put back on the shelf.

PREVENTING SHOPLIFTING You can’t completely stop all shoplifting…

but there are many things you can do to slow it down.Post signs in conspicuous places that say you prosecute shoplifters.

PREVENTING SHOPLIFTING

Keep an eye on people who are loitering orwandering around.Never leave the store or department unattended. This is the opportunity the shoplifter is waiting for.Don’t ever turn your back on a customer. Keep expensive merchandise locked in a showcase.


Don’t allow any customer to distract thecashier while helping somebody.Be careful of persons walking with merchandise in hand. Watch customers with open packages, shopping bags, oversized handbags and purses.Never put out more than one item on a counter top for a customer to look at.


Watch the nervous customer who does not want assistance.Eliminate blind spots in your store by rearranging racks, counters, cash registers, etc., or use mirrors or closed circuit TV cameras. Don’t display expensive clothing or merchandise in the front of the store or near entrances or exits unless they are secured.


Do not allow cash returns without store receipt.Limit the dollar amount of any return without direct manager approval.Beware of distractions. Some shoplifters show up in groups. One might be the lookout or instead approaches employees to misdirect them while the shoplifter grabs an item.

IF YOU HAVE A SHOPLIFTER

If you have a confirmed shoplifter in the store, it’s better to call the police and let them detain the suspect.If you feel that they may leave before the police arrive then…Identify yourself, explain the circumstances and request the person return to the store or remain in the store until the police arrive.


If a suspect is reluctant to return or remain , advise them an arrest may be necessary if they will not voluntarily return or wait for the police.If the suspect is determined to leave…It is better to let them go than become involved in a physical confrontation where injury might occur to the employee or suspect.


Make sure to get a good description of the suspect and/or vehicle and direction of travel should the suspect flee.Document your observations and actions in writing. Do this as soon as possible after the incident. This report will be your portable memory when the case goes to court.Bar from your store anyone you catch shoplifting.

• COEBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT

• 114 FRONT STREET

• 395-2111

• CHIEF SCOTT BROOKS

• [email protected]

The art of shoplifting

Education

possession of merchandise

merchandise substituting

virginia shoplifting

detention of person

probable cause

person pursuant

fictitious person

code of virginia