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Shoplifting

felony forgery

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 »

receipt checking controversy

Wal-Mart Reports You To The Police For Not Allowing Them To Check Your Receipt

The epic conflict between shoppers and receipt checkers continues! Reader Michael was unwilling to wait in line to have his cart searched, prompting Wal-Mart to threaten to file a police report as they wrote down his license place... More »

crime

Crazy Multi-million Dollar Shoplifting Ring Busted In California

The San Jose police have busted a multi-million dollar shoplifting ring that was paying gangs of shoplifters to collect razor blades, Oil of Olay, Pepcid AC and other products that they would then repackage and sell all over the US — and in some cases the products ended up being sold right back to the chains from which they were shoplifted. More »

store policies

Target Fires Security Guard For Stopping Shoplifter

Usually our shoplifter stories focus on being detained illegally or held at knifepoint by a rabid senior greeter who demands receipts*, but Target in Milwaukee toes the line when it comes to dealing with suspected theft. That's why they fired a retired cop (warning: video) who stopped a teenager he saw stealing liquor for the second time in a month. He told her he'd seen her take rum a few weeks before and asked her what was in her bag this time. She showed him. He called her father. Target fired him because the store policy is that only certain managers can intercept shoplifters. We admire his attention to detail and desire to help, but we're glad to see a Big Box retailer following its own policy. More »

shoplifting

Suspected Hat Stealer Drops Dead In Macy's

Last Thursday, a 400-pound man in his early thirties was confronted at a Macy's in Oakland, California, and accused of shoplifting a hat from the men's department. According to CBS News in San Francisco, "Security officers at the mall then attempted to arrest and detain Gomes, who allegedly resisted and assaulted security personnel, according to police." The police were called, but on their way to the mall they received a follow-up report that the man had become unresponsive. He died later that evening at a hospital. More »

receipt controversy

Detained And Harassed At Walmart For Not Showing A Receipt

Reader J was detained and harassed by some Walmart employees on his way out of the store the other day. J had already put his receipt inside his wallet after purchasing a $25 shower rack when a Walmart employee demanded to see his receipt. J declined and continued exiting the store. That's when things got weird. First, he was grabbed by a Walmart employee, then another customer started pushing him back inside the store.

Yesterday (2-28-08) late afternoon I bought a $25 shower rack at the Wal-mart in [redacted] New Hampshire, and then tucked the receipt safely inside my wallet so I wouldn't lose it in case I had to return the item. The cashier did not bag the shower rack, so after I was done at the register I picked up my item and headed for the door. As I was approaching the door, the receipt checker Bob said, "Do you have your receipt?" To which I responded, "Yes, it's in my wallet" and I kept walking towards the door. Behind me, I could hear him yell "Sir! Sir! I need to see your receipt!", but being an avid Consumerist reader, I knew I didn't need to stop, so I kept walking. Bob ran up in front of me and stood between the slider doors, blocking my exit and budging me back inside. Appalled that the Wal-mart employee had just touched me, I said "excuse me", but Bob refused to budge, demanding again to see my receipt. I attempted to walk around him, but he kept stepping in front of me, and I would bounce off of him. Now, I was bigger than Bob, but I didn't wish to get physical and blow the situation out of proportion.
More »

shoplifting

Home Depot, Lord & Taylor, Walmart Hire Law Firms To Harass, Bully Alleged Shoplifters

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article about retailers who hire law firms to engage in something called "civil recovery," in which alleged shoplifters are harassed into paying thousands of dollars... even if the case against them has been dropped, or the retailer never intended to sue at all. More »

darwin's band of menacing thieves

When Shoplifting Videos From Target, Please Do Not Set Lingerie On Fire As A Diversion

Quick, you stuffed $195 worth of videos into your jacket and you're rushing towards the exit when you spot Target's menacing security force. What do you do? If you answered "set lingerie on fire as a diversion," then you may be as bright as 19-year-old shoplifter Tabitha Bozman of Elyria, Ohio. More »

bad consumer

When Shoplifting $300 Worth Of Hunting Knives, Try Not To Impale Yourself On Them

A Michigan man was caught shoplifting $300 worth of hunting knives from Meijer after he scuffled with security guards and fell forward, impaling himself. He'd hidden the knives in the waistband of his pants. More »

videos

74-Year-Old Man Jailed For Shoplifting $3 Sirloin


A North Carolina Food Lion called the cops on Joe Neal for pocketing a $3 steak. The 74-year-old didn't have enough change to pay for the sirloin, which he intended to cook for his son's birthday dinner. The steak was later consumed, not by Joe's son, but by a fire that ravaged Joe's house. The cops were summoned when Neal returned to the store to pay for the steak. Defending the arrest, Food Lion's press-keepers explained that the store has a zero tolerance policy. Don't miss WBTV's expert analysis at the end. Gastonia Man in Jail for Stolen Steak [WBTV] (Thanks To Chris)