Say you're caught shoplifting on an illegally-placed camera?

[willy cheesesteak]

Originally Posted by AintDatRite

Yes, you can have a video monitoring system on the women's dressing room - as long as it is monitored by a female (men's dressing room monitored by a male). No, 'no tape = no evidence'. The eye witness' testimony, under oath, of the security officer/guard that he/she witnessed the offense would generally be accepted as evidence. Just as an eye witness to a murder wouldnt have to present a videotape.... Well, here is a surprise then - a LOT of retailers have cameras installed in the ceilings over the dressing rooms. (That way, they can see your actions without the operators being able to 'focus in' on various body parts....). The cameras are tiny - hell, I have a nanny cam - that is basically a corporate security camera - that is smaller than a penny. The camera opening is the size of a pinhole... and its easily concealed inside a smoke detector.
Which retailers are you talking about here? I don't think I feel comfortable trying on things now.

 

[crazyquik]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

I'm curious to know what people do subconsciously. A quick google search was not fruitful.

Perhaps they look up (towards cameras). Supposedly that is a 'tell' in casinos.

I once heard that in airports its a 'tell' if you're not looking up, because that's where the gates, screens, boards, signs, etc are, and thus where normal passengers are looking.

 

[sho'nuff]

Originally Posted by crazyquik

Perhaps they look up (towards cameras). Supposedly that is a 'tell' in casinos.

I once heard that in airports its a 'tell' if you're not looking up, because that's where the gates, screens, boards, signs, etc are, and thus where normal passengers are looking.
Im not sure that is completely true because im sure alot of regular passengers /travelers (who frequent the particular airport) would not look up.

 

[avalemik]

do not believe it is legal to have cameras in the fitting rooms, at least not in california.
i think it is near impossible to get caught stealing also unless you are stupid, because it is illegal to have cameras in the fitting rooms.
also i doubt that there are any specific tells, a shoplifter still has to shop around for what they like the only difference of what they do is they do stuff in the dressing room, that paying customers don't

 

[Johnny_5]

Yea, and while they are doing their "shopping" they are well aware that they are they are going to break the law after. You probably haven't seen many surveillance videos of theft. When someone is stealing they walk around the surrounding the departments and other departments first, walk back and fourth to places, staying along the wall of the store, take ridiculous routes to close places, constantly look over their shoulder. Many times they had no idea they were doing it. I do have to say though, some people are pros and you would never know that they were stealing. There have been some cases where a salesperson was helping the person steal and didnt even know it.

Many departments stores don't have cameras in the fitting rooms. If loss prevention sees you doing something suspicious someone of the same gender in plain clothes will follow you in there pretending to try something on, make a phone call, or whatever. They listen for the sound of security sensors being ripped and broken. After the suspect leaves the dressing room they look for evidence (the broken sensors, tools, etc) or the merchandise if the person is not holding it on his/her way out. If the security tags are left behind, or there is no merch to be found there is already 2-3 people in plain clothes waiting to make an arrest.

 

[Tangfastic]

Originally Posted by Johnny_5

When someone is stealing they walk around the surrounding the departments and other departments first, walk back and fourth to places, staying along the wall of the store, take ridiculous routes to close places, constantly look over their shoulder. .

That's exactly how I shop apart from the looking over my shoulder thing

 

[Gradstudent78]

Originally Posted by Tangfastic

That's exactly how I shop apart from the looking over my shoulder thing

Yeah I think thats actually true of me too.

 

[avalemik]

Originally Posted by Johnny_5

Yea, and while they are doing their "shopping" they are well aware that they are they are going to break the law after. You probably haven't seen many surveillance videos of theft. When someone is stealing they walk around the surrounding the departments and other departments first, walk back and fourth to places, staying along the wall of the store, take ridiculous routes to close places, constantly look over their shoulder. Many times they had no idea they were doing it. I do have to say though, some people are pros and you would never know that they were stealing. There have been some cases where a salesperson was helping the person steal and didnt even know it.

Many departments stores don't have cameras in the fitting rooms. If loss prevention sees you doing something suspicious someone of the same gender in plain clothes will follow you in there pretending to try something on, make a phone call, or whatever. They listen for the sound of security sensors being ripped and broken. After the suspect leaves the dressing room they look for evidence (the broken sensors, tools, etc) or the merchandise if the person is not holding it on his/her way out. If the security tags are left behind, or there is no merch to be found there is already 2-3 people in plain clothes waiting to make an arrest.


please enlighten us, how the salesperson was helping.

anyways in general i think there are certain things a person does, often times they start watching everything you do. people who are going to steal usually, since money is no issue pick up whatever, and do not say the only thing i need is apc jeans, because you need to bring many things to the changing room so you can leave some in there and take some out.
you can hide the tags in the garmets, often times you can find pieces without tags, but they do have people in regular clothes assisting guests who are deemed as risks.
unfortunately i've seen companies do profiling saying there's "three hispanics" etc.
they do go in for tags, or any tell tale evidence.
anyways, some places have better security than others
note nordstroms (higher end) have much better security than a mervyns loss provention team.
one thing i dont understand is if someone takes something, hides it under their jacket after cutting the tags off in the changing room, and they have people following them to the exit, what happens if the person just takes out whatever their stealing before leaving.
because since they haven't left with the item, they havent necessarily stolen it, they have just taken the tags off and hidden it. i wonder if this is chargeable offense, if you the LP team coming and you toss your clothes before exiting?

 

[avalemik]

Originally Posted by Johnny_5

Yea, and while they are doing their "shopping" they are well aware that they are they are going to break the law after. You probably haven't seen many surveillance videos of theft. When someone is stealing they walk around the surrounding the departments and other departments first, walk back and fourth to places, staying along the wall of the store, take ridiculous routes to close places, constantly look over their shoulder. Many times they had no idea they were doing it. I do have to say though, some people are pros and you would never know that they were stealing. There have been some cases where a salesperson was helping the person steal and didnt even know it.

Many departments stores don't have cameras in the fitting rooms. If loss prevention sees you doing something suspicious someone of the same gender in plain clothes will follow you in there pretending to try something on, make a phone call, or whatever. They listen for the sound of security sensors being ripped and broken. After the suspect leaves the dressing room they look for evidence (the broken sensors, tools, etc) or the merchandise if the person is not holding it on his/her way out. If the security tags are left behind, or there is no merch to be found there is already 2-3 people in plain clothes waiting to make an arrest.


please enlighten us, how the salesperson was helping.

anyways in general i think there are certain things a person does, often times they start watching everything you do. people who are going to steal usually, since money is no issue pick up whatever, and do not say the only thing i need is apc jeans, because you need to bring many things to the changing room so you can leave some in there and take some out.
you can hide the tags in the garmets, often times you can find pieces without tags, but they do have people in regular clothes assisting guests who are deemed as risks.
unfortunately i've seen companies do profiling saying there's "three hispanics" etc.
they do go in for tags, or any tell tale evidence.
anyways, some places have better security than others
note nordstroms (higher end) have much better security than a mervyns loss provention team.
one thing i dont understand is if someone takes something, hides it under their jacket after cutting the tags off in the changing room, and they have people following them to the exit, what happens if the person just takes out whatever their stealing before leaving.
because since they haven't left with the item, they havent necessarily stolen it, they have just taken the tags off and hidden it. i wonder if this is chargeable offense, if you the LP team coming and you toss your clothes before exiting?

 

[avalemik]

Originally Posted by Johnny_5

Yea, and while they are doing their "shopping" they are well aware that they are they are going to break the law after. You probably haven't seen many surveillance videos of theft. When someone is stealing they walk around the surrounding the departments and other departments first, walk back and fourth to places, staying along the wall of the store, take ridiculous routes to close places, constantly look over their shoulder. Many times they had no idea they were doing it. I do have to say though, some people are pros and you would never know that they were stealing. There have been some cases where a salesperson was helping the person steal and didnt even know it.

Many departments stores don't have cameras in the fitting rooms. If loss prevention sees you doing something suspicious someone of the same gender in plain clothes will follow you in there pretending to try something on, make a phone call, or whatever. They listen for the sound of security sensors being ripped and broken. After the suspect leaves the dressing room they look for evidence (the broken sensors, tools, etc) or the merchandise if the person is not holding it on his/her way out. If the security tags are left behind, or there is no merch to be found there is already 2-3 people in plain clothes waiting to make an arrest.


please enlighten us, how the salesperson was helping.

anyways in general i think there are certain things a person does, often times they start watching everything you do. people who are going to steal usually, since money is no issue pick up whatever, and do not say the only thing i need is apc jeans, because you need to bring many things to the changing room so you can leave some in there and take some out.
you can hide the tags in the garmets, often times you can find pieces without tags, but they do have people in regular clothes assisting guests who are deemed as risks.
unfortunately i've seen companies do profiling saying there's "three hispanics" etc.
they do go in for tags, or any tell tale evidence.
anyways, some places have better security than others
note nordstroms (higher end) have much better security than a mervyns loss provention team.
one thing i dont understand is if someone takes something, hides it under their jacket after cutting the tags off in the changing room, and they have people following them to the exit, what happens if the person just takes out whatever their stealing before leaving.
because since they haven't left with the item, they havent necessarily stolen it, they have just taken the tags off and hidden it. i wonder if this is chargeable offense, if you the LP team coming and you toss your clothes before exiting?

 

[avalemik]

Originally Posted by Johnny_5

Yea, and while they are doing their "shopping" they are well aware that they are they are going to break the law after. You probably haven't seen many surveillance videos of theft. When someone is stealing they walk around the surrounding the departments and other departments first, walk back and fourth to places, staying along the wall of the store, take ridiculous routes to close places, constantly look over their shoulder. Many times they had no idea they were doing it. I do have to say though, some people are pros and you would never know that they were stealing. There have been some cases where a salesperson was helping the person steal and didnt even know it.

Many departments stores don't have cameras in the fitting rooms. If loss prevention sees you doing something suspicious someone of the same gender in plain clothes will follow you in there pretending to try something on, make a phone call, or whatever. They listen for the sound of security sensors being ripped and broken. After the suspect leaves the dressing room they look for evidence (the broken sensors, tools, etc) or the merchandise if the person is not holding it on his/her way out. If the security tags are left behind, or there is no merch to be found there is already 2-3 people in plain clothes waiting to make an arrest.


please enlighten us, how the salesperson was helping.

anyways in general i think there are certain things a person does, often times they start watching everything you do. people who are going to steal usually, since money is no issue pick up whatever, and do not say the only thing i need is apc jeans, because you need to bring many things to the changing room so you can leave some in there and take some out.
you can hide the tags in the garmets, often times you can find pieces without tags, but they do have people in regular clothes assisting guests who are deemed as risks.
unfortunately i've seen companies do profiling saying there's "three hispanics" etc.
they do go in for tags, or any tell tale evidence.
anyways, some places have better security than others
note nordstroms (higher end) have much better security than a mervyns loss provention team.
one thing i dont understand is if someone takes something, hides it under their jacket after cutting the tags off in the changing room, and they have people following them to the exit, what happens if the person just takes out whatever their stealing before leaving.
because since they haven't left with the item, they havent necessarily stolen it, they have just taken the tags off and hidden it. i wonder if this is chargeable offense, if you the LP team coming and you toss your clothes before exiting?

 

[dsgNYC]

Originally Posted by turboman808

I had an incident at a Century 21 where I was seriously considering sueing then. Not that I stole anything though. I guess they have this policy that you cannot try on packaged dress shirts. Went to the dressing room and no one was there so I just walked in. I was half undressed when the security barged into the room demanding I give them the shirts. Slightly off topic but I was pretty dam mad that they would show such a lack of personal privacy.

The manager apologized and even offered some gift cards. I was so mad I turned them down. That was stupid because now that I am over being mad I shop there all the time LOL


Little off topic but it was an invasion of privacy in a department store. I don't know where the cameras where that saw me either???

Totally off topic, but those bastards at Century 21 won't let you try on ANY shirts in their dressing rooms...you have to try them on over what you're wearing

 

[jgold47]

Originally Posted by avalemik

i wonder if this is chargeable offense, if you the LP team coming and you toss your clothes before exiting?

Yes - its called retail fraud or concealment depending on the statue and its just as bad. Once you conceal something, your in it to win it. Dont shove a cd in your pocket and then take it out. That said, since its a pain ********** to deal with a shop lifter (you have to get a amanager, coverage, and my old employeer would always call the cops), most LP's would probably let you get away with putting it back and maybee say something to you on the way out. Now as a former LP at a major electronics store, pretty much everything that has been said is true. My particular retailer had a no hard confrontations policy (too many fights back in the old days), and you couldnt pursue someone out of the vestibule (again, too much liablity). However most people we would stop, as soon as you said hey come here I want to talk to you, would freak out and know they were caught. Its the kids and crack heads that are the ones that get caught. The pro's are too good at it, and never get busted unless you get lucky.

 

[montecristo#4]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

This doesn't really make sense. I mean, I kinda understand why they do it that way, but what if the employee watching is gay?

This is just an example of where gays have more rights than straight people.

 

[SoCal2NYC]

Here's an idea...don't steal!