Quite the Sunday of Work.

Finally. No, you haven't missed anything. It really has been this long since I caught a shoplifter. However, the rest of the time was filled with counting merchandise for three different store inventories, preparing for a compliance inspection, and of course following people around the store until each and everyone of them ended up in a line to pay for the stuff I saw them pick up. Damned honesty is killing this career!

So, today, a nice quiet Sunday right? Yeah well. It starts with an investigation into a missing diamond ring from the jewelry department. It was last seen five days ago, so atleast I do have a starting point. Initially, I look at video. That is alot of video to watch. I then go to a database that shows all transactions done on a specific register. I see no transactions, or purchases made, that fit the description of the missing jewelry. Just before I gave up on the transactions, I noticed one strange event. Someoen did a price check for something that was the same price as the missing ring. I looked further and sure enough, it was the missing ring. And it was done just the night before we discovered it missing. Suddenly, we have narrowed it down. I then go back to the video of the date and time of the price check, and there it is. A fairly new employee holding the missing ring in her hand and scanning it to see how much it cost. She then carries it off camera and returns 10 seconds later empty handed. Hmmmm....

I check the next time she works and it so happens, she was on the schedule for tonight. I settled in for a long night. As I relocated a camera to take in a full view of the jewelry department, the employee calls off sick. Not just for tonight, but for the week. I guess if I knew I was about to be caught stealing a diamond ring, it would make me sick too.

Next we found two empty packages from $70.00 camcorders left in the trash can outside the fitting rooms. I viewed video and watched a girl cut the packages from the hook, carry them in her cart to the fitting rooms, and come out of the fitting rooms with a handbag just a little more filled than when she went in. Ten minutes later, we find the packages... close!

The rest of the day was busy with a crowded store most of the day, several people acting suspicious needed to be watched and followed. Of course a busy day wouldn't be complete if one of my two DVR's didn't crash. This suddenly left me with only half the cameras I started with. I spent several hours moving the lost cameras to a good dvr and eventually finished the shift with no apprehensions, or so I thought.

I left my office with car keys in hand, looking forward to a cold beer. I didn't even say goodbye to anyone, just walked out, got in the car, and began to drive away. For some reason, before I left the property, I thought I would take one lap around the building. As I drove around the last corner before leaving, I noticed two side doors to the garden center wide open. I thought to myself, I need to call the front desk and tell them to close them and set the alarms. I made my last turn, and glanced back toward the open doors. Suddenly, two boys came running out the doors, turned toward the back of the store and ran toward a neighboring rear parking lot. I nanchalantly pulled my Mustang up next to their little running feet.

"Hi there."

Their eyes were popping out of their heads when they realized I saw them.

"Why would you be coming out the back door and not the front doors?"

They both fumbled over their own version of their story. I quickly turned toward the bag they were carrying, and the receipt that was no doubt included. As I suspected, they only paid for two items, yet, they each held bags of candy in their hands, and the bag was still half full. I called the front desk and had the assistant manager meet us outside. We escorted the boys to my office where the parents were called. Soon, I had two embarassed kids, and two pissed off fathers in my office. Information was exchanged, the kids took the walk of shame through the store with dad within arms reach, and again, I walked out the door with my car keys in hand.

Pardon me while I get that beer now.