The 'Official' Shoplifting & Retail Fraud Thread

[Heartshock]

well i recently got a job at walmart in the shoe department (not funny) and as our new training system works we do computer courses ill just list it in order i learned it

First off if you see someone acting suspicious your supposed to walk up say hi and ask them if they need help to make them more nervous and let them know we're watching this is called the 5 meter rule (we get that close to you then do it)

If we see you pocket something we personally cant do anything we are told to either go to the phone and call loss prevention (101) tell them what you look like and they watch you they cant do anything if they don't see you do it also another very important thing if loss prevention dosent see you do it but still has suspicion they take down your license plate number and management goes through the tapes.

If loss prevention isnt there (i usually work 4-10 shifts and LPs are gone 8-10 o clock) we call a duty manager and they follow you in the store trying to see you do it

lastly if a customer goes through the sensor things and they beep the greeter stops you and checks your bags and reciepts if a customer reveals something they have hidden we can do nothing but ask them if they would like to purchase it as they are still in the store

that's all i have for now ill see if i can get a booklet or try and get the program itself next time i work also this applies to walmart only i dont know about any other retail chains.

PS:Sorry for the bad punctuation and what not im in a rush ill clean it up sometime tommorow if i can.

[FPSee]

Gone Done !!!

[Heartshock]

we cant chase you down but were supposed to follow you and get your plate numbers LP's can chase but their off for the last 2 hours here when most of the thefts are although keep in mind we work at walmart for shitty wage and shitty hours do you really think i care about you stealing i focus more on what im stealing while working.

[bloodlusta]

Originally Posted by Heartshock

keep in mind we work at walmart for shitty wage and shitty hours do you really think i care about you stealing i focus more on what im stealing while working.

This is something a always mention and people need to remeber. Most staff don't care because its no skin off their back and it just means extra trouble for them

[LetItBe]

Originally Posted by Heartshock

we cant chase you down but were supposed to follow you and get your plate numbers LP's can chase but their off for the last 2 hours here when most of the thefts are although keep in mind we work at walmart for shitty wage and shitty hours do you really think i care about you stealing i focus more on what im stealing while working.

How often do employees go and write down a license plate number?

I went to wal-mart with some friends and we grabbed big loaves of bread, cheese, a 12 pack of dew, a cheesecake and some other stuff and just walked straight out with it. Nobody said anything and nobody chased us.

[pcypoon]

When I noticed the LP following me and my buddy. I was in a mall, and I noticed the same guy in Wal-mart, and the same guy in a bunch of other stores. So my buddy got suspicious, so we decided to run for it. It was LP from either a small store I stole from (which is im probable) or Wal-mart. Maybe my buddy was paranoid. But we made a run for it. We stole over 600 dollars worth of medecine, so we didn't want to risk getting convicted of a indictable offense.
Heartshock, if you can get your hands on the rules of engagement, can you post it up?

[Heartshock]

Still working on it its hard to get into the training room if no ones in there

[FPSee]

Gone Done !!!

[pcypoon]

Originally Posted by FPSee

what is the point of them taking down your license plate? so they can be alert if they see your license plate in the parking lot? or they literally track you down or the police?

Yes, if they have adequate proof that you stole something, they would contact the police, and the police would come knocking on your door for restitution or if they plan to place charges.

I'm a former restaurant owner, and when people run and not pay, and we get the license plate number. We call the police (in Canada) file a report, and they'll go get the money for us. We don't place charges because it ain't worth going to court.

[FPSee]

Gone Done !!!

[pcypoon]

This is how you steal 23 Macbook Pros,14 iPhones, and 9 iPods In 31 Seconds, absolutely amazing grab and run.

hxxp://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/video?id=6996090

[FPSee]

Gone Done !!!

[Misanthropy]

Originally Posted by the_phucking_king

one time i was baked outa my mind and i was starving.
i walked into a jolly farmer and gabed 10 of those oatmeal cookie boxes.theres like 10 in a box and i grabed like 10 of them and walked out and didnt get caught.i still to this day dont know why i got away with it.

Probably because nobody gives a shit about shitty cookies. lol

[pcypoon]

Originally Posted by FPSee

but i thought their laptops had some sort of metal cable hooked up the laptops to prevent these things from happening?

Apple doesn't like the idea/look of the kensington lock. So they only have the power cable hooked onto it and those can be pulled right out easily. I believe that some stores have the alarmed hooked up to the Ethernet, or USB. But there is no physical deterrent other than the security guard and the locked glass door.

[ZBurton]

I don't usually lift anything, I usually lift 5-6 packs of Wrigley's 5 gum at a time from my local supermarket and sell for 50 cents a piece at school. (12 pieces per pack - $6 a pack - $36 at once.

I use this to buy whatever I feel needing, but I have started to lift other things.
I gotten 3 xbox 360 games so far. At the store I lift at, for most preowned games they leave the game still in the case, but wrapped in plastic. I Just grab it off the shelf and walk around to where the display model of guitar hero is, and I pretend to watch while slowly slitting the plastic with my key.
I'm going tomorow to buy a game and maybe take another, as they have a sale on now and theres a box thing with dozens of preowned games in it.

[pcypoon]

Originally Posted by ZBurton

I'm going tomorow to buy a game and maybe take another, as they have a sale on now and theres a box thing with dozens of preowned games in it.

They might catch on sooner or later, I wouldn't reccomend lifting from the same store over and over again. You shouldn't step in that store for a while, you should go to another store. Just a tip, usually the loss prevention (if your at a big chain) won't arrest you until you take out the merchandise in plain view. I hate the plain clothes, cause they blend in pretty well.

[ZBurton]

Originally Posted by pcypoon

They might catch on sooner or later, I wouldn't reccomend lifting from the same store over and over again. You shouldn't step in that store for a while, you should go to another store. Just a tip, usually the loss prevention (if your at a big chain) won't arrest you until you take out the merchandise in plain view. I hate the plain clothes, cause they blend in pretty well.

Yeah SWIM usually don't go back for a month or more after he does. And as far as SWIM can see, they don't have any plain clothes LPs. SWIM went in once to survey their LP, theres only a uniformed LP at the door who checks bags on the way out. SWIM hasn't seen any people with suspicious radio shaped bulges or no-one that seemed to follow suspicious looking people.

Or they just don't catch on, as I said before, some cases are empty, some have plastic wrap. When SWIM takes the game, he also dumps the plastic behind this shelf (Very tight squeeze, he doesn't think theyll ever find it) then he puts the case back on the shelf, so it looks like it was always there.

SWIM thinks that he was almost caught once, the LP at the door was staring at him for a while, but SWIM was actually on a legit visit. Just bought a game, showed the LP the receipt and cruised the fuck out.

[pcypoon]

Originally Posted by ZBurton

Or they just don't catch on, as I said before, some cases are empty, some have plastic wrap. When SWIM takes the game, he also dumps the plastic behind this shelf (Very tight squeeze, he doesn't think theyll ever find it) then he puts the case back on the shelf, so it looks like it was always there.

To be honest, if I were you I'd switch stores, seems like a large chain by your description. Because it ain't worth getting a misdemeanor on your record. It ain't pretty, eh.

[ZBurton]

Originally Posted by pcypoon

To be honest, if I were you I'd switch stores, seems like a large chain by your description. Because it ain't worth getting a misdemeanor on your record. It ain't pretty, eh.

Yeah SWIM isn't going to be going there for a while. Except maybe for a receipt scam for which I'm 99% sure will work.

[xualse]

Christmas is coming up, and when it's all over and done with it's a great time to shoplift.

Here's just a few (already mentioned in this thread) techniques that are great to use just after xmas time:

*Old skool (take it and go) shoplifting. Watch out for tags.
*Shoe swap - Ask to try on some shoes, then walk out the store wearing your brand new shoes. Again, watch out for tags. If tags are present, either remove them or just give the shoes back and say you'll shop around for the best deal.
*Social engineering - Store employee's aren't thinking straight. They've got a million and one things to keep on top of at christmas time. Other (genuine) customers will be asking questions non-stop. Take advantage of this. I'm sure some social engineering techniques have been discussed earlier on in the thread. Be creative.
*The "I-don't-give-a-fuck" grab 'n' go - Go into a very crowded store and lift as much as you want. Fuck the tags. You don't give a fuck! When you go out there will be a mass of other customers leaving the store. Trust me, no-ones going to bother searching all of those people to find the culprit.

Planning in advance is key to good shoplifting. Start planning your big lifts now.

[bloodlusta]

WRONG!!!

You never shoplift around xmas. Loss prevention is at an all time high. The best time is straight after the xmas, when they have excess stock.

[xualse]

Originally Posted by bloodlusta

WRONG!!!

You never shoplift around xmas. Loss prevention is at an all time high. The best time is straight after the xmas, when they have excess stock.

I was mainly referring to stores that didn't employ loss prevention (I was thinking small-ish stores, crowded), but a good point you make.

For example, shoe stores generally don't employ LP because they usually display only the left or right shoe in any pair of shoes. Also, a lot of small stores cannot afford to employ LP.

A good point about loss prevention is that they're only going to be suspicious if you stuff something in your pocket or act strange. You have to pick up your item and casually "look around" the store. When you're done, leave.

But yeah, you're right about lifting after xmas. I haven't posted in a while and my brain's a little rusty

I'll edit my above post accordingly.

[Blender]

Originally Posted by bloodlusta

WRONG!!!

You never shoplift around xmas. Loss prevention is at an all time high. The best time is straight after the xmas, when they have excess stock.

I disagree. I worked several retail jobs including Wal-mart and Borders Books. Despite all efforts on the stores' part -- more employees, more loss prevention people, etc -- if it's crazy busy you basically have to burst into flames in order to get noticed. Almost every method mentioned so far would work during the holidays so long as you strike fast and strike hard.

I've never been interested in petty theft (like candy bars and Red Bull drinks). If I were ever to shoplift I would only stick to shit I could sell on eBay or otherwise "launder" into hard cash. That's just my personal preference.

At Borders Books it's ridiculously easy to steal...er, hypothetically. And here's how:

Enter the store with a large shopping bag (preferably the big paper bags with squarish bottoms from department stores) folded and stashed somewhere on your person. Grab a shopping basket and go straight to the DVD/Blu-ray box sets which are generally brought out of the glass cases for holiday sale displays. Grab three or four box sets at the most (whatever will fit comfortably in the basket and later your shopping bag). Browse around some more. While browsing remove the security tags. Box sets are shrink-wrapped, so the little security tag is easy to spot and remove. If it's a complicated special edition box that isn't shrink wrapped, the tag is definitely in the package somewhere. Inspect it thoroughly.

Then a final measure of precaution before the getaway. Head over to one of the exits and browse the items near the security gates. Depending on the store layout you might be able to walk through the gate before you get to the doors. For other stores you'll have to make do with passing across the gate entrance as close as possible. If you don't set off the alarm, you're good for the final step.

If you do set off the alarm, you will be approached. But once they see you have a basket full of items they will apologize to you and say something like "oh you just got too close to the security gate, don't worry about it." Head back somewhere else and re-inspect your shit for tags. Or remove difficult items. Test again if necessary. You could get away with setting off the alarm two or three times before anyone is suspicious about it. Remember, employees will see your basket of items. You don't have anything else that needs inspection. They will be annoyed with you, but they will NOT be suspicious. One policy was to ask an annoying customer if they would like us to hold their items up at the register for their convenience (so they could browse by the door and stop setting off the damn alarm). Just say no thanks.

Once you're security tag free, whip out the shopping bag and quickly (but quietly) transfer your haul from the basket to your bag. Customers are so busy doing their thing (or face down in a book) that you will not attract their attention. Even if a customer spots you and goes to tell they will still have to find an employee (it's very busy, remember) and explain the situation. Your transfer shouldn't take more than that amount of time. Pull out the bag. Unfold. Transfer items. Done. Regardless, stay calm and exit the store with your stolen crap. Don't stop to look around some more. If there is a secondary entrance (like by the cafe) use that one instead.

Sell your box sets on eBay for $50-100 each depending on what you grabbed. In this hypothetical scenario I did the deed twice over a couple of weeks and profited around $600. It was a good Christmas. Hypothetically.

Pro Tip #1: Have a list with you like you're doing your holiday shopping. Even ask for a little help at the very beginning. Let the employee see you have a list and perhaps comment on how much shopping you have to get done today. I guarantee you will be off everybody's suspicion radar.

Pro Tip #2: Don't dress like a thug. Where the nicest clothes you have. If you have a suit, wear it. No hoodies. No athletic clothes. No super bulky jackets. Also no backpacks. Look like somebody who doesn't have to steal.

Pro Tip #3: Use a bag from a store located near the Borders store. Obviously there will be many other shoppers with a similar bag and you will blend in that much more.

Pro Tip #4: If the store is very busy, but you get asked if you need help more than once by the same employee, get the fuck out. For some reason they are on to you.

Pro Tip #5: This method will work for books and magazines, too, but I think risk versus reward is too great for anything small. CDs and electronics are actually harder to get. For CDs you have to get those hard plastic jackets off of them. 99% of the people we caught stealing were caught trying to deal with the plastic CD cases. Just download the music. It's not worth it. And for things like headphones there could be (and probably are) multiple security tags tucked deep inside the packaging.

Pro Tip #6: Don't follow a pattern, like wearing the same clothes, stealing at the same time of day, stealing the same items, or even using the same department store bag. These similarities WILL be noticed. Also don't hit a store a bunch of times in the same quarter. Again, your activities WILL be noticed.

[FPSee]

Originally Posted by Blender

Enter the store with a large shopping bag (preferably the big paper bags with squarish bottoms from department stores) folded and stashed somewhere on your person. Grab a shopping basket and go straight to the DVD/Blu-ray box sets which are generally brought out of the glass cases for holiday sale displays. Grab three or four box sets at the most (whatever will fit comfortably in the basket and later your shopping bag). Browse around some more. While browsing remove the security tags. Box sets are shrink-wrapped, so the little security tag is easy to spot and remove. If it's a complicated special edition box that isn't shrink wrapped, the tag is definitely in the package somewhere. Inspect it thoroughly.

but doesnt MOST DVD/CD cases have the metal strip INSIDE the case?

[bloodlusta]

Na they use a sticker with a magnetic spiral on it (not ask me what it is called or how it works I just know its a bitch to get off).

This thread is starting to loop, the same advice being given out time and time again.

[Husky]

I got coaught lifting yesterday, shit fell outta my pockets

[pcypoon]

Originally Posted by Husky

I got coaught lifting yesterday, shit fell outta my pockets

Did you get charged?

[Husky]

Originally Posted by pcypoon

Did you get charged?

Nah, I took off outta the place. Being 13and looking 16 sucks ass :P

[Call_Me_Bitches]

((information only of course)))
SWAP PART RETURNS

Buy an item WITH CASH if possible that has nice valuable parts
go home and enjoy, swap good parts with similar lesser or bad parts then
decide the item is broken
return item while employee doesn't really search the box (if at all.)
Get your CASH back & have better valuable parts. (or parts that work again)

works best for same spec parts. The more valuable the item, the more the risk of course. so play it low if possible. Learn how to fix ipods and maybe try fixing your broken ipod with a fresh toolkit of working ipod parts from the store (another one)..then the store bought ipod stops working cause it's got your happy stuff inside it


with computers:
Laptop Adapter (if it'll work)
Laptop Battery (if it'll work)
CPU (hell, just take it and put the fan back on)
Hard drive (just don't replace it with 'your' drive dummy unless you shatter the platters inside or similar or replace with someone else's broken drive)
Ram - maybe replace with your crappier Ram
Power Supply swap
Disk Drive swap


Basically, you need to complete the illusion - the serial numbers on parts usually don't matter in returns.

Rejoice and Take Care


I don't like when they ask for personal info even when you use CASH - try to know ahead if the store asks at all.

Remember, don't over-do it. Regularly returning items to the same store is too suspicious.


Some brave people just strip a part out and return it clean as a wistle, but you gotta know the plan before hand yeah. (cough! CPU! cough!)

[hatstalker]

Hi guys, so ive been lurking around the forum for about a year now and this is the thread ive been watching, some amazing tips here.
my biggest lift was from a small shop in a mini mall over here in England.
now im sure you have heard of warhammer the little miniatures, well i stole i think about £200 worth from this store , it was so funny because i walked straight out of the back door
i think £200 is roughly $310.