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Post by Dabbit on Aug 1, 2006 9:31:33 GMT -5
Shop lifting is a growing source of thievery but if you actually saw someone steal something what WOULD YOU DO?
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Post by Mark on Aug 1, 2006 10:42:26 GMT -5
Actual scenario whilst living in Washington, D.C. I was shopping with SWMBO when I was looking around, waiting for her, and I spotted a couple of people making suspicious moves - they had bags sewn inside their coats and were stuffing clothing in them. This was a store called Escada and there was some fairly expensive merchandise in there. I eased over to the shop management, gave them the high sign and mouthed "thieves" and they alerted Mall security who came and arrested them. I wound up having to go to court as a witness, but they pled guilty and there wasn't a trial.
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Post by Alex on Aug 2, 2006 9:28:42 GMT -5
Give a heads up to a clerk or store worker then let them handle it. 9 times out of 10 they are being watched anyway. But it's better to be sure. Shoplifting costs the honest shoppers a lot of money.
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Post by Mark on Aug 2, 2006 14:38:40 GMT -5
Yes it does. At the time, the clerk was totally oblivious to what was going on. Fortunately for the store, I was a trained observer.
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Post by Dabbit on Nov 27, 2007 8:00:27 GMT -5
Well I have seen it and haven't done anything about it I confess. I did feel 'guilty' about not reporting it later but of course it was too late particularly as we were on a trip
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Post by Mark on Nov 29, 2007 12:30:45 GMT -5
Well, it's always best to be really positive about what one might be reporting. One doesn't want to get an innocent party in trouble, does one?
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Post by Maria on Nov 29, 2007 18:28:56 GMT -5
I am not a sales person but a couple of times I have helped out a friend that owns a store. Thus I have seen shop lifters. One time I approached the person and said I had noticed that they accidentally put . . .in their purse. They protested strongly. I thought I was going to be socked when a male friend walked in the door and stood beside me. The person backed right down and said she would check her purse but she was positive she didn't 'do it." Well it was there and she dropped it on the floor and tore out of the store.
It was hair raising for me, as I am not a confrontational person. If this had been a big department store, I would have called security and had them to the confronting. I am a coward.
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Post by Dabbit on Nov 30, 2007 2:45:03 GMT -5
Maria I am the worlds biggest coward but I think at certain times you get strength from somwehere. I recall a time around the park at the back of my house when a group of youths were throwing frogs up in the air and seeing if they could catch them. I watched in disbelieve (now bear in mind I hate frogs, snails, slug or anything else that is not cute and cuddly LOL). Anyway I finally flipped and went straight up to them and told them to stop it, adding how would they like it if I threw them up by the legs into the air (as if I could have). Luckily they had no argument and stopped straight away, but ordinarily it is not something I would have done
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Post by Mark on Nov 30, 2007 15:27:44 GMT -5
Well, as admirable as confrontation may be, I find it best to alert authorities and let them take action, whether it be store personnel, security, or the police. You just don't know when a perpetrator will pull out a gun or a knife in their haste to get away and avoid jail. I went through this myself, saw two people working together to 'rip off' a store in Virginia called Estrada, I alerted the Store Mgr. who called Mall Security and they were arrested. I had to testify at their trial and they were sent away. But, as a civilian, I had no real power to arrest, they could claim I was making it up, sue me or whatever, so it's always best to alert someone in authority. I hate thieves, but I don't want to get into a physical confrontation with them.
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Post by rita on Feb 18, 2008 22:41:35 GMT -5
yes, when debating whether to confront someone or not...discretion is the better part of valor. Report it to store management and let the professionals handle it. Its not worth risking your life for.
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Post by Mark on Feb 19, 2008 14:25:53 GMT -5
Exactly right, Rita. Even though I have "Law Enforcement-type" experience, I am an unarmed civilian now - best leave it to our armed, "sworn" officers.
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