PoliceLink

While reading the news articles I ran across a problem the Mesa AZ police are having with Wal-Mart. It seems Wal-Mart lacks the desire to prosecute or deter shop lifting. The reason I found this interesting is due to my catching a shoplifter at a Round Rock, Texas Wal-Mart. The door greeter knew who I was from years ago working extra duty at the Supercenter. He pointed out a female he suspected of lifting cosmetics. He had to take a mandatory break so being an undercover officer I easily blended in near the female. I watched her take an item to the hardware section, place it in a bag and return to cosmetics repeating this act numerous times. On the last trip she held one item in her hand as she walked for the exit at which point she sat it on a shelf and walked out. Once completely out of the store I stopped her, identified as being the police and asked her to step back in the store. She confessed and handed over everything in her purse. I summoned the store manager running the story down to him. After fifteen minutes and several phone calls the manager told me they could not file charges on the girl. He explained I could file the charge if I wanted but they would not be the complainant. He informed me Wal-Mart employees must see the concealment and maintain visual surveillance on the person until they leave the store. SO... I repeated to him what he told me and made sure I understood that a Wal-Mart employee had to see all of this and that it was not good enough that a peace officer witnessed the offense. Once the manager told me that was correct, I told them to have a wonderful day and good luck in the future. Needless to say if Wal-Mart did not care about shoplifters then I was not going to waste my time or county paper for the affidavits. Wonder why we pay more for the things we buy? What do you guy's think? Anything like this happened to you at a Wal-Mart?  Sounds like our stores are like those in Mesa!

He informed me Wal-Mart employees must see the concealment and maintain visual surveillance on the person until they leave the store.

Well, being a former Wal-Mart Assistant Manager I can say that the above is, or was, correct back when I worked there. I'm sorry that you had to waste your time in trying to do your duty as an off-duty Police Officer in protecting the assets of Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart, and several other retail establishments, seem to have a very warped sense of direction when it comes to "not wanting to upset or offend their customers". Once, back when I was an Assistant Manager I was called up to the Returns Desk, where someone was trying to return a child's car safety seat. The customer DID NOT have a receipt and stated that they had purchased the car seat about 3 months ago. Once I arrived at the Returns Desk I looked at the car seat and it looked like it might have been 3 YEARS old or older. Or they had been very rough with it and was extremely nasty/dirty.

Anyway, I declined the return and as soon as I did the woman turned right around to the pay phones and called the 1-800 number. Within 15 minutes I received a phone call from corporate office and was told to give the woman the refund for the car seat. So, is it any wonder that Wal-Mart wouldn't prosecute a shoplifter that had just been apprehended by a sworn Police Officer even though a Wal-Mart associate had not been a witness to the entire event?

The manager said,"I don't want to file a report." I advised him he didn't need to that I witnessed the offense. HE then said,"Well I'm not going to press charges." Again I told him he wasn't pressing charges anyway I was. Then he said ,"It's our merchandise and I don't want to do anything about it." I just said fine and released the kid and walked away.

Ain't Wal-Mart wonderful??? I'm sorry that you too had to waste your time in trying to do your duty as an off-duty Police Officer in protecting the assets of Wal-Mart.

trace1 says ...

He informed me Wal-Mart employees must see the concealment and maintain visual surveillance on the person until they leave the store.

Well, being a former Wal-Mart Assistant Manager I can say that the above is, or was, correct back when I worked there. I'm sorry that you had to waste your time in trying to do your duty as an off-duty Police Officer in protecting the assets of Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart, and several other retail establishments, seem to have a very warped sense of direction when it comes to "not wanting to upset or offend their customers". Once, back when I was an Assistant Manager I was called up to the Returns Desk, where someone was trying to return a child's car safety seat. The customer DID NOT have a receipt and stated that they had purchased the car seat about 3 months ago. Once I arrived at the Returns Desk I looked at the car seat and it looked like it might have been 3 YEARS old or older. Or they had been very rough with it and were extremely nasty/dirty.

Anyway, I declined the return and as soon as I did the woman turned right around to the pay phones and called the 1-800 number. Within 15 minutes I received a phone call from corporate office and was told to give the woman the refund for the car seat. So, is it any wonder that Wal-Mart wouldn't prosecute a shoplifter that had just been apprehended by a sworn Police Officer even though a Wal-Mart associate had not been a witness to the entire event?

The manager said,"I don't want to file a report." I advised him he didn't need to that I witnessed the offense. HE then said,"Well I'm not going to press charges." Again I told him he wasn't pressing charges anyway I was. Then he said ,"It's our merchandise and I don't want to do anything about it." I just said fine and released the kid and walked away.

Ain't Wal-Mart wonderful??? I'm sorry that you too had to waste your time in trying to do your duty as an off-duty Police Officer in protecting the assets of Wal-Mart.

Oh no I was On duty. Was getting some pens and some suplies for my SP (cruiser) but I was 10-8

KSP494 says ...

Oh no I was On duty. Was getting some pens and some suplies for my SP (cruiser) but I was 10-8

Still doesn't help that Wal-Mart is more interested in not wanting to upset or offend their customers though, does it?

SHOP LIFTING school  - 101

Never take more than you can successfully get throught the detector without being noticed and take nothing heavier than you are willing to run with for at least 500 yards and make sure it still has price tags attached or else there will be no market for the item in the hood.

I have learned that the policy for shoplifting at Wal-Mart varies from region to region, and I have heard from a secure LEO e-list of issues relating to the difficulties of Wal-Mart CORPORATE loss prevention folks having troubles prosecuting professional shoplifting crews... yet just a few months ago I learned of an arrest & booking of a person known to me for shoplifting in SE Wisconsin....

The more that retail establishments decline to prosecute, the more word will spread in da' hood about the availability of the 5 finger discounts.... not good at all!

Here is one about Home Depot...

http://www.koco.com/news/13441545/detail.html

Man Says Home Depot Fired Workers For Catching Thieves

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. -- A former Home Depot employee said the company fired him and three other workers because they helped police catch several suspected shoplifters in May.

Midwest City police said the men helped officers catch suspected shoplifters as they tried to run from a store with lawn equipment.

 

An internal memo from Home Depot outlines that associates cannot accuse, detain, chase or call the police on any customer for shoplifting. However, one of the fired employees said the company is selective in enforcing that policy.

 

"The loss-prevention guy at our Shields (Boulevard) store turned around and told me all we need to do is tell the shoplifter to have a good day as they leave the store. I said that just doesn't make sense."

 

Bob Stewart said what really doesn't make sense is a termination letter Home Depot gave him and three other employees after they helped police catch the shoplifters.

 

"We saw them with the merchandise. We saw them run out of the store. I never kept my eyes off of them. Then when we asked them for a receipt, and that's when they dropped the merchandise and they kept running. One guy still had a chainsaw while he was running, and that's when the cops tackled him," he said.

 

The letter said Stewart and the others were fired because "he pursued and assisted in the apprehension of suspected shoplifters."

 

Stewart said all he did was call police, something he's done before. Less than eight months ago, he said that he received a letter -- a commendation letter -- for helping police catch a thief trying to steal $2,500 worth of wire.

 

On the top of the letter, written in bold letters was "Great job, Bob."

 

Home Depot officials said Eyewitness News 5 an e-mail saying that they have "standard operating procedures in place for situations like this," and that "from time to time, we find inconsistent execution in our stores."

 

However, they added that they do not discuss personnel matters and will not comment on this specific case.

 

Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said he won't comment on the store policy but said they would probably not have caught the suspects or recovered the property or the stolen car they drove if it had not been for the help of these four employees.

 

Clabes said he is considering giving the four men letters of appreciation for helping catch the suspects.

Walmart is a terrible place to shop, nevermind how thief friendly they are.  If they're so concerned with not offending the thieves that steal their stuff, why don't they worry about hassling me every time I go there and set off their Walmart security system as I walk out the door?  They want me to stop so they can check my receipt, but a guy grabs a fistful of batteries and they just let them go.  Brilliant strategy.   I'll pay more to shop elsewhere.

klamm143 says ...

SEO says ...

K-Mart is just as bad, if not worse. Quite a few months ago, a K-mart employee was actually FIRED for catching a shoplifter and having him arrested. He was fired because the only people in K-mart who are allowed to do that are managers and because of his actions he went directly against company policy. Here's the breaker. The employee was K-mart SECURITY! WTF do they have security for if not to protect their assets. Freaking morons. I should go rob them when I get off duty! I need a new lawnmower.

Hey....get me one of those rear-baggers while you're at it......................THANKS, in  advance....I'll pick it up from you at the jail.....since the bads guys always get away - and everyone else gets nailed.....oh yeah - that reminds me, pick me up a new compressor for my nailer.....

I don't know if I can get away with the rear-bagger. I spotted a nice re-chargeable electric mower (cordless) that I'm thinking of pilfering. The compressor is going to be an issue too because I'm yoinking a generator they have on clearance (why pay less when you can pay none?). Might have to change clothes and 'go shopping' again. I think the uniform will tip them off if I go twice :P

Klamm143 said, "I don't do Walmart anymore.......They were not to nice to me last time I was there......I was shopping the clearance section (yes- cause I'm CHEAP) when I was struck by one of those falling prices. My injuries were only minor but they insisted that I pay my own medical expenses.........." 

I laughed so hard that I fell off the couch.  I'm not as nice as Wal-Mart, though.  My attorney will be in touch with you regarding my medical bills (for a bruised ego, mostly), as I would not have fallen off the couch if you hadn't written the above post.  (We won't talk about the spilled beer...) 

Must be a regional thing with Wal-Mart. The store here where I'm at is great. Asset Protection prosecutes for just about damn near everything, unless its under $5.00. They work well with us and are very cooperative.

KSP494 says ...

I stopped shopping wal mart anyway. too much made in everywhere but the USA. Mostly China. I started using madeintheusa.com

Thanks for the website.  After checking it out I believe I will be using it a lot.  I hate Wal-Mart and all the other conglomerates anyway...

When I worked in Newton, MS, we were looking for a suspect in another small shop B&E who was also a suspect in an arson.  Another officer spotted the car he rode around in sitting in the fire lane at Wal Mart.  As I arrived, he was exiting the store with one of those large electric scooters.  He saw us, dropped the scooter and ran a couple of feet until he landed across the hood of my car. 

Wal Mart security came out and stated that he had just shoplifted the article.  I told him we had him for other charges but it would be nice to add the $200.00 shoplifting to the sheet.  He declined stating that Wal Mart cooperate will not pay overtime for them to go to court and testify.  That seemed to be the concensus at many of the Wally Worlds throughout the area. 

I currently work at a wal-mart pharmacy. I wont say much but I will say that yes wal-mart does nothing about shoplifters. I have SEEN people steal items and reported it to management and they followed the suspect around for a little then left them alone. I used to work LP at Sears and can spot a theif from a mile away but I dont even do anything when I see someone steal because wal-mart will not prosecute as far as I know for anything. Makes me wonder why they spent millions on over 1,000 cameras in the ceiling. Shoplifting policies are very hard to follow. At Sears we had to maintain constant visual of the suspect, what they stole, how much it was, where it is concealed, etc. Then if you lost even 5 seconds of visual you could not stop at all. Do you know how hard it is to remain hidden plus keep a constant eye on the person from the sales floor? Im suprised we even got a stop a week. But it has to be that way because everyone you stop for shoplifting will try to sue the company so when they sue we have tons of evidence to prove they stole something and we werent just going on a tip. I hate shoplifters.

I used to work for Walmart and currently work for K-Mart and the Wally world here rarely presses charges and at K-Mart we have certain rules we have to go by but most of the time they don't either....and yes it does make the prices go up!!!