Telltale characteristics of shoplifters

Part 2 (click here to see Part 1) in a series of information on shoplifting, provided courtesy of the Maricopa Police Department.

Store owners and employees should be observant for customers who:

Are carrying something in their hands throughout the store. Shopping bags, knitting bags, umbrellas, handbags, books, diaper bags, baggy clothes, open-top boots and arms in a sling are favorites for stuffing stolen items into. A wrapped present could be a spring-box into which the person can stuff merchandise (the door closes and the package still looks the same). An open purse can make concealment easy for smaller items. Strollers and baby carriers are sometimes used to conceal merchandise.

Seem nervous and do not want any assistance.

Spend more time watching the sales staff than looking at the merchandise. The thief usually checks to see if anyone is watching before they commit their act of theft.

Leave a sales area in a hurry. They may have concealed the merchandise and are in a hurry to make their exit.

Reach into display cases or walk behind counters. They may also attempt to enter stockroom areas or back hallways.

Wear overcoats or raincoats when the weather does not call for it. Large inside pockets or hoods are great shoplifting techniques. The common trend of wearing baggy or oversized clothing also lends itself to shoplifting.

Arrive very early or very late in the shopping day. Some shoplifters want to operate at a time when sales staff is distracted by normal beginning and end of day routines.

Seem to frequent washrooms or fitting rooms. They may be seeking privacy in isolated areas to take merchandise to conceal.

Come into the store with a group of youngsters. Much shoplifting perpetrated by juveniles is a result of peer pressure or a dare.

Don’t seem interested in the articles they have requested to look at or that they have in their hands.

Act fussy and keep interchanging articles frequently.

Loiter, appear uninterested or claim to be waiting for a friend.

Pick up a lot of merchandise with no apparent attempt to purchase.

Have an unusual walk or tug at sleeves, adjust socks or keep rubbing the back of their necks.

Cause disturbances in the store. Remember shoplifters often operate in teams; one will distract an employee while another steals.

Take more than one item into the dressing room. They sometimes come out with only one with the other worn under the shoplifter’s own clothes.

Hang around entrances or exits. They may be waiting for the chance to grab an arm full of merchandise and exit quickly.

Keeps the sales staff busy getting items from the back stockroom. They may want to remove the staff from the area to shoplift. If possible, have another staff member supervise the area while the first employee is gone.

Look for Part 3, Shoplifting Prevention Techniques, tomorrow.

File photo