How To Catch A Thief

[herfrds]

That is a good idea!

 

[drumstick diva]

It's better than good, it's GREAT

 

[herfrds]

The person we suspected of stealing has been fired. No idea if they caught them on film, but we were all informed that this person is banned from the store and if they come on the property we are to let the owners know immediately and if they are not there to call 911.

 

[herfrds]

What a day!
I was given the heads up a couple weeks that a customer was possibly stealing from the store.
Just missed busting them today!

They are sneaky! yes there are 2 of them.
They come in the store and go thru rather quickly. I was told by a co-worker they were in the store today and on the owners order we are to follow them and watch them.
I went down an aisle and saw one of them stuffing something into their bag. Now since I did not see what was going in the bag I could not ask to look in their bag. Can't ask them anyway.
since I know them I just acted like I saw nothing and chatted with them like normal.
Saw them in another aisle and saw them doing something with their bag. One suddenly came towards where I was hiding at the end of that aisle so I had to act like I was facing the shelves and the second person quickly left the store with the bag.
Talked with the store manager afterwards and they said next time to let them know when these 2 come in the store and we are going to put an employee at each end of any aisle they are in and watch them. No more hiding.

I know what they had in their cart was an expensive item. The clerk that checked them through said it was no longer in their cart and it wasn't back on the shelf.
Talked with my fellow employees and they are all gnashing their teeth over missing busting them today. We have decided on our own plan of action that the law allows us to do.

On a good note when this person was stuffing whatever it was in their bag it was in view of the camera the owner had moved.

 

[cassie]

You might have the owner consult with an attorney to double check on merchant's rights. If memory serves, a merchant is within his rights to detain customer who he has reason to believe have stolen goods on their person. A merchant can also ban customers for the same reason and charge them with tresspassing if they insist on entering the premises.

 

[KristyHall]

I think that the problem is with the attitude that "the good things in life belong to all of us." That is what the 350 pound lady said when I caught her shaking my pecan tree. If she fell out of it, she probably would sue me. Worse, she probably would fall on one of her kids she had picking the pecans.

such selfishness. Stealing infuriates me.
A chef told me this hilarious story once. He worked in a very upscale restaurant, the sort where waiters wore formal wear. Well they would make these tiny little cookie like cakes that were served to the customers as a sort of complimentary treat. They had an unspoken rule that if any of the little treats were damaged the staff could have them.

The waiters started taking them and eating them when ever they liked. When the head chef told them to stop they ignored him because he was head of the kitchen, not the wait staff. When it was brought to their supervisor they claimed he was mistaken.
So the chef telling the story had an idea. The tiny little compact coffee ground cakes that came out of their specialized coffee maker looks just like those little dessert cookie cake things they served. (I forgot what he called them)

So he started saving them. When he had enough he decorated them like they would any other treat and sent them out, giving a final warning to cut out the treat stealing.

Later he found the tray back in the kitchen, missing a couple cakes, and a couple half chewed ones on the tray. The waiters stopped taking the cakes after that.

 

[KristyHall]

Well, I grew up with my father owning a pizza restaurant and he didn't care if an employee grabbed a soda and ate a pizza or sub for lunch. My dad didn't care, as long you weren't giving free pizzas away. A lot of the employees lasted 1+ years cause he gave it more lenient attitude and people love that. If there was nothing to do you can go and read the newspaper and relax for abit. Small companies are the best.

The owner of a catering company always warned me that the biggest money loss is always going out the back door. In other words the people who will steal you blind are your own staff, so you have to set firm rules about what is ok and isn't ok to take.

 

[herfrds]

Thanks Cassie. Our plan is to detain the second person within the entry way to the store. The county attorney comes in a lot so I will ask him what we are allowed to do.

That is a good one Kristy. Bet those waiters did not like those new cakes!

I know a furniture store that went out of business because a lot of stuff went out the back door.
Can hardly wait for this second co-worker to leave. Found out the owners were going to fire them but since they are already planning to leave figured just let them finish out and go. I'm betting with another co-worker this person is just going to leave and give no notice. This is the second thief in the store.
Got a lot of new rules because of those 2 people. Hate saying it but we needed them.

 

[herfrds]

Dad blast it!!!!!!! The camera did not catch the thief!

Owner said it does not matter we will catch hem. Said they could put a camera in every aisle and the thieves will always find a way to steal.