Another Learning Experience

When this occurred all I wanted to do was grab a snack and head to my office for a break. I strolled through the pantry and turned toward the Health and Beauty Department. As I walked closer to the aspirin, tylenol aisle, I heard young voices from the other side of the shelf. I stopped, took two steps back and peeked up into the mirror above. There I saw a guy and a girl, maybe high school age, standing face to face, the guy looking down the aisle over the girl's shoulder. Within thirty seconds, I observe the girl reach into the shelf and retrieve a box of Advil, pull the bottle out of the box, throw the box back on the shelf, and nonchalantly drop the bottle into her open handbag before they both slowly walk away. As they left the aisle, I entered it from the opposite end. I located and collected the empty box of Advil and stuffed it into my back pocket. My other hand was already dialing the front desk.

"Send the manager to the Health aisle for me please...i'm following someone."

A minute later the Assistant Manager approached. She was a middle aged woman who stood all of five feet tall. I pulled the Advil box out of my pocket and handed it to her as I kept one eye on the mirrors above. I advised her in shorthand that I had this girl dropping Advil inot her bag and I was still following them. The Assistant Manager then hustled off to wait by the front door to asssist me as a witness.


I then began the cat and mouse game that following a shoplifter really is, by mirroring their every move. If they are walking up an aisle, I am in the aisle next to them walking down. If they turn left at the end of the aisle, I turn right at the opposite end. All the while, keeping them in my sights by using the ceiling tiles. More importantly, staying out of their sights. Only occasionally will I need to be seen before I actually approach them at the front door.

This game goes on seemingly forever, which is typical for the regular shoplifter. They become so nervous and anxious, they take forever to actually leave the store. Some times it's just because they aren't sure they re going to do it, other times they want to make certain they are not being followed.

These kids were a little of both. They slowly meandered throughout the store walking through many different departments. It has been my experience as a former high school kid, if I went to a store to get something, I went to that department, then left that department and paid for it. I couldn't get out of the store fast enough. These kids seemed to be without a true plan. They were just walking around aimlessly. This was beginning to bug me, and my empty stomach. However, since she was able to drop merchandise into her open handbag so easily, I didn't want to let her out of my sight in case she got another urge.

After this young couple found their way to the patio furniture display, and spent some time test riding the swing seat, they wound their way toward the front door. I tried to keep up with their movements but lost them in the middle of the store. I then switched aisles and ran right into them, with the girl looking right at me. Two minutes later she turns the corner and heads toward the front of the store, but suddenly looked behind her as I was crossing her aisle. Spotted once again. Just before leaving the store they met up with a second young lady who might have been about a minute older than the one I was following.

I waved for the Assistant Manager to come back to me, as I saw the trio hovering around the displays near the service desk.

"Not sure if they made me or not..."

"Can I ask her to show me what's in her bag?" she was short but aggressive! I saw them start for the exit as my mind raced.

"Yeah go do that! See what she says...just ask her!"

The trio was walking through the vestibule as the Assistant Manager hustled out behind them. I walked to the doors to watch while keeping my distance. I watched as the manager approached the three kids walking across the lot. I saw the girl take her bag off her shoulder and the manager pulled it open. Immediately she turned back toward the door, and had her hand on the girl's forearm, guiding her back inside. Just then, the guy grabbed the manager's arm and I see a brief push and pull between the two.

"Hey! Don't you touch her!" I yelled loudly bounding out the doors. I wanted to make it sound like I was closer than I really was. He jumped back away hearing my voice. As I crossed the lot, the manager broke away from the boy and pulled the girl toward the store.

"You take her inside!" I yelled passing the manager as I continued to walk up to the boy, "you, don't you ever touch one of my employees again," when I took ownership of the store employees I'm not sure, but it was working for me, "and never put your hands on a female like that, do you understand?" I was still yelling but I was now close enough to count how many cavities he had in his gaping mouth. The second girl now came around from the other side of her car.

"What the hell is going on here?" she said with her arms wide open.

"I work here in Loss Prevention, are you related to her?" I asked pointing to the manager escorting the female bandit back through the doors.

"We're sisters! What's wrong?"

"Are you eighteen?" I give no time of day to anyone not responsible for the shoplifter.

"I am 19, what's going on?"

"Then you can come in with her, you stay out here," I said pointing to the guy.

We walked back toward the store and the boy just wouldn't shut up. He thought I wanted to hear what his opinion was about what was going on. He was wrong.

"Listen, keep your mouth shut for a few minutes or you really will be inside with her." He turned away finally, shaking his head.

I stopped half way to the office and explained what I had seen the sister do. I asked if she had any idea what the other couple was up to and she said no. I had no reason not to believe her so we moved on.

Inside the office, the tears had already begun. I heard how she had never done anything like this before, how stupid it was, how she will pay for everything she took, etc etc. Finally she began apologizing for "her friend" outside.

Taking a look inside the handbag, I realized I had just caught the end of her shopping spree. Besides Advil, I found several cosmetics, fragrances and candy. All items well worth risking a criminal record for. I had the older sister call home so I could notify the parents of their daughter's day at the store. As so often happens with a juvenile shoplifter, the "parents didn't pick up." Not a problem, they soon will learn, the parents picking up was the better option. I then pick up my phone and call someone else who will be glad to give them a ride...the police department.

Minutes later I have two police officers standing at my office door, and the tears begin all over again. I jump up and step out to talk to the officers before they talk to my crying bandit. I explained quickly about the boyfriend and his grabbing and shoving outside as we apprehended the girl.

"Really?" the Sergeant asked. "where is he, we'll take care of him first if he's here."

I started wlaking them back to the front door when we turned the corner and were face to face with the boy walking through the store looking for his girl.

"Oh, this is him right here."

"Dude, turn around, hands out of your pockets, spread your legs, hands behind your head..." the Sergeant rattled off orders to the boy who tried to keep up with each one. "Right now you're under arrest for Robbery..."

I was shocked to hear the words coming from the officer's mouth. Robbery? This kid? Did the officer misunderstand something I said? Just then the officer added, as if reading my mind...

"Any time there is any show of force in the commission of a theft, it automatically becomes Robbery... did you grab somebody, or push somebody?"

"I didn't know what was going on!" That was interpreted as "yes" and the boy was led off in cuffs to an awaiting police car.

A few minutes later the crying girl was also led through the store in handcuffs. For her efforts she was handed a Retail Theft charge and eventually the boyfriend was charged with only Disorderly Conduct.

If nothing else it was quite the learning experience, for all of us. The boy learned what it feels like to be so close to being jailed for Robbery; the crying bandit learned not to listen to everything the boyfriend wants her to do; I learned how easy it will be to upgrade the charges on those who want to get physical on their way out the door and the Assistant Manager learned to think before she approaches a shoplifter for me the next time.