How do Stores Respond to Anonymous Reports of Shoplifting

[calidezert]

This is a different type of situation. An individual I have known for a short time has bragged to me about her" free wardrobe" which is quite extensive from Macys, as she steals from them constantly. She even steals clothes and gives them to her friends. This has been ongoing for years. She is a professional and has a system down, which she claims is "foolproof". (Among other stores mentioned are WalMart and Home Depot) I have anonymously send letters to Macys Corporate in Cincinatti and New York to their Loss Prevention areas advising them of hr name and address and what she has done of the course of many years, and which area she lives in and what stores are most likely affected. This of course was done anonymously, giving only my email address if they have further questions. In your opinion, would this persons name go into a company database that would red flag her to be scrutinized more closely when she goes to shop there again? (She said she hides all the clothes she is stealing, but goes to the register to make one purchase so as to not cause suspicion. I would think this would be something similar to having someone on a "bad check list" so cashiers know not to sell any merchandise to such people if they are paying by check. So..even though this person has not been officially caught, and nothing can be proved, as she has been getting away scott free for years, would giving her information to the store be something that would "red-flag" her name to grill her more closely when she makes her next appearance/purchase. Or is it a violation of her civil rights for them to do that? The amount of merchandise she has successfully stolen would astound you.

[Mr. Knowitall]

It's up to the store to decide what to do with an anonymous letter -- whether they take any action based upon its content, or if they simply place it in the proverbial circular file.

I doubt that an anonymous letter is going to factor into their detection or investigation of a shoplifting incident.