#retail theft

[thegoodmorningman]

So you say we can just HAVE all of these retail goods?

[nando161mando]

Your daily reminder that wage theft is way bigger than retail theft

[bunnyhugs22]

[unaffiliatedpangolin]

I would go out of my way to patronize a business that kills or prosecutes criminals over one that lets people steal and has a ‘No pursuit’ policy.

If you buy from the lib store that welcomes criminals you pay more to subsidize the losses from the theft. As in, you are paying for the merchandise that gets stolen.

[c00kieknight]

I'm really feeling the whole 'if you're going to steal something please take the whole thing', I work at a store that sells window hardware -nothing we sell could be considered an essential item- and someone tore open several packs of rods and stole the hardware from them, making them pretty much usless. Meanwhile, WE SELL THE HARDWARE INDIVIDUALLY (for replacements). This guy ruined stock when he could have just pocketed a few bags smaller than a fist! Seriously???

[the-moons-secret-sideshow]

Work Story From a Few Days Ago

I have Anxiety with Panic, diagnosed about 2 years ago and I have semi-severe panic attacks on a fairly regular basis at my retail job. Normally I can think my way out of them if I know what triggered it, I can rationalize my emotions and make it through the day.

About a month ago I was at work for maybe 20 minutes, nothing had happened, no triggers had gone off, I'd barely had time to talk to anyone, coworker or customer when all of a sudden I feel That Feeling™ that means I'm about to melt down.

I know I need to tell someone cause I don't want someone to stumble upon me having a freak-out so I go to a manager and basically say "I'm having an unprompted panic attack and I need some time to not do anything." To be fair to her she was fairly compassionate, as compassionate as you can allow yourself to be when you're working a demanding retail manager job I imagine. She told me to find a spot to sit down and get a glass of water from the water cooler, so I do that and in about five minutes I'm still jittery but well enough to go back to work.

This happens around once a month, more frequently during busy times like sales and holidays. I'm honestly lucky that I have a manager who understands, she's a middle-aged woman who was recently diagnosed with ADHD herself (a condition we share) and she's very compassionate toward me and encourages me often to reach out to her and other managers when I'm having those kinds of days. But it's still hard sometimes.

The story this post is actually about:

Last week I was working in the electronics section when some guy comes up behind me and attempts to swipe an expensive item from a box I brought to the floor. At this time I am still not completely sure whether he was able to steal it or not. I talked to security and the view from the cameras isn't good enough to determine if he got it or not either. When I say this guy was Right Behind me, I mean he was less than a foot away, if I had reached out I would have touched him.

Regardless he doesn't stick around for me to ask so I call a security guard over and give him the guy's description. They do a big song and dance trailing him through the store but long story short the guy leaves and they don't stop him. Don't ask me why, they just didn't have the right to and that's all I know. (This also isn't me condemning corporate theft but that's a conversation for a different post)

This is not the first theft incident I've been involved in at this store. On my second day less than 48 hours into my employment a different guy manages to steal 2 $1K tablets. So this is strike 2 on my record. I know how the corporate machine works, I've been fired for less before, so That Feeling™ starts creeping up my throat and I start feeling nauseous and light-headed. Acid in the back of my throat, heart pounding, cold sweat because if I lose this job, I won't make rent. It took me 10 months to get this job and I need to make enough to cover my expenses in the next two weeks.

At this point my coworkers are understandably concerned. They're trying to reassure me by saying things like "You do good work here!" "It wasn't your fault!" and the problem is I Know. I Know it wasn't my fault. I Know I do good work here, I Know all of that, but that does not mean that Corporate workers are going to care. And at one point I look at them, tears crawling up my throat and I whimper a pathetic "I can't lose this job." before promptly bursting into hot tears.

I start panicking but I need to keep doing my job, so I do my best while actively crying to work more product to the floor until the manager that spoke with me about the incident finds me in the back room (I'd calmed down a bit by now) and basically says "look the higher-ups are going to have to talk to you, but they're not going to fire you over this. You're not going to be fired tomorrow."

And I know she was trying to be reassuring. I know. Just like my coworkers were trying to be reassuring, but I Am Not Worried About Losing My Job Tomorrow. I know this is not the final strike, but regardless of when it happens, this incident means I am One Step Closer to losing my job. I tell this to my manager as she's trying to reassure me and it basically stops her in her tracks, because what can she say? 'No, that's not true?' she can't say that, cause that's a lie.

Obviously I'm still not 100% over this incident, but I've had enough time between it happening and now that I can put my thoughts more effectively into words and... I guess I'm asking for comradery maybe? If there's any to be had?

I know Retail Job Hard isn't exactly news-worthy but I've been dealing with this problem for a long time at multiple jobs (I have some nice stories about my gas station manager who heard some fucked up shit from me and was really chill about it) so if there's anyone out there who has advice on... maybe how to deal with anxiety or panic attacks at work, I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who thinks they could help.

[johncory9mm]

Looks like Californians are fed up with the mobs looting stores.

[tabuktrading]

5 Ways to Curb Retail Theft in your Store

1. Enhanced SurveillanceStrategic Camera PlacementMonitor Footage RegularlyVisible Deterrent2. Employee Training and AwarenessAnti-Theft TrainingCustomer Service EmphasisOpen Communication3. Store Layout and MerchandisingClear AislesHigh-Theft Item PlacementPoint-of-Purchase Displays4. Inventory ManagementRegular Stock ChecksLoss Prevention SoftwareEmployee Accountability5. Security…

[marlenawatches]

Pizza Hut is LYING: They're NOT Firing Their Drivers Because of a Minimu...

DINGDINGDING

[idroolinmysleep]

What used to be an open, welcoming store—filled with stands stocked with yogurt and fruits, rows of chips, and walls of beverages—has been shrunk down to a boxy room partitioned off from the rest of the store. Instead of grabbing the goods yourself, customers must now use the touchpads designated for made-to-order food to also “shop the store.” … [A] Wawa spokesperson told the Philadelphia Inquirer that “this will allow busy customers to place their orders and get their purchases faster than ever—fulfilled by friendly Wawa associates.” But there’s a chance this could also be part of an anti-theft effort; a cashier allegedly said as much to McDowell, the user who posted that dystopian-ass Wawa photo that caught my attention.

The article’s thrust is about how design trends are making every place homogeneous, but I found this last bit interesting. In the old days, you’d walk into a general store, tell the clerk what you wanted, and then he’d fetch the items from behind the counter. Supermarkets and their open shelves revolutionized shopping, but I wonder if recent concerns about retail theft may be pushing store design back that way.

[forkpitchfood]

Food Week November 3

Welcome to Food Week for November 3 2023. I’m here to disabuse you of notions. Like it’s the farmers who make you turn back the clocks. Or that food prices keep going up. How about that retail theft is causing store closures. Or that there are only 5 basic flavors (6? 7?). Maybe that skinny guys don’t know about food. Or that fried rice is safe and baked beans are lame. Rock your world!…

[dreas-journalistic-journey]

Journal #11- Oct. 11, 2023

Happy Wednesday!

I am still currently working with Ms. Schiavo and Ms. Altan to determine whether I should proceed with my original West Contra Costa County retail theft article.

The Pinole Police Department responded to a public records request I had made, but did not specify which arrests in the past three years could be directly attributed to retail theft, due to the limitations of their record system.

Stay tuned for further details!

[qupritsuvwix]

I have experienced this when I worked for 7-11.

[qands]

TheStreet

Walmart makes a first-ever change to prevent crimes in superstore Sep 9, 2023 at 10:57 AM TheStreet While the Howell Mill Road Walmart will remain permanently closed, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the former Vine City Supercenter will reopen with a pharmacy, grocery store, and police station to help combat crime and better serve the neighborhood. The previous Supercenter did not have this feature. *emphasis added

[irreplaceable-spark]

The Surge of Shoplifting: Why Police Can't Take Action | Evette Ingram

Siyamak sits down with Evette Ingram, who had to shut down her beauty stores in Los Angeles due to an increase in retail theft. "You used to see teenagers shoplifting. And now I see people from all walks of life shoplifting. People from all walks of life are breaking into my stores. From young to old. It definitely became more brazen."