Shoplifting and how to deal with it.

[dwayne1115]

This really seems like the only place I know where i can talk about this, and have some good talking and ideas about this. I'll first give you a quick story of what has gone on at my wal mart store in just the last month.
One day I was running the tobacco regester and heard a lot of screaming and people running to see what was going on. Apperntly there was a man and woman who where caught stealing some stuff. Our managers and other staff tried to get them and they ended up tackleing them down by some of the nearby regesters. The police soon arrived and they still had to use pepper spray to control the suspects. Now to some this may sound great because yes the Good guys won, but wait...

Then today i was working a regerster and heard some shouting and then a guy runs right in front of my regester and almost knocks over my two customers and scared there little girl to tears. The whole expericance put people on edge and who could blame them. What am I and other people going to do when the managers chase a guy through the store and he has a gun. Duck and ask my customer if they want plastic or the re useable bags.
Becuase of the ecconomy we are going to have more people steal things but is it really worth dyeing over. What should I do as a simple cashier who not only cares about his safty but the safty of the customers in the store. What can or should I do. any thoughts?

 

[frogboy4]

I think this sort of thing should be dealt with outside of the store. The security cameras are there for a reason. Customer safety is more important than a few store items. Shoplifting happens more than people realize and costs stores a fortune. And it's not usually done by the poor. Thieves come in all types.

My advice would be to ask your store management to address the issue to all of the employees. If the system isn't running smoothly they should know about it. I think talking about it and knowing the official store policy on it will put everyone more at ease.

I had a shoplifter in my shop a while back. We caught him when he came back and told him we had him on video. He offered a twin brother excuse of all things and never came back.

 

[Vic Romano]

I was a sales manager at an office supply store for two years as well as loss prevention (security) in a department store for a year. I worked in retail for almost eight years all together, and the most important thing I can tell you is always safety first. If someone waves an ipod in your face let alone a gun, demanding the money from a register, you give it to him. What's in the till is never worth a human life. Playing hero in that situation is a massive no no.

The average retail store puts 8% of all it's merchandise aside for theft every year. That means that a store expects merchandise to be stolen every year, and it is just as big a headache to be under that percentage as it is to be over. Your general manager should hold some type of meeting to explain what to do in situations like that at least once every quarter, and should a situation actually happen as did in your case, the district manager should provide some type of counseling to employees who seek it.

 

[mikebennidict]

This really seems like the only place I know where i can talk about this, and have some good talking and ideas about this. I'll first give you a quick story of what has gone on at my wal mart store in just the last month.
One day I was running the tobacco regester and heard a lot of screaming and people running to see what was going on. Apperntly there was a man and woman who where caught stealing some stuff. Our managers and other staff tried to get them and they ended up tackleing them down by some of the nearby regesters. The police soon arrived and they still had to use pepper spray to control the suspects. Now to some this may sound great because yes the Good guys won, but wait...

Then today i was working a regerster and heard some shouting and then a guy runs right in front of my regester and almost knocks over my two customers and scared there little girl to tears. The whole expericance put people on edge and who could blame them. What am I and other people going to do when the managers chase a guy through the store and he has a gun. Duck and ask my customer if they want plastic or the re useable bags.
Becuase of the ecconomy we are going to have more people steal things but is it really worth dyeing over. What should I do as a simple cashier who not only cares about his safty but the safty of the customers in the store. What can or should I do. any thoughts?

Think it's best you talk to your superiors about this?

Not saying you you shouldn't bring it up here but to me they're the ones to turn to.

 

[Luke]

What should I do as a simple cashier who not only cares about his safty but the safty of the customers in the store. What can or should I do. any thoughts?

I would be pretty sure someone as big as Walmarts policy would be to just let the people have what they want and get them out as quick as possible and the customers safe. However i would say that doing anything other than getting yourself away from the situation or not arguing with the shoplifters if they are interacting with you (ie - raiding you) would actually put the customers you are serving in harms way as well rather than protecting them.

 

[dwayne1115]

Thanks for all the advice! I don't know it seems that the managers who are the ones chaseing down the shopliffters are really not thinking of the other customers safity or the other emmpolyees for that matter. Like most of you all i feel that the matters should be handled outside. I also think if it is as bad as it seems that we should have some from of the police there. Like a sub station or something.
I have been a cashier for over a year now and have not even been told or anything about what to do in case someone demands all the money in my register. They are always harping on safty but when it comes down to it there is little or no safty when it come to being a cashier.

 

[JaniceFerSure]

Always bring any suspicious activity to the manager's attention, that is what they are there for(they usually will tell you that day one). I worked for a department store, and the cashiers were tested often to make sure every item was checked to see if 'hidden' items were present. For example, clothing, small items hidden in boxes or tires obviously that looks wrong. The cashier would ask the customer if they were purchasing the 'hidden' items. If they were, the items would be scanned for buying; if not, the items would be put on the side into a return bin, to go back into the store.


Even if the managers test cashiers by having fake shoplifters come into the store, you still need to bring it to the attention of the manager; that way the manager knows that you are paying attention to your job & more importantly to the merchandise that you are selling. All stores should have an automatic policy, meetings about employee/customer safety, it makes the whole work experience a better situation to work in.