How to assist shoplifters

[Aspiring Humanist]

I work in as a cashier in a supermarket what is the best way to assist shoplifters

[Susurrus]

Look other way, probably.

[Ocean Seal]

I work in as a cashier in a supermarket what is the best way to assist shoplifters
If you care about your job at all, its probably best to not too much to assist shoplifters. Shoplifting won't help from a revolutionary perspective, and sometimes in a capitalist economy you have to look out for number 1. That is by no means an incentive to snitch, but assisting seems counter-productive to you.

[Sensible Socialist]

It's hard for a manager or a boss to prove you helped people shoplift, so simply look the other way. No one can prove that you saw him, unless they have video cameras and you're right next to the person doing it. Worst case scenario, if you see someone doing it and you know others will be aware that you saw it, make the person put it back but, quietly, tell them to come back another time and do it.

[ellipsis]

I used to MAKE people steal when I was a cashier. I had a little system to generate credit on their store card, so they'd walk up with food, id ring it up, ask them if they wanted to use their credit, then they'd be flabbergasted that they had 30 bucks in credit saved up. I only did this for cool customers.

[Fawkes]

Just look the other way and make it obvious so no one can accuse you of seeing it. I work at a store where I'm typically alone and I usually just look away or pretend not to see it. If somebody goes for my tip jar though... :cursing:



I actually had a few customers in the store one night when some kids came in and stole something. The customers were total fuckin yuppies and the two kids grabbed a $4 box of yogurt pretzels and booked it out of the store and down the street. One of the customers turned to me and asked astonished "did they just steal something?" I answered with a pathetically non-chalant "yeah, think so", to which he responded by saying "Oh gosh, I just completely lost my appetite. You know I watch a lot of The First 48 and if you give that security footage to the police they'll be able to identify them and catch them. I'm so sorry that had to happen to you." Keep in mind that these two kids were maybe 13 at best and they took $4 of stuff. Nevermind the fact that they were probably at least 10 blocks away by the time this derp even said that. So yeah, just look away and try to hold back your laughter whenever darsh holes like that guy come in.



edit: speaking of tip jars, I've noticed that the majority of my tips come from other workers (based off uniforms), despite all of the rich upper west siders and park slopers that also frequent the store. :thumbup1:

[Decolonize The Left]

I used to MAKE people steal when I was a cashier. I had a little system to generate credit on their store card, so they'd walk up with food, id ring it up, ask them if they wanted to use their credit, then they'd be flabbergasted that they had 30 bucks in credit saved up. I only did this for cool customers.

You are so cool. I wish I shopped at your store.


edit: speaking of tip jars, I've noticed that the majority of my tips come from other workers (based off uniforms), despite all of the rich upper west siders and park slopers that also frequent the store. :thumbup1:

For sure. I tip like a motherfucker and I've had people ask me if I work in a restaurant or cafe simply based on my tip total.


I work in as a cashier in a supermarket what is the best way to assist shoplifters

Two things:
1) If they're good shoplifters, you won't know they're shoplifting...
2) You ought not make it a point to assist theft as this could endanger your job. What you can do is make it a point not to point it out when you see it (so a passive assistance of sorts). Or, when you get more comfortable at your position, you can ring things in under cheaper item numbers, etc... but this involves actively aiding theft and could result in you getting fired if you get caught.

- August

[Bitter Ashes]

One VERY important thing I have to tell shopworkers sometimes is NOT to chase shoplifters. For fuck's sake, they're paying shop workers minimum wage. The management clearly have zero respect for the workforce, so why the hell do these people get this stupid urge to chase shoplifters when they have no idea what they're running into. You're barely paid to watch the till, forget trying to be their own personal Rambo too.

[ellipsis]

One VERY important thing I have to tell shopworkers sometimes is NOT to chase shoplifters. For fuck's sake, they're paying shop workers minimum wage. The management clearly have zero respect for the workforce, so why the hell do these people get this stupid urge to chase shoplifters when they have no idea what they're running into. You're barely paid to watch the till, forget trying to be their own personal Rambo too.

Most chain stores in the U.S. have "no-chase" policies, also "no hero" policies in case of armed robbery. You can use this to your advantage and just run out of a store with the stuff you want, and they won't chase you.

[Blackburn]

I remember for a legal studies assignment in high school I visited the local Magistrate's court.

Young Bloke (17ish) was being convicted of stealing like $2.65 worth of chocolate.

I have no idea his motive, but I do remember contemplating the inhumanity of giving such a young person a criminal conviction for such a petty amount.

A very attractive young later was also getting a sentence for having one joint in her purse, after a cop stopped her and inspected her purse.

We all slept soundly knowing that 22 year old woman had a drug conviction. /sarcasm :(

[scarletghoul]

great thread. there should be an underground network set up that lists where the people-friendly shop workers are

[Aspiring Humanist]

The extent of my assistance as of now is if a person looks like they don't make much I'll "forget" to scan a couple of their items or give them store credit whenever I can
Also I never ring up organic fruits/vegetables , if someone is buying organic i'll scan it as regular because organic is like 3 times the price
any other ideas?

[Zav]

The extent of my assistance as of now is if a person looks like they don't make much I'll "forget" to scan a couple of their items or give them store credit whenever I can
Also I never ring up organic fruits/vegetables , if someone is buying organic i'll scan it as regular because organic is like 3 times the price
any other ideas?
You win awesome-points for that.

[Euronymous]

I used to shoplift all the time. Never got caught except for those parasites at Best Buy.

[o well this is ok I guess]

Keep doing what you do.
What keeps a shoplifter afloat is the impotency of the staff.
Outside work, share all you know regarding camera blind spots and LP officers shifts and such.

[tom1992]

I do not think supporting shop lifting is very good, it just sets a bad example of peoples ideals.

I do understand why a kid steals in a society like the USA, but i do not justify it, i would prefer him to read and be a real benefit for a better world.

I live in a very poor slum, if you have been to poor parts of latin america, you will know what i am talking about...Once a kid stole my bike, i chased him and instead of telling him off or hitting him, I invited him to a "popular libary" (very common in Chile), full of books so he can see things in a different way and probably try and make this world a better place.

Guys instead of supporting things like that, tell the shoplifters about your ideas...Try and make a popular libary in your part of town.

In Chile "popular" generally refers for the people, revolutionary.

[Leftsolidarity]

I do not think supporting shop lifting is very good, it just sets a bad example of peoples ideals.

I do understand why a kid steals in a society like the USA, but i do not justify it, i would prefer him to read and be a real benefit for a better world.

I live in a very poor slum, if you have been to poor parts of latin america, you will know what i am talking about...Once a kid stole my bike, i chased him and instead of telling him off or hitting him, I invited him to a "popular libary" (very common in Chile), full of books so he can see things in a different way and probably try and make this world a better place.

Guys instead of supporting things like that, tell the shoplifters about your ideas...Try and make a popular libary in your part of town.

In Chile "popular" generally refers for the people, revolutionary.


There's a difference between stealing someone's bike and stealing from a store.

[o well this is ok I guess]

i would prefer him to read and be a real benefit for a better world. So books are fair game.

[Kamos]

I do not think supporting shop lifting is very good, it just sets a bad example of peoples ideals.

I do understand why a kid steals in a society like the USA, but i do not justify it, i would prefer him to read and be a real benefit for a better world.

I live in a very poor slum, if you have been to poor parts of latin america, you will know what i am talking about...Once a kid stole my bike, i chased him and instead of telling him off or hitting him, I invited him to a "popular libary" (very common in Chile), full of books so he can see things in a different way and probably try and make this world a better place.

Guys instead of supporting things like that, tell the shoplifters about your ideas...Try and make a popular libary in your part of town.

In Chile "popular" generally refers for the people, revolutionary.

What the above person said. Guess what a shoplifter steals? Private property. You're not about to defend the property of chain stores, eh?

[Red And Black Sabot]

I do not think supporting shop lifting is very good, it just sets a bad example of peoples ideals.

I do understand why a kid steals in a society like the USA, but i do not justify it, i would prefer him to read and be a real benefit for a better world.

I live in a very poor slum, if you have been to poor parts of latin america, you will know what i am talking about...Once a kid stole my bike, i chased him and instead of telling him off or hitting him, I invited him to a "popular libary" (very common in Chile), full of books so he can see things in a different way and probably try and make this world a better place.

Guys instead of supporting things like that, tell the shoplifters about your ideas...Try and make a popular libary in your part of town.

In Chile "popular" generally refers for the people, revolutionary.

Yeah... books... cause that'll keep him full and warm.
I'm sure all those hungry poor folks out there with little to no choice really just need a good book... If only they knew your marxist theories... that'd fix em. /sarcasm

As for the OP. I agree with most folks here. Don't help someone shoplift while they're in the store doing it if you want to keep your job. If there's anything I've learned working retail all these years it's that the best deterrent to shoplifters is good customer service. I've been told that by management at just about every job I've ever had because shoplifters probably won't steal something if you're right there asking if they need help so just do a shit job... ignore customers as much as you can and if you think someone is up to something walk/look away.
Tell your friends what you know, where the safe spots are, and the tricks you've seen folks do and get away with. Also, if your store has discount tags (the kind you fill out yourself), snag some and teach your friends how to fill them out.

If you're strapped for cash though... (tom1992, you'll love this!) Here's another good use for books (besides reading them):
Best story I've ever heard was this one kid... He bought a shrink-wrapper off the internet and then ordered several I-pads also off of the internet. When they came in, he took the I-pads out of the box and replaced them with books or magazines, re-shrink-wrapped it and returned them to the apple store with the receipt for full credit.
He eventually got caught but here's what impressed the shit out of me. The person running the desk told him to wait while they went and got the manager. The manager knew what was up so he immediately opened the box in front of the kid and asked "what's this?"
To which the kid responds: "What IS this!? I bought an I-Pad and yall sent me books!?! What kind of an operation are yall running here!?!"
The manager had no choice but to give him the money and tell him never to come back. lulz

[Leftsolidarity]

If you're strapped for cash though... (tom1992, you'll love this!) Here's another good use for books (besides reading them):
Best story I've ever heard was this one kid... He bought a shrink-wrapper off the internet and then ordered several I-pads also off of the internet. When they came in, he took the I-pads out of the box and replaced them with books or magazines, re-shrink-wrapped it and returned them to the apple store with the receipt for full credit.
He eventually got caught but here's what impressed the shit out of me. The person running the desk told him to wait while they went and got the manager. The manager knew what was up so he immediately opened the box in front of the kid and asked "what's this?"
To which the kid responds: "What IS this!? I bought an I-Pad and yall sent me books!?! What kind of an operation are yall running here!?!"
The manager had no choice but to give him the money and tell him never to come back. lulz

This gives me an idea.......

[o well this is ok I guess]

If there's anything I've learned working retail all these years it's that the best deterrent to shoplifters is good customer service. I've been told that by management at just about every job I've ever had because shoplifters probably won't steal something if you're right there asking if they need help And this is why asking for help is the best cover when shoplifting.

[tom1992]

Yeah... books... cause that'll keep him full and warm.
I'm sure all those hungry poor folks out there with little to no choice really just need a good book... If only they knew your marxist theories... that'd fix em. /sarcasm

As for the OP. I agree with most folks here. Don't help someone shoplift while they're in the store doing it if you want to keep your job. If there's anything I've learned working retail all these years it's that the best deterrent to shoplifters is good customer service. I've been told that by management at just about every job I've ever had because shoplifters probably won't steal something if you're right there asking if they need help so just do a shit job... ignore customers as much as you can and if you think someone is up to something walk/look away.
Tell your friends what you know, where the safe spots are, and the tricks you've seen folks do and get away with. Also, if your store has discount tags (the kind you fill out yourself), snag some and teach your friends how to fill them out.

If you're strapped for cash though... (tom1992, you'll love this!) Here's another good use for books (besides reading them):
Best story I've ever heard was this one kid... He bought a shrink-wrapper off the internet and then ordered several I-pads also off of the internet. When they came in, he took the I-pads out of the box and replaced them with books or magazines, re-shrink-wrapped it and returned them to the apple store with the receipt for full credit.
He eventually got caught but here's what impressed the shit out of me. The person running the desk told him to wait while they went and got the manager. The manager knew what was up so he immediately opened the box in front of the kid and asked "what's this?"
To which the kid responds: "What IS this!? I bought an I-Pad and yall sent me books!?! What kind of an operation are yall running here!?!"
The manager had no choice but to give him the money and tell him never to come back. lulz


My father earns 250 dollars per month, in a country that is more expensive than the USA. I work in an internet cafe to pay for a fun weekend or to have some access to the internet. I live in a country full of crime...I have seen how that "world" destroys small kids, i will not support something like that.

Education is the key, that is what I think. I have been in charge of the revolutionary libary and it does work. We have music and cultural events ...We have more than 1000 books (99% of them donated, books in my country are really expensive). We promote community support.
What is better...Let a kid steal...Or talk to them about a different aspect of life.

Many of the kids that go to the libary are ex shop lifters, they see a new aspect of life, join the cause and do not doom their life into the world of crime-we also help them with school work or general problems (drugs for example).

[Fawkes]

I pretty much always ask customers if they need help. I don't do it because I want to increase the revenues of the store, I do it because I want to help them find whatever it is they're looking for (plus the human interaction of it is definitely welcomed when you're working an 8 hour shift by yourself). There's a difference between straight up ignoring people that may have questions and intentionally setting up blind spots and turning your back on occasion to give them an opportunity. Go for the latter.


On a side note, some motherfucker stole my tip jar today while I was on my break. Shoplift all you want, but if you take someone's tips or you dine-and-dash, you're a fucking piece. I remember when I was younger I always thought dine-and-dashing would be a sweet way to get a nice meal for free. That changed when I saw it actually happen to some guy. The look on the waiter's face was awful and it made me vow to never do that. Not only was he not gonna get any tips from the work he just did (major source of income for waiters/bartenders), but his manager was probably gonna blame him for it. I can understand how horrible it must be to be driven to such circumstances that you have to steal from other workers to get by, but even though I'm very sympathetic to people driven to such actions, it doesn't make it any more justified.


In short, talk with people and ask them if they need any help (chances are they do), but make it obvious that you aren't keeping a sharp eye on them the whole time.

[o well this is ok I guess]

Try and make a popular libary in your part of town. There's really no need.

Books are a dime a dozen here in the west. A "popular library" is as simple as a network of contacts with their own individual libraries.

[ellipsis]

Most collectives and infoshops in the U.S. have a library and/or free books and literature.

See Wingnut Radical Lending Library in Richmond, Virginia (http://wingnutrva.org/tag/wingnut-radical-lending-library/).

[Bostana]

Look the other way, but make sure you don't make it look to obvious or your Boss or Manager will fire you.

[Red And Black Sabot]

I have seen how that "world" destroys small kids, i will not support something like that.

And when I was a kid in a relatively poor family, I also saw how "crime" (SIC!) helped feed small kids or at least get them some cheap entertainment.
Also, I'm sure folks who steal from shops aren't askin for your support although I'm sure they could use it. In fact. If they're breaking the law I'm pretty sure they don't care if they have your support. I never have.
But the fact that you're quick at letting your support evaporate based on your comfort illustrates to me what you mean by revolutionary.


Education is the key, that is what I think.

I agree but education doesn't satisfy all our biological and social needs esp when it's held at ransom by capitalists.



What is better...Let a kid steal...Or talk to them about a different aspect of life.

That's a false dichotomy. It's possible to do both but hopefully empowering them enough and organizing hard enough where one day that kid might not see a need to steal.
Why not teach a shoplifter what is already revolutionary about the reappropriation of wealth and push them toward greater consciousness? As much as people hate on crimethinc, they seem to do this quite well.
Why not talk to the kid and respect their situation enough to understand where they're coming from or why they would steal in the first place? I don't think it would be hard for you to explain what capitalism is and why it's harmful to someone in that situation.
Hell, they're already acting outside the logic of capital.



On a side note, some motherfucker stole my tip jar today while I was on my break. Shoplift all you want, but if you take someone's tips or you dine-and-dash, you're a fucking piece. I remember when I was younger I always thought dine-and-dashing would be a sweet way to get a nice meal for free. That changed when I saw it actually happen to some guy. The look on the waiter's face was awful and it made me vow to never do that. Not only was he not gonna get any tips from the work he just did (major source of income for waiters/bartenders), but his manager was probably gonna blame him for it. I can understand how horrible it must be to be driven to such circumstances that you have to steal from other workers to get by, but even though I'm very sympathetic to people driven to such actions, it doesn't make it any more justified.

In total agreement here.

[Bitter Ashes]

Maybe it is different from place to place, although in North American/European countries, the majority of retailers are billionaire owned corporations who make insane profits while bullying their suppliers, paying their staff peanuts and having more say in the running of towns than anybody else.

If you can cause these bastards some misery then do it. Do it. Do it! DO IT! Capital is their power. Seize it! If you can benefit from it as well, then that's a bonus. Anything you take is rightfully yours anyway.

[Inti]

I don't assist anyone to shop lift in my store, but I don't chase them down either. 1. Because you never know if they are armed. 2. If I touch a thief and he gets a little bit of pain, I can get charged with assault. It almost happened once when I caught a druggie who tried to steal some fur coats from the second hand store where I work. She scratched my face with her nails, and I grabbed her taking her in a hold until the cops arrived. My boss don't give a shit about me as long as her shop is ok. So yes, just look the other way, and if someone asks why you don't do anything, tell them you don't want to put your well being in danger.

[Veovis]

I don't agree with shoplifting because inventory shrink can only serve to hurt the people at the bottom first. As the last few years have taught us, the people at the top can run a business into the ground and they still will have their bonuses and golden parachutes while the workers are the ones who get layoffs and increased workloads.

[xub3rn00dlex]

I don't know if this belongs in this thread, but when you're in college and book costs rack up, finding and downloading them off the web for free saves money. So I spread the wealth by emailing copies of the required books to classmates for free :)

[Kamil]

I LOVE THIS THREAD!!!!!!!! I also work as a cashier, at a fucking theme park of all places! Not all of this exactly shoplifting related but i would hope it proves helpfull in some way to someone

1) Find out what discounts are available at your workplace and tell every customer about them, that way even if they hav a different clerk next time the company will still make less
2) DONT bring up any fucking veteran discounts! Luckily my workplace has no such thing and everytime a customer says "i dnt have triple a but Im in the military" I can happily say: NOPE!! If your store does have a veteran discount thing then just dont talk about it
3) offer miscellaneous advice on how to lessen the cost of their day, like letting them know that free water is available from the restauraunts inside the park and they dont have to buy fucking four dollar water bottles (not the most universal example but u get the point)
4) subtle inventory sabatoge: ringing up different items of the same price..... debating whether or not this will make things harder for the workers though.....
5) if someone looses money in an arcade game or in a vending machine they get a refund, they walk up to a worker and tell them what happened, then someone gets called in to pay them back virtually no questions asked. You do the math. I encourage all friends to pull this one. While this is specific to my situation u may encounter something similar, so the message is the same: try to notice any cracks in the system!
6) not ringing up certain items if the customer is purchasing a large amount of things
7) giv little kids stuff for free without them knowing it or undercharge them: they wont notice the receit!!! sometimes a good samaritan will look on the receit and see that they got a discount and if they point it out in front of a boss it could lead to trouble
8) he company has a policy against keeping tips, if a customer says: keep the change, we cannot keep it for ourselves, it must be reported. In a situation like this, save it up anyways and put it towards a fund for revolutionary lituature or propaganda, whatever
9) learn the specific shoplifting rules that your store has and inform the thief in question
10) learn the specific shoplifting laws in your area and inform the thief in question
11) waste company time/material (and thus money) by using company time and material to write anti-capitalist diatribes, i steal pens and scratchpaper from my work and when its slow theres plenty of time to theorize!!
12) dont just look the other way, but if anyone asks you if you saw something SAY NO!
13) A safe way to organize a big steal is to organize a group of friends to come in and buy a few things: discount what little you do ring up and forget to ring up the main item, the other items can be something cheap, like candy, but be sure to at least pretend to ring up the item being stolen. This way, the shoplifter is on camera appearing to pay for it and even has a receit. Have a large group come in seperately, one-at-a-time, throughout the day.

[Kamil]

awww man, i put alotta effort into that post and no one even thanked me :(

[RedHal]

Yeah... books... cause that'll keep him full and warm.
I'm sure all those hungry poor folks out there with little to no choice really just need a good book... If only they knew your marxist theories... that'd fix em. /sarcasm

As for the OP. I agree with most folks here. Don't help someone shoplift while they're in the store doing it if you want to keep your job. If there's anything I've learned working retail all these years it's that the best deterrent to shoplifters is good customer service. I've been told that by management at just about every job I've ever had because shoplifters probably won't steal something if you're right there asking if they need help so just do a shit job... ignore customers as much as you can and if you think someone is up to something walk/look away.
Tell your friends what you know, where the safe spots are, and the tricks you've seen folks do and get away with. Also, if your store has discount tags (the kind you fill out yourself), snag some and teach your friends how to fill them out.

If you're strapped for cash though... (tom1992, you'll love this!) Here's another good use for books (besides reading them):
Best story I've ever heard was this one kid... He bought a shrink-wrapper off the internet and then ordered several I-pads also off of the internet. When they came in, he took the I-pads out of the box and replaced them with books or magazines, re-shrink-wrapped it and returned them to the apple store with the receipt for full credit.
He eventually got caught but here's what impressed the shit out of me. The person running the desk told him to wait while they went and got the manager. The manager knew what was up so he immediately opened the box in front of the kid and asked "what's this?"
To which the kid responds: "What IS this!? I bought an I-Pad and yall sent me books!?! What kind of an operation are yall running here!?!"
The manager had no choice but to give him the money and tell him never to come back. lulz

some kid who can afford to buy several I-Pads off the internet is not someone who is scamming to make ends meet. Sounds like some middle class douche who needs dough for more bling.

[Kamil]

Thank you for thanking me:d

[Fawkes]

some kid who can afford to buy several I-Pads off the internet is not someone who is scamming to make ends meet. Sounds like some middle class douche who needs dough for more bling.

I have about $1,000 in my checking account right now (at least til the first), I could buy a couple of iPads and I'm not "middle class", though I am iced out like a mothafucka.

[ellipsis]

awww man, i put alotta effort into that post and no one even thanked me :(

Honestly it seemed like a lot of thought and effort to put into such non productive activities.

[Misanthrope]

some kid who can afford to buy several I-Pads off the internet is not someone who is scamming to make ends meet. Sounds like some middle class douche who needs dough for more bling.

What's "middle class"?

I thought this site was for revleftists :confused: No need to stereotype a kid by a post, man.

[Hiero]

What's "middle class"?

I thought this site was for revleftists :confused: No need to stereotype a kid by a post, man.

They are stereotyping him by his income. If a "kid" can afford a bunch of I-pads it reveals a bit about their social class.

And here is more stereotyping, I have found people who live off scaming to be very disturbed and anti-social types. They are the true lumpen-proleteriat that Marx describes.

[Kamil]

:( sorry theredson, its better than doing nothing at least...

[Princess Luna]

I don't agree with shoplifting because inventory shrink can only serve to hurt the people at the bottom first. As the last few years have taught us, the people at the top can run a business into the ground and they still will have their bonuses and golden parachutes while the workers are the ones who get layoffs and increased workloads.
There a difference between petty shoplifting and wholesale looting, it can be argued the latter does hurt workers for the reasons you gave. But if I steal a $30 pair of shoes, no one is hurt. Large chain store like Wal-Mart proablly make over $100,000 per store in transactions each day, even if multiple people stole over $100 worth of items in one day the effect would be misnicle.

[Lanky Wanker]

LOL I didn't expect to see a post like this. Didn't even think this kind of thing was allowed.

[ellipsis]

:( sorry theredson, its better than doing nothing at least...

To each their own, don't take my comment as admonishment, merely a helpful critique. Just cause my name is in red, don't take that to mean I am any kind of authority on anything.

If you can bring a book, do so and read. Like you said it is a great time to scheme and think as well. Also you can try organizing or at least educating your fellow workers. The options are not stealing or nothing.

Low level sabotage/subversion such as you describe would need to be widespread and done in conjunction with a much broader movement and set of tactics to be effective in terms of fighting capitalism.

[Leftsolidarity]

I suggest reading "Steal This Book"