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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    5

    Default Stopped but didn't steal

    Wow, I'm glad I can ask a real LP guy this question:

    My local Meijer in the Chicago area is notorious for this, whatever they have that deactivates those sensors in CDs and DVDs doesn't work right. So, twice I was stopped at the door and had by bags searched and told to go on my way. The third time, I'd had enough, kept walking, and loss prevention chased me out to the parking lot. All my merchadise was paid for, but they insinuated that the police could be called because I didn't stop at their beeping door. I offered to call them myself to talk about why they wouldn't let me into my car when I hadn't done anything, but they didn't seem to keen on it when I called their bluff.

    Needless to say, I'm done shopping there, but what's your take on this? I thought to detain you had to at least have an idea of what I took and where I concealed it to stop me.

    Don't get me wrong, I worked in retail for years and I know theft if a HUGE problem that costs me money, but when they chase innocent people into the parking lot who haven't done anything, they are both losing customers and depending on the circumstances falsely detaining which could get them into trouble it would seem.

    Thanks for giving me your insight.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Seattle, Wa.
    Posts
    529

    Default

    You're right, LP has to see the selection, concealment and the person leave without payment. All the time NEVER losing sight of the person from start to finish. It shows you how mindless some LP's get with a sensor system, they can ask you to open your bags but if you refuse, they can't do a whole lot.....well they're not supposed to anyway. There was an office supply store down the mall from a store I worked in, we had sensors the other place didn't. We'd get all their tagged merchandise setting off our system, they didn't have the alarm at their doors.....made a lot of folks mad. My take, call their corp. office and voice your concerns and let them know you won't be shopping there again.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Thanks, Paul. I aprreciate your response.
    I did, in fact, send a message through their website of exactly what happened including date, time, receipt number, employee names, and I got a stock response that they want all their customers to be happy and the store manager would be contacting me directly, but I never heard another word.
    Just re-affirmed my decision not to shop there anymore.

    From reading this board I definitely see the need to beef up security, but I'd be curious, from your experience, what percentage of sensor alarms are shoplifters trying to get out with merchandise and what percentage are honest customers being embarassed and inconvenienced?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Seattle, Wa.
    Posts
    529

    Default

    Only the stupid ones leave the tags on while stealing or grab 'n runs. Most times it's a failure of the selling associate to remove the tag by not paying attention or an item is double tagged by mistake. Generally customers are OK with it once they get over the sudden looks and alarm. If they are in a hurry or just in a bad mood, well it goes south from there.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    121

    Default

    We do not have sensors on our merchandise at the store I work LP at so I don't know how this is usually handled, however, I know that your bags cannot be searched unless you volunteer or if they have "probable cause". To me setting off the sensor is pretty darn good probable cause...It's like if you were to set off the metal detector at the airport and refused to be searched...It doesn't work that way. Seems that they had every right to go through your bags whether you volunteered or if it were by force. Now, if they did not have sensors or you did not set them off, then yes they deffinately have to see every move that you make before they can stop you.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    5

    Default

    But as Paul said, "Most times it's a failure of the selling associate to remove the tag by not paying attention or an item is double tagged by mistake."
    That's probable cause the store employees are imcompetent, not probable cause of theft.
    I don't see the airport parallel. I have the expectation of having any and all of my belongings searched at an airport, not at the local grocery store. The TSA isn't looking to see if I stole anything, and the store security isn't regulated by the federal government.

    You do, by the way, have every right to refuse search at an airport. They won't let you past security, but that's your choice.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    121

    Default

    If the store couldn't search people when the alarms went off, then they would not have the systems in the first place. What is the point? I highly doubt they deter much at all and I don't see the slight deterrence the reason for installing these systems that cost the store thousands to install...It is not cost effective to spend thousands of dollars on a system that won't save you more than that, however, if you can use the system to not only deter, but also to recover merchandise, then it would be cost effective. And the airport is a good parallel, because it's the same concept; no people don't look at it the same, but as far as the law is concerned it's still the same concept.

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