I have seen LP bring people up to the office and have them fill out paperwork. The two LP guys were at our store the whole afternoon catching shop lifters. They were grilling this one lady while I was trying to work on the computer. It was a good cop, bad cop type conversation. Not sure what happened to the crying lady.
Walmart will give a shop lifter a $500(I think) civil fine and release them which they are allowed to do. Then, that can go to collections and cause a shop lifter grieve for years to come.
Notify management, page for security even if there isn't any to scare them off, ask if they needed any help, if they leave the store with item(s) do not try to stop them, only go out to record license plate or what kind of car they have.
The other day, there was this young guy who asked me to get him some cigarettes. So I walk over to the place where they keep all the tobacco stuff. Ours is in the middle of the floor, between the registers. So the guy walks with me, as most do, so that I can ask them if this is the right one or if we don't have it if they'd like another from what they can see (they don't go inside with me). Now, while I have my back turned, the guy casually reaches for the nearest pack of cigs and pockets them. I know he did this because I glanced at that specific area and I remember that there were 3 boxes there. I also heard a noise, like somebody was moving the boxes. By the time I had turned my back, he'd already pocketed them, and he was like "nevermind, I don't want 'em." Then walks out the door with his girlfriend.
Now, I didn't see him actually take the cigs, but I was 99% sure he did. There was a security guard right by the door. I told him, I think that guy just stole a pack of cigs, that I didn't see him take it but the cigs that were there when I walked in weren't there when I walked out. He tells me that he can't do anything about it because he can't go by my word of "maybe he did it" because Kroger wouldn't like that. I'm like, then what are the cameras for? He's like, sorry can't do anything about it.
The guy was literally just a few feet outside the door as I was talking to the guard. All I could do was watch as he walked away.
But on their best days, I have seen security guards escort people in handcuffs out of the store with a cop. I have seen security guards chase down a thief and tackle them to the ground (that was quite a sight to see). I have seen a co-manager question a customer who swore that they bought some chicken from the deli, and after 15 minutes of arguing and the managers checking the computers, they couldn't find a purchase of chicken at the time the customer said they did, and they were given two choices, have the cops be called on them, or they would be banned from the store. They chose to be banned.
We had one guy come in with his 14 year old son to steal liquor. Whilst fighting to restrain the father, idiot son decides to try and hit the guard over his head with a bottle of liquor. Guards partner slams this kid to the ground hard enough that the kid bounced slightly. He was going to feel that the next day.
A young woman called our guard a penis face because he refused to let her go. I nearly broke up laughing.
Then this older trailer trash woman was convinced that her guardian angel was going to free her because the sandwich she stole jumped into her purse. Her purse smelled like a yeti's a$$ so the policeman there at the time, bought a single rose and placed it into her purse to mask the smell.
If we're lucky, nobody cares and everybody steals all the time. Coolers, rolling luggage, whatever.
If we're not, we just shower them with gift cards for inconveniencing them.
Once and only once in the last decade, we had a manager inclined towards formal trespass if not actual prosecution. That only lasted several months. Once. In a decade.
LP only pursues employees. But only 9:00-5:00, since no theft has ever occurred after 5:00 pm.
Once I saw this guy have some product from our meat dept under his shirt. I told security, but he was more concerned with a water bottle sitting outside. I kept telling him and he was worried about a d@mn waterbottle. I informed management and he walked up to the security guy and said " what good are you if you are more worried about a water bottle than stopping thieves?"
The security company that guy was from terminated their contract with us because they felt "the manager was being racist."
Ive stolen plenty from Kroger. Because of their cheap pay and ass eating management it was time to treat myself to free snacks a soda or juice here and there and some hygiene products. I have saved lots of money over the last 5 years! No signs of stopping soon either. Might train a partner so we can get a ring going and double the profits
They do nothing since they don't want to accuse or offend customers. However, they will spy on employees and throw us under the bus. I for one view customers unless proven otherwise as liars, cheats, and thieves... based on the amount of damages and theft daily.
Long answer short: yes and no. Little petty theft is generally ignored. If it's a repetitious offender yes they eventually crack down on them. A few cases of people massively stealing finally went to court but they had nothing to take so they only got community service and a bit of jail time.
A black lady in my town wearing a "security" jacket keeps stealing gum late at night. Don't bitch about it I see her steal packages of gum several times a week. Walks up to the gum rack, puts her hand up then walks away. Yea that's theft. Cna't do anything, can't stop her, can't say anything. In this day and age of racial issues I would not even touch that with a ten foot pole.
Long answer short: yes and no. Little petty theft is generally ignored. If it's a repetitious offender yes they eventually crack down on them. A few cases of people massively stealing finally went to court but they had nothing to take so they only got community service and a bit of jail time.
A black lady in my town wearing a "security" jacket keeps stealing gum late at night. Don't bitch about it I see her steal packages of gum several times a week. Walks up to the gum rack, puts her hand up then walks away. Yea that's theft. Cna't do anything, can't stop her, can't say anything. In this day and age of racial issues I would not even touch that with a ten foot pole.
**** that. if that coon is getting free gum then Im loading up on big red
