I returned from the local Wendy's with the lunch Du Jour, and headed right for the break room. It is an accepted practice to ignore pages and phone calls while sitting in the break room so you can actually get a "break." I had been in the break room for about five minutes when my own cell phone rang. It was the girl from the front desk calling.
"I know you're eating lunch, but.." what a great way to start while interrupting my lunch. "We just had a guy walk out with an air conditioner in his cart, and several bags of underwear, but they weren't in bags, so I don't think he paid."
I took another bite. If this guy was already out of the store, and probably in his car by now, why is my lunch being interrupted? There isn't a damned thing I can do about it now.
"And I got his license plate number..." she finally continued.
Well doesn't that change things a bit. I ate slightly faster than I had planned, finished up and hoped there was something on video I could use. Sure enough, I watch as the tall black man in a long flannel shirt strolls in pushing an empty cart, in the middle of the store he places an air conditioner into the cart and is then escorted by an employee toward the apparel department. Two minutes later, he appears at the door again, air conditioner and underwear visible in the cart now, and he casually strolls out the exit without stopping at any register. With all of this video on him, and a license plate, I notified the police department. Within minutes the officer arrived, I showed him the video, provided the license plate and off he went to search for the thief. (In my head I pictured this guy sitting in his apartment, in his new underwear, enjoying his new air conditioner, when the officer knocks on his door, but I figured it wouldn't be quite that easy).
About an hour later the officer called me to say he found the car, and he was about to contact the owner and see what the story was. It seemed like the case was coming to a close pretty smoothly. Turns out, he contacts the owner, an 85 year old lady who is disabled. However, she said she rents an apartment to a man who borrowwd her car for the day to run errands. She also added that he had been asking if he can put an air conditioner in his apartment. The officer obtains the name and information on the tenant, and as luck would have it, this isn't the first crime he has committed. In fact, there are two warrants already out for his arrest from neighboring towns. The officer finds a photo of him in the computer, places him into a photo line up so the girl at the desk can pick him out. Unfortunately, the girl was too busy looking at the air conditioner and license plate, she never got a good look at the mans face. As a result, she does not pick him out of the line up.
I go back to my video to check for a good facial shot, but instead it hits me, the employee helping him with the air conditioner had to see his face, hell, they were talking.
Employee background... when this high school kid started, I recognized his last name from when I worked at a police department prior to this job. And if someone says I remember that name from working at a police station, it's never good. For this reason, I never provided this kid a tour of the Loss Prevention office and camera system as I would for any new employee. For some reason, I thought it was a better idea to keep him guessing.
So, the officer comes back a day later to show this employee the photo line up. Before I went to get the kid, I advised the officer the employee's name. His reaction was exactly what I expected, he knew the name as well.
The employee comes to the front desk as the officer lays out the photos. He is asked to pick out the guy he helped with the air conditioner the other day. Without hesitation, he points to the right photo. Instantly, we have a case again, complete with a witness. When the officer starts collecting his information, the employee backs up a little.
"What ya need all that for? I don't want to get involved in all this..." suddenly the kid was back pedalling. The officer explained he is going to be called as a witness to testify in court in the retail theft hearing.
"No, I don't want to be that guy.."
The conversation turned slightly less conversational, and the officer began explaining firmly, that he just identified a suspect in a crime, and that he would only be held up for about ten minutes to say that on the witness stand. He kept shaking his head. The officer finally explained to him, if he doesn't come to testify voluntarily, he would get a subpoena which requires him by law to testify. The employee still didn't catch on and still tried to refuse.
"We give you one chance to show up, after that we come and get you, handcuff you and force you to appear in court, it's up to you."
The employee reluctantly agreed, but it will remain to be seen how it all plays out. In the mean time, unfortunately I am stuck with an employee who doesn't want to cooperate with catching a retail theft from the store. It's good to know I made the right decision about keeping my office a secret.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Sometimes you want to recover the merchandise...other times, you don't!
I noticed a Korean or Japanese grandfather and his granddaughter enter the store and wander off toward the apparel section. I really paid them no mind. I continued meandering about the store looking for more suspicious folk. Unfortunately, I saw none. I wandered back around toward the apparel section and cut through the jewelery and cosmetics area, when what to my incredible peripheral vision does appear...the grandfather and granddaughter bent over in one of the cosmetics aisles. I turn down the next aisle and check them out in the overhead mirror. I really couldn't believe it, but the little girl was holding a mirror out while it was still hanging from the hook, while the old man was bent over using scissors, from that aisle, to trim his nose hairs. That's right... he was using scissors, he had just taken from a package, to clip his nose hairs, right there in the aisle! And the little girl was kind enough to help by holding the mirror up for him.
Once he was done his grooming, he tossed the scissors back onto the opened package on the bottom shelf, and took the little girl's hand, and walked off as if nothing was wrong. I walked into the aisle and picked up the USED scissors, tucked them into the torn package, and slippeed them into my back pocket. I took them to the front desk for a price check. $6.99. Really a borderline price when deciding whether to go through the whole apprehension deal. Technically, I could do it. Was it worth apprehending and going through all of the paperwork, what would we do with the little girl? Does he even understand English? All of these questions swarmed about my brain as I watched them tour the store with no apparent mission.
The two finally made their way toward the front door, and I sped up to approach them.
"Excuse me sir.."
He kept walking to the door.
"Sir, excuse me!"
He glanced over his shoulder as he opened the door. I motioned for him to come back to me away from the door.
"Do you understand English?" (crickets)
"Do you understand what I am saying?" (more crickets)
The man walked over to the front desk as I was still trying to talk. I tapped him on the shoulder and waved him back to me.
"Listen to me, I am talking, not them." He smiled, and shook his head.
"Can you understand me, or what I am saying right now?" He stared with a smile and a slight shake of the head. I took out the torn package of scissors from my back pocket, pushed it into his chest and pointed to the front desk.
"Pay for these." I had a feeling he understood more than he was letting on, and I was done trying to communicate.
He shook his head with a big smile..."Okay, Okay.."
He shook my hand and bowed to me, apologizing in his own strange, embarrassed way. He paid, grabbed the girl's little hand, and walked out of the store.
Once he was done his grooming, he tossed the scissors back onto the opened package on the bottom shelf, and took the little girl's hand, and walked off as if nothing was wrong. I walked into the aisle and picked up the USED scissors, tucked them into the torn package, and slippeed them into my back pocket. I took them to the front desk for a price check. $6.99. Really a borderline price when deciding whether to go through the whole apprehension deal. Technically, I could do it. Was it worth apprehending and going through all of the paperwork, what would we do with the little girl? Does he even understand English? All of these questions swarmed about my brain as I watched them tour the store with no apparent mission.
The two finally made their way toward the front door, and I sped up to approach them.
"Excuse me sir.."
He kept walking to the door.
"Sir, excuse me!"
He glanced over his shoulder as he opened the door. I motioned for him to come back to me away from the door.
"Do you understand English?" (crickets)
"Do you understand what I am saying?" (more crickets)
The man walked over to the front desk as I was still trying to talk. I tapped him on the shoulder and waved him back to me.
"Listen to me, I am talking, not them." He smiled, and shook his head.
"Can you understand me, or what I am saying right now?" He stared with a smile and a slight shake of the head. I took out the torn package of scissors from my back pocket, pushed it into his chest and pointed to the front desk.
"Pay for these." I had a feeling he understood more than he was letting on, and I was done trying to communicate.
He shook his head with a big smile..."Okay, Okay.."
He shook my hand and bowed to me, apologizing in his own strange, embarrassed way. He paid, grabbed the girl's little hand, and walked out of the store.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
It's Nice to be Noticed!
The highlights of making some internal apprehensions lately, were quickly dashed as I was notified this morning that I would have to drive an hour away, to help a different store verify their inventory. In a nutshell, an inventory counts everything, we follow behind them and check their counts, then wheen the reports come out saying they missed merchandise, we go and find the missed merchandise and account for it. Yeah, noting but a good time for about eight hours!! The only good part is the free donuts coffee and lunch.
My family can attest, I can be an all star pouter when I want to be, and since I have participated in my inventory, and three other inventories, I felt it was time I could miss one and let someone who hasn't been to one to step up. But no, I chose not to be sarcastic, a real reach for me, and not mention anything about other LP's who are not coming, and one actually choosing to go to the beach instead! Biting my tongue, I walked through the main entrance to the empty store way too early this morning. I counted, then counted some more, then counted a little bit more.
Just before breaking for lunch, a surprise visit from my Acting LP District Manager, as well as the Operations District Manager. My LPDM lives two hours away from here, in a neighboring state, and is only taking care of administrative things for us until we get our own LPDM. They congratulated me on a good job with the recent apprehensions at my store, and we joked back and forth about how I was embarrassing the other LPs, making them all look bad. We laughed and joked, and the only thing we were missing were the beers and nuts sitting on the bar. As the fun settled, the LPDM called me aside. I followed him all the way outside the store. I figured it must really be important... but had no idea what it could be.
"I already talked to your store manager yesterday about this, we are realigning the LP structure and creating another level above your current level. I would like to offer you the promotion to this new level, it would mean a raise and more hours...but meaning overtime each week too...."
Really not sure what he said after that, but I am sure his lips were still moving. When my shock wore off, I heard more good things..
"You aboslutely deserve it, you'r doing a one helluva job and if I had a Managers position in my local district I would certainly want you over there..."
Pretty cool to hear from your boss who has been doing this job for over fifteen years. Me... about 16 months.
I will now be able to clean up my resume builder from my desk, shut down Monster.com and concentrate on the next year in this position.
Sigh.
My family can attest, I can be an all star pouter when I want to be, and since I have participated in my inventory, and three other inventories, I felt it was time I could miss one and let someone who hasn't been to one to step up. But no, I chose not to be sarcastic, a real reach for me, and not mention anything about other LP's who are not coming, and one actually choosing to go to the beach instead! Biting my tongue, I walked through the main entrance to the empty store way too early this morning. I counted, then counted some more, then counted a little bit more.
Just before breaking for lunch, a surprise visit from my Acting LP District Manager, as well as the Operations District Manager. My LPDM lives two hours away from here, in a neighboring state, and is only taking care of administrative things for us until we get our own LPDM. They congratulated me on a good job with the recent apprehensions at my store, and we joked back and forth about how I was embarrassing the other LPs, making them all look bad. We laughed and joked, and the only thing we were missing were the beers and nuts sitting on the bar. As the fun settled, the LPDM called me aside. I followed him all the way outside the store. I figured it must really be important... but had no idea what it could be.
"I already talked to your store manager yesterday about this, we are realigning the LP structure and creating another level above your current level. I would like to offer you the promotion to this new level, it would mean a raise and more hours...but meaning overtime each week too...."
Really not sure what he said after that, but I am sure his lips were still moving. When my shock wore off, I heard more good things..
"You aboslutely deserve it, you'r doing a one helluva job and if I had a Managers position in my local district I would certainly want you over there..."
Pretty cool to hear from your boss who has been doing this job for over fifteen years. Me... about 16 months.
I will now be able to clean up my resume builder from my desk, shut down Monster.com and concentrate on the next year in this position.
Sigh.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
As Long As We Keep Hiring Idiots...I Will Have A Job!!! (...wait a second)
So, the sulking has subsided temporarily.
Saturday I arrived to work in the morning with the Office Manager a little more disgruntled than usual. She finally, reluctantly, admitted that we were missing twenty dollars from a register from the previous night. To her, it was a challenge to figure out where the missing money was. She wanted to find it herself, and before I had a chance to look into it. Oh well, this time, she had to give up and turn it over to me for the REAL investigation. (Actually, I enjoy having her handle it before me so I am not looking for every two and three dollar "wrong change" transaction.)
So, my day starts with her turning over the paperwork from the previous shift transactions, and says good luck. Off I go to my cave, never to be seen again until I have come up with an answer to the "Case of the Missing Twenty."
Through the paperwork, computer and video, I narrow the issue down to a new employee working the register. Eventually, I review video of most of her shift with nothing that really jumps out at me. I review the printed receipts of all of her transactions, still not much found. It was maybe my third review of the information in front of me when I decided to look at any transactions where a twenty dollar bill was used to pay, or as change. Coincidentally, I found two back to back purchases of one bottle of soda where the customers used a twenty dollar bill to pay. I brought up the video of these purchases and found the first one was rung up and changed perfectly. The second transaction, immediately after the first, started when she tells a small boy to leave the line next to her and come into hers. He brings a bottle of Coke and places it on her counter. She rings it up, he hands her a twenty dollar bill and suddenly she appears to be confused about the change or the price or something... She ends up handing the boy a five dollar bill as change. Now, I'm no mathemetician, but a $1.39 purchase from a twenty dollar bill does not result in a five dollar bill in change! However, the boy accepted that, and left with his fifteen dollar bottle of Coke. I then slowed the video down and watched as the cashier holds the remaining bills in her hand until she closes her drawer, and slips it into her pocketbook. Day One: Case Closed.
After realizing she was definitely a thief, I then go back in time and check her previous shifts. Fortunately, she had only been hired three weeks ago. I review register shortages during the past month, and what do ya know.... two more 20.00 shortages occur on her register during her shifts. Hmmm. Coincidence?
I repeat the same steps for each day. I pull transactions, I review video, etc etc. Two shifts ago I observe her being told to switch registers. I watch with Sherlock Holmes-like detail, every hand movement she makes. And suddenly, there it is! She pulls her pocket book up over her left shoulder. She then pulls the cash drawer from the register, but I notice her right hand is holding the drawer from underneath the right side, while her left hand seems to be on top of the drawer at the left side. I slowed the video down to a snails pace and noticed she was actually curling up the twenty dollar bill with her left hand, and palming it as she moved the drawer out of the register. She turns left, right into the camera, and as she walks to the next register, she slips her left hand into the pocket book hanging over her shoulder. Day Two: Case Closed.
I check her schedule and change mine to match hers so I can watch her live. This results in a bunch of shady actions, very suspicious behavior, but the only thing I see clearly, is when she pulls a pack of Bic lighters off the counter nearby, walk back to her register and drops the lighters down on her pocket book under her register. I watch the rest of her shift, and she never attempts to purchase the lighters. Day Three: Add Retail Theft.
While working with her that evening, I discover a note from her on the HR office door. She is asking for the rest of the day off, but can work tomorrow if hours are available. I run immediately to the store manager and advise him to tell her to come in tomorrow, and she can have the rest of the week off. (I'm thinking alot longer than that...but we can start there.) She is overjoyed to hear the news. My plan: Collect my evidence, have her come in, interview her, get her confession, and have her arrested.
I team up with my interrogation partner, an LP from a neighboring store, and plan our attack. By 6pm last night, with only 30 minutes left in my shift, I have the manager call her back to the office. She seems completely oblivious as to why we would want to speak to her. The interview/interrogation started slowly, with her giggling at the thought of people being dumb enough to steal knowing there are cameras all over. This changed when we shifted our attitude to...we know the answers to every question we are going to ask. We will know if you are lying or not. She started getting nervous shifting back and forth in her seat. Her voice lowered to almost a whisper at times. She finally admitted taking money, but had a good reason. That was my cue (Good Cop). I said "we absolutely want to hear why, I'm sure you had a good reason, thats fine, but let's talk about how much and when you took money. Then we'll talk about why and I'll make sure I write it all down." She agreed to tell us when, and how much it was each time. By the time we were done, it totalled $100.00 cash removed from her register over a period of few shifts.
When her confession didn't match the facts, my partner (Bad Cop) got angry, "losing his patience" and stormed out of the room. She turned to me and said "I don't want him to be mad..." I took this opportunity to work my angle of "let's see what we can remember and as long as you are completely honest, and quit the lies, I'll be able to stop my partner from proceeding down a path you don't want to go...believe me!"
Eventually, after a wave of tears, and an hour and a half of "I really have a bad memory" and me reviewing the facts with her over and over...she came clean to stealing $100.00 and the bic lighters. I handed her a notebook, and very Law and Order-like said... "Put it in writing..."
After she cracked, I rewarded her with a can of soda. She was all mine after that. My partner never returned... we needed her to stay inside this comfort zone with me. She explained she needed $100.00 to pay off a fine. Go figure. Once she completed the written statement, I signed it, our female witness signed it, and I said I needed to go make a copy. Just before the door closed behind me, she asked... "Will any of this leave this room?" "Wait, be right back..." leaving that question unanswered.
I did actually make a copy, but in addition, I called the Police Department and advised them I had an employee stealing $100.00 from the register. I then walked to the front desk, told the associate there to give us ten minutes after he sees the police officer arrive, then call all the other employees up front for a minute. (Right now you may be calling me names...but more than embarassing the thief, I wanted to make an impression upon the high school kids we still had working in the store. I have exceeded my employee apprehension goal for the year, it can stop now.)
Officers arrived, I explained what I had, and the first officer opened the office door with an opening statement of... "Ever been arrested before?"
She almost passed out. The helpful guy that I am, as she was being handcuffed, I asked, "Are your things still at your register? We can get that on the way out..." I then heard the announcement for all associates to come to the front desk for their returned merchandise. She tried every possible excuse why she shouldnt be in cuffs, but apparently the cop had done this once or twice before. "The cuffs aren't too tight, I can fit my finger in between them.."
I led the parade from the back of the store to the front, behind me was the thief with her hands in cuffs behind her, a police officer holding her arm, a Police Sergeant behind him, my partner, then our witness.
Employees, most part timers still in high school, stood with eyes wide open. I heard a few comments muttered, "How stupid." "Dumb." "Are you kidding me?"
Hopefully, lesson learned.
As the officers loaded her up and drove off all eyes were on me. I just smiled, and walked back to the office with my notebook in hand. Let the rumors begin!!
By tomorrow night when I return to work, she will have stolen a television, I'm sure. That's okay, it was entertaining enough as it was.
Saturday I arrived to work in the morning with the Office Manager a little more disgruntled than usual. She finally, reluctantly, admitted that we were missing twenty dollars from a register from the previous night. To her, it was a challenge to figure out where the missing money was. She wanted to find it herself, and before I had a chance to look into it. Oh well, this time, she had to give up and turn it over to me for the REAL investigation. (Actually, I enjoy having her handle it before me so I am not looking for every two and three dollar "wrong change" transaction.)
So, my day starts with her turning over the paperwork from the previous shift transactions, and says good luck. Off I go to my cave, never to be seen again until I have come up with an answer to the "Case of the Missing Twenty."
Through the paperwork, computer and video, I narrow the issue down to a new employee working the register. Eventually, I review video of most of her shift with nothing that really jumps out at me. I review the printed receipts of all of her transactions, still not much found. It was maybe my third review of the information in front of me when I decided to look at any transactions where a twenty dollar bill was used to pay, or as change. Coincidentally, I found two back to back purchases of one bottle of soda where the customers used a twenty dollar bill to pay. I brought up the video of these purchases and found the first one was rung up and changed perfectly. The second transaction, immediately after the first, started when she tells a small boy to leave the line next to her and come into hers. He brings a bottle of Coke and places it on her counter. She rings it up, he hands her a twenty dollar bill and suddenly she appears to be confused about the change or the price or something... She ends up handing the boy a five dollar bill as change. Now, I'm no mathemetician, but a $1.39 purchase from a twenty dollar bill does not result in a five dollar bill in change! However, the boy accepted that, and left with his fifteen dollar bottle of Coke. I then slowed the video down and watched as the cashier holds the remaining bills in her hand until she closes her drawer, and slips it into her pocketbook. Day One: Case Closed.
After realizing she was definitely a thief, I then go back in time and check her previous shifts. Fortunately, she had only been hired three weeks ago. I review register shortages during the past month, and what do ya know.... two more 20.00 shortages occur on her register during her shifts. Hmmm. Coincidence?
I repeat the same steps for each day. I pull transactions, I review video, etc etc. Two shifts ago I observe her being told to switch registers. I watch with Sherlock Holmes-like detail, every hand movement she makes. And suddenly, there it is! She pulls her pocket book up over her left shoulder. She then pulls the cash drawer from the register, but I notice her right hand is holding the drawer from underneath the right side, while her left hand seems to be on top of the drawer at the left side. I slowed the video down to a snails pace and noticed she was actually curling up the twenty dollar bill with her left hand, and palming it as she moved the drawer out of the register. She turns left, right into the camera, and as she walks to the next register, she slips her left hand into the pocket book hanging over her shoulder. Day Two: Case Closed.
I check her schedule and change mine to match hers so I can watch her live. This results in a bunch of shady actions, very suspicious behavior, but the only thing I see clearly, is when she pulls a pack of Bic lighters off the counter nearby, walk back to her register and drops the lighters down on her pocket book under her register. I watch the rest of her shift, and she never attempts to purchase the lighters. Day Three: Add Retail Theft.
While working with her that evening, I discover a note from her on the HR office door. She is asking for the rest of the day off, but can work tomorrow if hours are available. I run immediately to the store manager and advise him to tell her to come in tomorrow, and she can have the rest of the week off. (I'm thinking alot longer than that...but we can start there.) She is overjoyed to hear the news. My plan: Collect my evidence, have her come in, interview her, get her confession, and have her arrested.
I team up with my interrogation partner, an LP from a neighboring store, and plan our attack. By 6pm last night, with only 30 minutes left in my shift, I have the manager call her back to the office. She seems completely oblivious as to why we would want to speak to her. The interview/interrogation started slowly, with her giggling at the thought of people being dumb enough to steal knowing there are cameras all over. This changed when we shifted our attitude to...we know the answers to every question we are going to ask. We will know if you are lying or not. She started getting nervous shifting back and forth in her seat. Her voice lowered to almost a whisper at times. She finally admitted taking money, but had a good reason. That was my cue (Good Cop). I said "we absolutely want to hear why, I'm sure you had a good reason, thats fine, but let's talk about how much and when you took money. Then we'll talk about why and I'll make sure I write it all down." She agreed to tell us when, and how much it was each time. By the time we were done, it totalled $100.00 cash removed from her register over a period of few shifts.
When her confession didn't match the facts, my partner (Bad Cop) got angry, "losing his patience" and stormed out of the room. She turned to me and said "I don't want him to be mad..." I took this opportunity to work my angle of "let's see what we can remember and as long as you are completely honest, and quit the lies, I'll be able to stop my partner from proceeding down a path you don't want to go...believe me!"
Eventually, after a wave of tears, and an hour and a half of "I really have a bad memory" and me reviewing the facts with her over and over...she came clean to stealing $100.00 and the bic lighters. I handed her a notebook, and very Law and Order-like said... "Put it in writing..."
After she cracked, I rewarded her with a can of soda. She was all mine after that. My partner never returned... we needed her to stay inside this comfort zone with me. She explained she needed $100.00 to pay off a fine. Go figure. Once she completed the written statement, I signed it, our female witness signed it, and I said I needed to go make a copy. Just before the door closed behind me, she asked... "Will any of this leave this room?" "Wait, be right back..." leaving that question unanswered.
I did actually make a copy, but in addition, I called the Police Department and advised them I had an employee stealing $100.00 from the register. I then walked to the front desk, told the associate there to give us ten minutes after he sees the police officer arrive, then call all the other employees up front for a minute. (Right now you may be calling me names...but more than embarassing the thief, I wanted to make an impression upon the high school kids we still had working in the store. I have exceeded my employee apprehension goal for the year, it can stop now.)
Officers arrived, I explained what I had, and the first officer opened the office door with an opening statement of... "Ever been arrested before?"
She almost passed out. The helpful guy that I am, as she was being handcuffed, I asked, "Are your things still at your register? We can get that on the way out..." I then heard the announcement for all associates to come to the front desk for their returned merchandise. She tried every possible excuse why she shouldnt be in cuffs, but apparently the cop had done this once or twice before. "The cuffs aren't too tight, I can fit my finger in between them.."
I led the parade from the back of the store to the front, behind me was the thief with her hands in cuffs behind her, a police officer holding her arm, a Police Sergeant behind him, my partner, then our witness.
Employees, most part timers still in high school, stood with eyes wide open. I heard a few comments muttered, "How stupid." "Dumb." "Are you kidding me?"
Hopefully, lesson learned.
As the officers loaded her up and drove off all eyes were on me. I just smiled, and walked back to the office with my notebook in hand. Let the rumors begin!!
By tomorrow night when I return to work, she will have stolen a television, I'm sure. That's okay, it was entertaining enough as it was.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Goals for the Year
The Corporate bean counters have once again published goals for the year. Last year it took me most of the year just to meet goal. It was a tense few months being pressured to reach goal. In the end, making or missing goal has something to do with our Safety and Theft Metrics, and as a result, relates to the Risk Level each store is assigned.
So I was reviewing my numbers the other day and found this interesting...
Goals for 2010: 10 Shoplifters
2 Employee Apprehensions
Last year I ended with 20 Shoplifters and 4 Employee Apprehesnions, so I am not sure how they set their goals. Was business supposed to be cut in half this year?
It is June 2010.
I have 8 Shoplifters and 2 Employee Apprehensions already.
Unfortunately, the one statistic which stands out the most to me is the one where I am told I get no raise because it's not in the budget, and I'm not eligible for the promotion I was being recommended for by two District Managers.
Doesn't exactly fire up the adrenaline to go apprehend someone and possibly be maced or assaulted over an Avatar DVD.
But something tells me I will do my best to sit and sulk in my office, until I happen to see the next idiot trying to steal something and for some reason I will run out there and jump in his way and take my chances on how it will end up. Sometimes, I wonder, who is the bigger idiot. The guy who has planned out a theft, or the guy who has no idea what state of mind the thief is in, what weapons he is carrying, or how many black belts he has earned, but still gets in front of him to try and stop him.
I wonder.
My new Goal for 2010: Not get my ass kicked over a video game.
So I was reviewing my numbers the other day and found this interesting...
Goals for 2010: 10 Shoplifters
2 Employee Apprehensions
Last year I ended with 20 Shoplifters and 4 Employee Apprehesnions, so I am not sure how they set their goals. Was business supposed to be cut in half this year?
It is June 2010.
I have 8 Shoplifters and 2 Employee Apprehensions already.
Unfortunately, the one statistic which stands out the most to me is the one where I am told I get no raise because it's not in the budget, and I'm not eligible for the promotion I was being recommended for by two District Managers.
Doesn't exactly fire up the adrenaline to go apprehend someone and possibly be maced or assaulted over an Avatar DVD.
But something tells me I will do my best to sit and sulk in my office, until I happen to see the next idiot trying to steal something and for some reason I will run out there and jump in his way and take my chances on how it will end up. Sometimes, I wonder, who is the bigger idiot. The guy who has planned out a theft, or the guy who has no idea what state of mind the thief is in, what weapons he is carrying, or how many black belts he has earned, but still gets in front of him to try and stop him.
I wonder.
My new Goal for 2010: Not get my ass kicked over a video game.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Part Two: Sunday.
After dedicating a good portion of the day to documenting the incredible employee apprehension the day before, I took to the salesfloor which was unusually crowded due to the holiday weekend. It would seem to the average Joe that this would be ideal circumstances for catching a shoplifter. However, not so. The more crowded it is, the more suspects you have to keep an eye on. Easy, no. Frustrating, yes. So for the next few hours I would follow people of all ages, all over the store, and sure enough, they all slowly made their way to the register to pay. Honest shoppers are killing the LP field.
This was how the rest of the day would go, until a familiar face showed up in the middle of my store. Allow me to digress.
A few weeks ago my attention was turned toward one of our newer cashiers, "Amber," a senior in high school, who really should have dedicated her evenings to studying, rather than attempting to learn the cash register at a retail store. She was the living breathing example of every blonde joke you have ever heard. One day we were on the kick of enforcing the "No Cell Phone Use" policy while they worked at the register. I was never too strict about it if it was done quietly, and not when customers were around. However, this particular day, Amber was told about not using her phone for texting while she was working. Not twwenty minutes later I observed her ducking down behind the register to text someone. Okay, so blatant disregard for a manager's request. Later during the shift, I was observing her through the overhead camera, and watched as she texted someone as a customer stood waiting for her to finish. Now that makes me mad. Customers come first in my book, and I'm not even in Sales!
When the manager approached her to speak to her about it, a second and third cashier complained that she does it all the time. As a result of that, Amber took it upon herself to threaten the other cashiers with physical harm. Once I heard that, I heavily encouraged the management staff to terminate her. Not only is that harassment, forcing one cashier to seek a shift change, but that's also illegal! So, by the end of the day, Amber was called into the offfice and terminated. She left with her empty head held high, saying "thanks for the opportunity," as if she was watching The Apprentice, and by the time she hit the front door, she was looking at coworkers saying "whatever."
Fast forward now to this weekend. Amidst the crowd of holiday shoppers, I recognized the bleached hair coming through the crowd. I stopped in my tracks and watched as she made her way down the center aisle, accompanied by two boys who couldn't have been any more opposite. They were dressed gothic-like, wearing nothing but black. Black t-shirt, black hoodies, black shorts that actually reached their ankles and black sneakers. I couldnt believe Amber would have the guts, or the balls to come back to this store, but I immediately sensed trouble. I watched as they ducked into the CD aisle in the Electronics Department. I was simply shocked to see this but, I walked into the adjacent aisle and began my ritual for almost every grungey looking hoodie wearing high school kid I come across. I stared into the overhead mirror and watched for a few minutes as one kid took two CD's off the shelf and immediately tried to get one open. Again, my jaw dropped in amazement. I was simply asking myself, was she really this stupid? Finally, she glanced up into my mirror and saw me looking at them. She nudged the accomplice and walked out of the aisle. The accoplice left the aisle in the oppostie direction. I walked right past Amber as she tried to draw my attention toward her and the other kid walking into Sporting Goods. I kept my attention on the scrawny long haired kid sliding down the back aisle toward the mens room. Sure enough, my suspicion wa correct. He ducked into the men's room and wasted no time trying to get the Cd's open inside the stall. (When you are bored some day, go into a public bathroom and try to crack a piece of plastic quietly...it's impossible.) I could hear the case breaking from the hallway outside the mens room door, and I was so stunned that they were obnoxious enough to do this even though she knew I was watcching, I walked right into the bathroom. I wanted to scare the shit out of the kid, but when I got inside, I realized he was tucked away inside the stall. When he heardd me enter, he froze. Suddenly there was no noise coming from the stall until he flushed the toilet. I washed my hands and walked out. I saw the assistant manager walking nearby so I gave her the heads up about Amber and her band of thieves. I took a position outside the mens room where I could see the bathroom door in an overhead mirror, but I was hidden from sight.
Sure enough, the kid finally came out, looked around, and made his way toward the front of the store. I ducked into the bathroom, and quickly removed the cracked open CD cases from the trash can, and came out to pursue the little thief.
At the front of the store I see Amber standing in the vestibule. She sees me and decides to make a dash for it. I looked behind me and saw the black clothes coming around the corner. Somehow I got to the front before the bathroom kid did. I tossed the empty CD case on to a shelf and nonchalantly walked out the front door. I see Amber walking into the parking lot, and decide I was going to let the police department take this from here. I call 9-1-1 and explain a retail theft just occurred and they are walking north from the parking lot. Meanwhile, the last kid finally comes out, but he walks right to a car parked in the lot. Not only was I then able to give a vehicle description, but since the genius turned right toward me and passed by within six feet of me, I also read off the license plate to the 9-1-11 dispatcher.
Sirens filled the air for the next few minutes and I returned to the store thinking the case will be closed any minute now. As expected, withing five minutes, a police car pulled up outside.
"Please tell me he didn't dump the merchandise..." I asked the officer as he got out of his car.
"Don't know, couldn't find the car."
I was flabbergasted. I told him they were about a half a block away from the car when he flew past with his siren wailing. For whatever reason, they missed the car. On the other hand, I knew Amber, knew where she lived, and we had the license plate of the other kid. Officers would then head to the houses to try to locate the thieves, not how I wanted it to end, but ok.
About 45 minutes later a second police offficer arrives at the store.
"Wanna go for a ride, we got them stopped."
Without hesitation, I was out the door and climbing into the police car.
We drive into the next town and pull up in a neighborhood behind three other police cars. I can see Amber already standing outside the car. Officers are standing next to the car I saw leave the parking lot. Just as we stopped and called the other officers by radio, all hell broke loose. Suddenly the officers were wrestling the driver to the ground in the middle of the street. The officer in my car jumped out and ran to join the mini melee. Since the goth kid weighed all of 100 pounds soaking wet, the wrestling match ended as fast as it started. However, when the kid came up off the pavement, he was now wearing handcuffs.
When it was all said and done, the kid was arrested for Retail Theft and Disorderly Conduct, and Amber and the other kid was banned from my store.
So, this is how May ended for me. Back to back apprehensions that if nothing else, gave my coworkers something to talk about when the lucky employees who were off for the holiday weekend asked..."So how was it in here this weekend?"
So, I wonder what June will bring me.
After dedicating a good portion of the day to documenting the incredible employee apprehension the day before, I took to the salesfloor which was unusually crowded due to the holiday weekend. It would seem to the average Joe that this would be ideal circumstances for catching a shoplifter. However, not so. The more crowded it is, the more suspects you have to keep an eye on. Easy, no. Frustrating, yes. So for the next few hours I would follow people of all ages, all over the store, and sure enough, they all slowly made their way to the register to pay. Honest shoppers are killing the LP field.
This was how the rest of the day would go, until a familiar face showed up in the middle of my store. Allow me to digress.
A few weeks ago my attention was turned toward one of our newer cashiers, "Amber," a senior in high school, who really should have dedicated her evenings to studying, rather than attempting to learn the cash register at a retail store. She was the living breathing example of every blonde joke you have ever heard. One day we were on the kick of enforcing the "No Cell Phone Use" policy while they worked at the register. I was never too strict about it if it was done quietly, and not when customers were around. However, this particular day, Amber was told about not using her phone for texting while she was working. Not twwenty minutes later I observed her ducking down behind the register to text someone. Okay, so blatant disregard for a manager's request. Later during the shift, I was observing her through the overhead camera, and watched as she texted someone as a customer stood waiting for her to finish. Now that makes me mad. Customers come first in my book, and I'm not even in Sales!
When the manager approached her to speak to her about it, a second and third cashier complained that she does it all the time. As a result of that, Amber took it upon herself to threaten the other cashiers with physical harm. Once I heard that, I heavily encouraged the management staff to terminate her. Not only is that harassment, forcing one cashier to seek a shift change, but that's also illegal! So, by the end of the day, Amber was called into the offfice and terminated. She left with her empty head held high, saying "thanks for the opportunity," as if she was watching The Apprentice, and by the time she hit the front door, she was looking at coworkers saying "whatever."
Fast forward now to this weekend. Amidst the crowd of holiday shoppers, I recognized the bleached hair coming through the crowd. I stopped in my tracks and watched as she made her way down the center aisle, accompanied by two boys who couldn't have been any more opposite. They were dressed gothic-like, wearing nothing but black. Black t-shirt, black hoodies, black shorts that actually reached their ankles and black sneakers. I couldnt believe Amber would have the guts, or the balls to come back to this store, but I immediately sensed trouble. I watched as they ducked into the CD aisle in the Electronics Department. I was simply shocked to see this but, I walked into the adjacent aisle and began my ritual for almost every grungey looking hoodie wearing high school kid I come across. I stared into the overhead mirror and watched for a few minutes as one kid took two CD's off the shelf and immediately tried to get one open. Again, my jaw dropped in amazement. I was simply asking myself, was she really this stupid? Finally, she glanced up into my mirror and saw me looking at them. She nudged the accomplice and walked out of the aisle. The accoplice left the aisle in the oppostie direction. I walked right past Amber as she tried to draw my attention toward her and the other kid walking into Sporting Goods. I kept my attention on the scrawny long haired kid sliding down the back aisle toward the mens room. Sure enough, my suspicion wa correct. He ducked into the men's room and wasted no time trying to get the Cd's open inside the stall. (When you are bored some day, go into a public bathroom and try to crack a piece of plastic quietly...it's impossible.) I could hear the case breaking from the hallway outside the mens room door, and I was so stunned that they were obnoxious enough to do this even though she knew I was watcching, I walked right into the bathroom. I wanted to scare the shit out of the kid, but when I got inside, I realized he was tucked away inside the stall. When he heardd me enter, he froze. Suddenly there was no noise coming from the stall until he flushed the toilet. I washed my hands and walked out. I saw the assistant manager walking nearby so I gave her the heads up about Amber and her band of thieves. I took a position outside the mens room where I could see the bathroom door in an overhead mirror, but I was hidden from sight.
Sure enough, the kid finally came out, looked around, and made his way toward the front of the store. I ducked into the bathroom, and quickly removed the cracked open CD cases from the trash can, and came out to pursue the little thief.
At the front of the store I see Amber standing in the vestibule. She sees me and decides to make a dash for it. I looked behind me and saw the black clothes coming around the corner. Somehow I got to the front before the bathroom kid did. I tossed the empty CD case on to a shelf and nonchalantly walked out the front door. I see Amber walking into the parking lot, and decide I was going to let the police department take this from here. I call 9-1-1 and explain a retail theft just occurred and they are walking north from the parking lot. Meanwhile, the last kid finally comes out, but he walks right to a car parked in the lot. Not only was I then able to give a vehicle description, but since the genius turned right toward me and passed by within six feet of me, I also read off the license plate to the 9-1-11 dispatcher.
Sirens filled the air for the next few minutes and I returned to the store thinking the case will be closed any minute now. As expected, withing five minutes, a police car pulled up outside.
"Please tell me he didn't dump the merchandise..." I asked the officer as he got out of his car.
"Don't know, couldn't find the car."
I was flabbergasted. I told him they were about a half a block away from the car when he flew past with his siren wailing. For whatever reason, they missed the car. On the other hand, I knew Amber, knew where she lived, and we had the license plate of the other kid. Officers would then head to the houses to try to locate the thieves, not how I wanted it to end, but ok.
About 45 minutes later a second police offficer arrives at the store.
"Wanna go for a ride, we got them stopped."
Without hesitation, I was out the door and climbing into the police car.
We drive into the next town and pull up in a neighborhood behind three other police cars. I can see Amber already standing outside the car. Officers are standing next to the car I saw leave the parking lot. Just as we stopped and called the other officers by radio, all hell broke loose. Suddenly the officers were wrestling the driver to the ground in the middle of the street. The officer in my car jumped out and ran to join the mini melee. Since the goth kid weighed all of 100 pounds soaking wet, the wrestling match ended as fast as it started. However, when the kid came up off the pavement, he was now wearing handcuffs.
When it was all said and done, the kid was arrested for Retail Theft and Disorderly Conduct, and Amber and the other kid was banned from my store.
So, this is how May ended for me. Back to back apprehensions that if nothing else, gave my coworkers something to talk about when the lucky employees who were off for the holiday weekend asked..."So how was it in here this weekend?"
So, I wonder what June will bring me.
Monday, May 31, 2010
A Memorable Memorial Day Weekend (Say that twice fast!)
Part One: Saturday.
I was sitting in my office trying to be disgruntled about not getting a raise and/or promotion I had been recommended for, but the fact that I simply had a paying job kept interrupting my efforts, when out of the corner of my eye, I notice a new employee entering the store wearing a back pack. She walks out of the camera view and I go back to wondering if I should sign on to the various job search websites on my work computer.
A few minutes later, on a different camera monitor, I see the same girl entering the Hardware Department, carrying a pair of gloves, and two pairs of shoes. She walked to the rear corner of the store, placed them down on an empty counter, then walked to each end of the aisle, obviously looking for anyone in the area. With so many red flags waving at me, I left my office and forced myself to do the fun part of this job.
I entered the department and quite stealthly walked into the aisle right next to her. I positioned myself under a ceiling mirror to observe her actions. The first thing I notice with this overhead view, was the fact that the back pack was unzipped. I was confident she was about to put the items right into the back pack...when she was interrupted by a shopper entering her aisle. She quickly gathers her items and walks out of the aisle. I follow from a distance and saw she was entering the stairwell leading to the employee locker room and bathrooms. I watched the stairs until she finally comes back down, minus the back pack, but plus a shiny silver wristwatch on her left wrist. She reports directly to a register she assigned to for the next five hours. Gave me time to sit in the office and review some video to see what she had done while I was in the office feeling shitty about my job.
It only took a few minutes for me to decide to go upstairs and check her bag. I grabbed up an assistant manager and told her I had to check an employees bag, and she willingly followed me up the stairs. We perused the locker room and found no back pack. We walked around the lounge outside the ladies room...still no back pack. As we stood bewilidered in the empty locker room, we heard footsteps coming up the stairs. We quickly stepped out of the locker room and into the lounge across the hall outside the men's room. The footsteps reached the top of the stairs and entered the ladies room. The manager and I stood wondering where she could have put the back pack when I realized I was staring at a couch that appeared to be desheveled, as much as a couch can. At one end, pushed against a wall, there was a pile of coats with pillows on top of the pile. I pulled the pile apart and found nothing underneath it. As a last ditch effort, I pulled the couch away from the wall and peeked down the side. Sure enough, something was on the floor shining up at me.
I reached down and pulled up an empty wrist watch box, which still had the tags on it. I glanced back down at the floor, and saw a strap sticking out from under the couch. Reaching down and pulling on the strap, I ended up pulling up the red and black back pack I saw the new employee wearing. With the assistant manager witnessing my actions, I opened the bag to discover two pairs of shoes, two pairs of paintball gloves, and a paintball holder. I tucked everything back into the bag, and tried to hide it again exactly like she had done. I tidied up the couch and threw the pile on top as I had found it.
I found the Store Manager and advised him he would be losing a cashier by the end of the day. Surprisingly, he was okay with that, and went back to work.
I checked to see when her break was scheduled so I could watch for any attempts to take the bag to the parking lot. My plan was to treat her like any other shoplifter if she was going out the door with it. Well her break came a few hours later. I was planted right at the front door to see which way she went. Instead of signing out and heading for the lounge, she slowly perused the store as if she was shopping. I stayed by the front of the store and kept an eye on her movement so she didnt notice me following her. I watched as she entered the soap aisle, the shampoo aisle and then
walked to the back of the store carrying her selections. A little while later, she reappears at her register empty handed, to finish her shift.
I snuck back upstairs and found that she had moved the back pack, but not very far. I found it, opened it, and noticed right away she had added items to the bag. My shoplifting dollar value just increased, and I was willing to allow her to keep this up all night if she wanted to.
I knew she wouldn't leave her post until the end of the shift, but just in case, I told her Supervisor to call me if anyone's schedule suddenly changed during the shift. I had a few hours to kill so I started the paperwork I am usually stuck with after the apprehensions. I went into the computer to get her personal info for the report and got quite the shocking surprise.
I read her name, and started writing it on the theft report. As I was writing the last name, it started sounding and looking familiar. I gave it a minute, looked at her address and I stood straight up out of my chair, opened my office door and immediately searched out the Store Manager.
"Are you kidding me? Are you ready for this? This is unbelievable."
I couldn't even get the words out fast enough before I was on to the next thought.
"Would you believe the girl stealing from you today is the sister of the guy who maced me a few months ago? How is it we can hire the sister of a convicted shoplifter, who maces me, and I am not told about it?"
Well, he was as shocked as I was...sort of. I returned to the office, shook it off, and just became more determined to make this apprehension than before. I contacted the Police Department and advised them I was going to be stopping an employee with a bag of stolen merchandise, and as a side note, she's related to the "Mad Macer of 2009". Since I wasn't sure how trained she was in macing, I asked an officer to be nearby at the end of her shift, and they agreed to have someone in the parking lot.
So, her shift finally came to an end. I stood behind the jewelry counter and waited for what seemed like an hour for her to go retrieve the bag, then come back don to leave. Just to make it more suspenseful, she had to stop and select two gallons of laundry detergent and take it to the front desk to be rung up. Finally, with her back pack over her shoulder, she made the move to the front door. I quickly hustled from the jewelry counter to the door and met her inside the vestibule.
When I asked to see what's inside the bag, she refused, saying there was personal belongings inside. I then recited what I had already seen inside the bag and she still refused. She denied stealing anything. I then asked about the watch which was still in plain sight, and she said she bought it a few days ago. I was starting to think I was giving her too much time to think about how to react, so I then gave her one more chance at giving me her bag. When she refused again, I invited her outside. Once on the sidewalk, I could see a police car to the right of me, a police car to the left of me, and another across the lot from me. I gave her one more chance to cooperate, and once she refused again, I simply raised my hand and gave a quick wave which resulted in four police officers surrounding us in an instant. They advised her that if we didn't see inside the bag as asked, she would be placed under arrest. This convinced her to drop the bag.
This episode is wrapped up with a quick inventory of her bag. Inside we found two pairs of shoes, a paintball holder, two pairs of paintball gloves, three vacuum cleaner belts, two 3-packs of Irish Spring soap, shampoo, two skin care products, and the winner of the most randomly selected item is...an iron!
Total value of the contents of the back pack, plus the watch...$140.00.
Needless to say, she was arrested anyway. Unfortunately, we were already outside so we didn't get to enjoy her walk of shame through the store, but I was just glad I escaped without that feeling of my skin burning off.
Tomorrow: Part Two: Sunday.
I was sitting in my office trying to be disgruntled about not getting a raise and/or promotion I had been recommended for, but the fact that I simply had a paying job kept interrupting my efforts, when out of the corner of my eye, I notice a new employee entering the store wearing a back pack. She walks out of the camera view and I go back to wondering if I should sign on to the various job search websites on my work computer.
A few minutes later, on a different camera monitor, I see the same girl entering the Hardware Department, carrying a pair of gloves, and two pairs of shoes. She walked to the rear corner of the store, placed them down on an empty counter, then walked to each end of the aisle, obviously looking for anyone in the area. With so many red flags waving at me, I left my office and forced myself to do the fun part of this job.
I entered the department and quite stealthly walked into the aisle right next to her. I positioned myself under a ceiling mirror to observe her actions. The first thing I notice with this overhead view, was the fact that the back pack was unzipped. I was confident she was about to put the items right into the back pack...when she was interrupted by a shopper entering her aisle. She quickly gathers her items and walks out of the aisle. I follow from a distance and saw she was entering the stairwell leading to the employee locker room and bathrooms. I watched the stairs until she finally comes back down, minus the back pack, but plus a shiny silver wristwatch on her left wrist. She reports directly to a register she assigned to for the next five hours. Gave me time to sit in the office and review some video to see what she had done while I was in the office feeling shitty about my job.
It only took a few minutes for me to decide to go upstairs and check her bag. I grabbed up an assistant manager and told her I had to check an employees bag, and she willingly followed me up the stairs. We perused the locker room and found no back pack. We walked around the lounge outside the ladies room...still no back pack. As we stood bewilidered in the empty locker room, we heard footsteps coming up the stairs. We quickly stepped out of the locker room and into the lounge across the hall outside the men's room. The footsteps reached the top of the stairs and entered the ladies room. The manager and I stood wondering where she could have put the back pack when I realized I was staring at a couch that appeared to be desheveled, as much as a couch can. At one end, pushed against a wall, there was a pile of coats with pillows on top of the pile. I pulled the pile apart and found nothing underneath it. As a last ditch effort, I pulled the couch away from the wall and peeked down the side. Sure enough, something was on the floor shining up at me.
I reached down and pulled up an empty wrist watch box, which still had the tags on it. I glanced back down at the floor, and saw a strap sticking out from under the couch. Reaching down and pulling on the strap, I ended up pulling up the red and black back pack I saw the new employee wearing. With the assistant manager witnessing my actions, I opened the bag to discover two pairs of shoes, two pairs of paintball gloves, and a paintball holder. I tucked everything back into the bag, and tried to hide it again exactly like she had done. I tidied up the couch and threw the pile on top as I had found it.
I found the Store Manager and advised him he would be losing a cashier by the end of the day. Surprisingly, he was okay with that, and went back to work.
I checked to see when her break was scheduled so I could watch for any attempts to take the bag to the parking lot. My plan was to treat her like any other shoplifter if she was going out the door with it. Well her break came a few hours later. I was planted right at the front door to see which way she went. Instead of signing out and heading for the lounge, she slowly perused the store as if she was shopping. I stayed by the front of the store and kept an eye on her movement so she didnt notice me following her. I watched as she entered the soap aisle, the shampoo aisle and then
walked to the back of the store carrying her selections. A little while later, she reappears at her register empty handed, to finish her shift.
I snuck back upstairs and found that she had moved the back pack, but not very far. I found it, opened it, and noticed right away she had added items to the bag. My shoplifting dollar value just increased, and I was willing to allow her to keep this up all night if she wanted to.
I knew she wouldn't leave her post until the end of the shift, but just in case, I told her Supervisor to call me if anyone's schedule suddenly changed during the shift. I had a few hours to kill so I started the paperwork I am usually stuck with after the apprehensions. I went into the computer to get her personal info for the report and got quite the shocking surprise.
I read her name, and started writing it on the theft report. As I was writing the last name, it started sounding and looking familiar. I gave it a minute, looked at her address and I stood straight up out of my chair, opened my office door and immediately searched out the Store Manager.
"Are you kidding me? Are you ready for this? This is unbelievable."
I couldn't even get the words out fast enough before I was on to the next thought.
"Would you believe the girl stealing from you today is the sister of the guy who maced me a few months ago? How is it we can hire the sister of a convicted shoplifter, who maces me, and I am not told about it?"
Well, he was as shocked as I was...sort of. I returned to the office, shook it off, and just became more determined to make this apprehension than before. I contacted the Police Department and advised them I was going to be stopping an employee with a bag of stolen merchandise, and as a side note, she's related to the "Mad Macer of 2009". Since I wasn't sure how trained she was in macing, I asked an officer to be nearby at the end of her shift, and they agreed to have someone in the parking lot.
So, her shift finally came to an end. I stood behind the jewelry counter and waited for what seemed like an hour for her to go retrieve the bag, then come back don to leave. Just to make it more suspenseful, she had to stop and select two gallons of laundry detergent and take it to the front desk to be rung up. Finally, with her back pack over her shoulder, she made the move to the front door. I quickly hustled from the jewelry counter to the door and met her inside the vestibule.
When I asked to see what's inside the bag, she refused, saying there was personal belongings inside. I then recited what I had already seen inside the bag and she still refused. She denied stealing anything. I then asked about the watch which was still in plain sight, and she said she bought it a few days ago. I was starting to think I was giving her too much time to think about how to react, so I then gave her one more chance at giving me her bag. When she refused again, I invited her outside. Once on the sidewalk, I could see a police car to the right of me, a police car to the left of me, and another across the lot from me. I gave her one more chance to cooperate, and once she refused again, I simply raised my hand and gave a quick wave which resulted in four police officers surrounding us in an instant. They advised her that if we didn't see inside the bag as asked, she would be placed under arrest. This convinced her to drop the bag.
This episode is wrapped up with a quick inventory of her bag. Inside we found two pairs of shoes, a paintball holder, two pairs of paintball gloves, three vacuum cleaner belts, two 3-packs of Irish Spring soap, shampoo, two skin care products, and the winner of the most randomly selected item is...an iron!
Total value of the contents of the back pack, plus the watch...$140.00.
Needless to say, she was arrested anyway. Unfortunately, we were already outside so we didn't get to enjoy her walk of shame through the store, but I was just glad I escaped without that feeling of my skin burning off.
Tomorrow: Part Two: Sunday.
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