How to Catch Shoplifters

If you work in a retail store and catch shoplifters for a living, here are some tips to help you catch more.

Things You'll Need

• Good cameras
• undercover clothes
• a good eye.

Instructions

1. Shoplifters are mostly young teenagers or elderly people. The difference in the two are that the elderly may be on a fixed income and need to shoplift to get medicines or items that they cannot afford. Teenagers, and mostly girls, will steal items that are small, like make up items. They are usually working together, and will help look out for people watching.

2. Other people who steal will be obvious. Anyone wearing jackets when it is not cold outside is a good person to observe. You do not want to stereotype anyone, but this is a good thing to look for. It is easy for people with jackets to slip items inside.
   If you see a woman walking around slowly with their hand bag in the cart where you would sit a child, and the hand bag is open... this is another thing to watch for. It is easy for these people to drop items right into their bag and walk out the store.

3. Other people are either just too dumb or don't care. They are obvious when stealing. I caught a girl one time biting open cd cases with her teeth.. while I was standing right in front of her. She didn't care... until the police came.
   If you are catching shoplifters, you want to dress like a regular shopper. It is a great idea to wear a ball cap, and wear it low to cover your eyes enough where you can observe people that are not far away. Looking through shelves and other store fixtures is a good idea. The less they see of you, the better.

4. Using cameras in your store is a great way to catch employees who want to steal. You can place small cameras above the registers and if there is a discrepancy in their money at the end of the day, you can review their work.
   You can also use the smaller, more sophisticated cameras to catch higher management stealing. Since you usually don't have to answer to a store manager, you can put your camera anywhere that the law allows. I have caught managers stealing items from the back storage room. Getting people on tape is the best way to catch them.