Stop Shoplifting-4
Anti-Shoplifting-3                                                                                                               WC Blog 704

Can A Dumb Crook Be Stopped With Anti-Shoplifting Devices?

     When you stop shoplifting and catch thieves you hear a lot of bizarre excuses for why a suspect tried to commit the crime. I think I just came across the strangest or oddest excuse I have heard yet. In a news report on whdh.com, September 12, 2018, by Frank O’Laughlin, “Police: Walmart shoplifters tried to steal clothes for upcoming court appearance”, a couple is reported to have been caught stealing clothing. The excuse they gave was that they needed the clothes for a court hearing she would be attending. Hmmm, I have a feeling she will be wearing basic orange when she makes that appearance. Sometimes you have to wonder what people are thinking. These two would-be shoplifters weren’t too bright but they aren’t the only ones to do something stupid. Take a look at these dumb shoplifters:
Posted in mirror.com.uk, 1 Oct 15, by Martin Frick, “Stupid shoplifter caught after complaining to police about victim’s ‘wanted poster’ featuring the thief’s face”. The gist of this story is that the shoplifter complained to police that the owner of the store put his picture on a poster from a still camera image and even blacked used Photoshop to place lines over his face. The picture made it to Facebook. The shoplifter complained to police because he stated his boss fired him from his job after seeing the post.
From wthr.com, “WATCH: Clueless shoplifting suspects run from police and right into jail”, by WTHR.com Staff, Feb 27, 2018. “Police in Peoria, Arizona were on their way to a call of a suspicious circumstance.” Police saw the suspect’s car at a gas station and the couple saw the police and ran. “Surveillance cameras caught them running along the building before jumping a fence to break into the jail!” Oh, I forgot to mention the report stated the couple had run right to the doors which were directly under a big sign that indicated what the building was.
I have no idea if the stores were using anti-shoplifting systems but I am not convinced that even if they had it would have been enough to stop shoplifting by these kooky crooks.

     Now I want to be honest with you most shoplifters aren’t this dumb. I have been involved in efforts to stop shoplifting for many years. I have dealt with the professional shoplifters, the impulse shoplifters and yes, even the dumb shoplifters. I will tell you that most are not as stupid as the aforementioned. The criminal act is dumb and the excuses they come up with may be ridiculous once caught but as a whole these are not dumb people. In fact many are downright clever and the various methods they devise to steal are incredible. Thieves also go to great lengths to avoid being caught and that includes avoiding theft of merchandise they know is tagged or labeled with anti-shoplifting devices. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) not only has the Sensormatic security systems and tags to protect against theft they offer other tools that can reduce your store shortage as a result of theft. Newsletters, blogs, videos, social media, theft investigators, risk assessment and training opportunities are all services offered by LPSI. They can even give you suggestions to deter those dumb criminals who may make the occasional stop at your store. With over 30 years of experience in retail theft prevention they are the company I would trust if I were a store owner seeking to improve my profit line.

     Before concluding I will share two of my own personal dumb shoplifter stories only because I had several and I can’t choose my favorite. My first dumb shoplifter was an intoxicated golfer stealing underwear. Not necessarily dumb in itself except he had $300 cash in his wallet with which he could have purchased the underwear. The second has to take the cake for all dumb shoplifters. He was a man dressed as a woman stealing purses from our store. Nothing too unusual about that, the crook even ran from me and got away, except I grabbed his jacket and personal handbag. Once again, not too far outside the realm of what happens with a lot of shoplifters. What was dumb was this crook had his prison ID card in his purse…he was on probation! A warrant was signed and he was eventually picked up.

     Anti-shoplifting devices such as Sensormatic labels are an effective means of preventing theft. There are rare instances you my get a visit from a dumb shoplifter who won’t think about what they are potentially getting themselves into if they choose to try to steal. Get great advice from a visit to LPSI website to learn how to stop shoplifting before these clods create a bit of chaos in your business.
Get more information on how to stop shoplifting, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.



When you stop shoplifting and catch thieves you hear a lot of bizarre excuses for why a suspect tried to commit the crime. I think I just came across the strangest or oddest excuse I have heard yet. In a news report on whdh.com, September 12, 2018, by Frank O’Laughlin, “Police: Walmart shoplifters tried to steal clothes for upcoming court appearance”, a couple is reported to have been caught stealing clothing. The excuse they gave was that they needed the clothes for a court hearing she would be attending. Hmmm, I have a feeling she will be wearing basic orange when she makes that appearance. Sometimes you have to wonder what people are thinking. These two would-be shoplifters weren’t too bright but they aren’t the only ones to do something stupid. Take a look at these dumb shoplifters:

Posted in mirror.com.uk, 1 Oct 15, by Martin Frick, “Stupid shoplifter caught after complaining to police about victim’s ‘wanted poster’ featuring the thief’s face”. The gist of this story is that the shoplifter complained to police that the owner of the store put his picture on a poster from a still camera image and even blacked used Photoshop to place lines over his face. The picture made it to Facebook. The shoplifter complained to police because he stated his boss fired him from his job after seeing the post.

From wthr.com, “WATCH: Clueless shoplifting suspects run from police and right into jail”, by WTHR.com Staff, Feb 27, 2018. “Police in Peoria, Arizona were on their way to a call of a suspicious circumstance.” Police saw the suspect’s car at a gas station and the couple saw the police and ran. “Surveillance cameras caught them running along the building before jumping a fence to break into the jail!” Oh, I forgot to mention the report stated the couple had run right to the doors which were directly under a big sign that indicated what the building was.

I have no idea if the stores were using anti-shoplifting systems but I am not convinced that even if they had it would have been enough to stop shoplifting by these kooky crooks.
     

Now I want to be honest with you most shoplifters aren’t this dumb. I have been involved in efforts to stop shoplifting for many years. I have dealt with the professional shoplifters, the impulse shoplifters and yes, even the dumb shoplifters. I will tell you that most are not as stupid as the aforementioned. The criminal act is dumb and the excuses they come up with may be ridiculous once caught but as a whole these are not dumb people. In fact many are downright clever and the various methods they devise to steal are incredible. Thieves also go to great lengths to avoid being caught and that includes avoiding theft of merchandise they know is tagged or labeled with anti-shoplifting devices. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) not only has the Sensormatic security systems and tags to protect against theft they offer other tools that can reduce your store shortage as a result of theft. Newsletters, blogs, videos, social media, theft investigators, risk assessment and training opportunities are all services offered by LPSI. They can even give you suggestions to deter those dumb criminals who may make the occasional stop at your store. With over 30 years of experience in retail theft prevention they are the company I would trust if I were a store owner seeking to improve my profit line.
     

Before concluding I will share two of my own personal dumb shoplifter stories only because I had several and I can’t choose my favorite. My first dumb shoplifter was an intoxicated golfer stealing underwear. Not necessarily dumb in itself except he had $300 cash in his wallet with which he could have purchased the underwear. The second has to take the cake for all dumb shoplifters. He was a man dressed as a woman stealing purses from our store. Nothing too unusual about that, the crook even ran from me and got away, except I grabbed his jacket and personal handbag. Once again, not too far outside the realm of what happens with a lot of shoplifters. What was dumb was this crook had his prison ID card in his purse…he was on probation! A warrant was signed and he was eventually picked up.
     

Anti-shoplifting devices such as Sensormatic labels are an effective means of preventing theft. There are rare instances you my get a visit from a dumb shoplifter who won’t think about what they are potentially getting themselves into if they choose to try to steal. Get great advice from a visit to LPSI website to learn how to stop shoplifting before these clods create a bit of chaos in your business.

 

Get more information on how to stop shoplifting, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.