Consumerist
videos
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video
82-Year-Old Receipt Checker Chases Thief
This security footage from a BJ's Wholesale in Florida shows a man trying to steal two computers, and the store's elderly greeter/receipt-checker giving chase. Almost all the good stuff happens off screen, so you'll have to imagine the awesome karate moves that probably ensued. It's retail crime fighting in action! More » -
lives and times of walmart security guards
Walmart Security Guard Gets Head-butted, Sat On, Peed On
It was a rough day at the office for a Michigan Walmart security guard last week. The Muskegon News reports a guard was physically abused and humiliated as he tried to stop two female shoplifters from making off with some goods that they found priced too high. More » -
theft
Store Theft In The US Jumped 8.8% Last Year
Maybe this is why stores seem to be getting more and more aggressive about shoplifting: CNN says that retail theft in the US jumped 8.8% over the past year, versus only 1.5% in the prior year. But you may be surprised (only if you've never worked retail) to see where most of the theft occurs. More » -
crime
Middle Class Shoplifting To Keep Up Appearances
Shoplifting is up 20% in the UK as choice cuts of meat, fresh fish and fancy cheeses are increasingly getting stolen, mostly by middle-class women from boutique food emporiums and convenience stores More » -
you're a criminal
Never Follow A Security Guard Into The Back Of The Store
Here's some advice for you, the regular customer who doesn't shoplift: never go into the back of a store with a security guard, store manager, rent-a-cop, etc. Never. Someone posted the following story in the Janesville, Wisconsin CraigsList over the weekend. Because the poster cooperated in good faith with the security personnel at her local Menards home store, she had to pay $150 to avoid having the police called on her. More » -
overzealous
Walmart Fires Security Guard For Chasing After Shoplifter Like He's In A Cop Movie
A Florida Walmart has fired one of their security officers for giving chase to a knife-wielding shoplifter who took off running across the store's parking lot. Josh Rutner told the Star-Banner, "I couldn't let him get away. That's wrong." That second sentence may be true, but security guard != officer of the law. More » -
receipts
Home Depot Needs To Check Your Receipt "In Case You Stole Something"
Rather than make up some line about needing to make sure customers receive everything they paid for, Home Depot is now openly treating its customers like shoplifters. More » -
bacon
Shoplifter Shoves 3 Pounds Of Bacon In His Pants
In a case that makes a compelling argument for the use of anti-meat-shoplifting dogs, a man in Mary Esther, Florida was caught when grocery store personnel noticed that he was "looking suspicious." He looked suspicious because of the 48 ounces of bacon he had stuffed in his pants. More » -
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practical
Police Dog Chooses More Delicious Of Two Crimes
A police dog who had lost the scent of an armed robbery suspect located a different crime instead reports Fox News in Boston. The dog led police into a Stop & Shop chasing a masked man who had robbed a nearby Shell station. The dog lost the trail, but did find a homeless man who had shoved a bunch of meat in his pants. More » -
crime
Best Buy Employees Fired For Attempting To Stop Knife-Wielding Shoplifters
If you work at Best Buy, don't tackle any knife-wielding shoplifters or you'll be fired. That's what happened to two Best Buy employees who chased a couple shoplifters who were fleeing with armloads of merchandise towards a waiting car. More » -
bad consumer
The Duct Tape Shoplifters: Coming Soon To A Mall Near You?
Watch out for organized, highly trained teams of shoplifters in your local mall. They aren't small-time operators—they stole $23,000 worth of bras and panties from a West Virginia Victoria's Secret. No, really. More » -
receipt controversy
How NOT To Get Past Fry's Receipt Checkers
The last line of defense against armed robbery at Fry's: receipt checks. Three men loaded up carts with merchandise at a San Diego store, and just headed for the door. More » -
crime
Bad Idea: Confessing To Your $100,000 A Year Shoplifting Habit On National TV
All the clever shoplifting tricks in the world won't save you from yourself if you decide to reveal your secrets on Dr. Phil. Last week a fraud task force raided the home of Laura and Matthew Eaton, who appeared on an episode in November to show the audience how they did it and to say they were going straight. More » -
crime
Whole Foods Fires Employee For Stopping Shoplifter
It must be pretty easy to shoplift at Whole Foods because if any of their employees touch you, they'll be fired. More » -
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shoplifting
As The Economy Sinks, Shoplifting Arrests Soar!
The New York Times says that police departments all over the country are reporting an increase in shoplifting arrests — up to 20%. More » -
overenthusiasm
This Walmart Guard's Loss Prevention Strategy Includes Tackling
Joseph Gregorie, a (former?) Walmart loss prevention officer, is going to make sure nobody steals on his watch, especially not in this economic climate. After seeing a 58-year-old woman stuff several items in her tote bag and head for the exit, he introduced himself. She dropped the bag but continued to leave the store, so he "grabbed [her] in a bear-hug and threw her to the ground," giving the woman a pretty impressive looking black eye in the process. They've both been arrested. More » -
walmart
Wal-Mart Tosses Student In Jail For Trying To Cash Real Money Orders, Then Sends Her A Bill
Nitra Gipson sold her car to pay for her last two semesters at Texas Southern University, where she is studying criminal justice (of all things), and was paid with Wal-Mart Money Orders. When she tried to cash these money orders at her local Wal-Mart she was arrested and charged with felony forgery — even though the money orders were real. More »
