At the amount of shoplifting that apparently goes on

[paperbattles]

Just been to the local garden centre, which has new security sensors, CCTV and security guard - the checkout person explained that so much shoplifting has gone on that they have had to install extra precautions. She said if an item can be moved people will take it, and loads of people do it - top of the list scented candles, alcohol and flowers. Am I completely naive to think that most people are honest and the odd few make a mistake or even steal a small item; or is it not thought to be bad behaviour? what is the reasoning? trying to understand what makes people do it, where do they draw the line?

I now work along side the military and a couple of the guys complain about being followed in shops. They both look perfectly normal but reckon it must be how they look!

One of them is an ex sniper with a background in surveillance, working undercover and has received some SAS training. He can easily pick up when he gets followed and has previously caught a store security guy out by effectively playing hide and seek and told him that he needs to be much better at not being so obvious!

Once the cops went public with the "we don't treat it like it's a crime" line it turned into a fucking free for all

I went through a shoplifting phase as a teenager. I was about 15-16. From a very middle class, London well off family. We lived close to central London shopping locations and I did it once, a ring from accessorize... got away with it. Then, sunglasses from topshop. Make up from Superdrug. A bag from H&M. No one noticed me. I didn't think I was hurting anyone, I half wanted to get in trouble for it I think. I never got caught but I grew out of it a few months later. Feel awful about it now. It wasn't like I didn't have the money to buy those things, I had a generous allowance. It was exciting - and easy!

I used to work in our village shop and basically, if it wasn’t nailed down, someone would nick it given half the chance.

Charity collection tins had to be chained to the counter, we had to move the food bank bin behind the counter or people would nick stuff from it.

Boxes of chocolates or alcohol was the main thing being stolen.

Sometimes people wouldn’t even bother to be discrete- they’d run in, grab a case of beer, run out again

WTF? I had no idea this was such a common occurrence amongst people who aren't either teenagers or very hard up. I wonder if these thieving bastards are the same people who begrudge people with disabilities their benefits.

“They both look perfectly normal but reckon it must be how they look!“

But what does normal look like? This is what I am trying to understand!!!

@Mascaponeandwine ,i had a bag that did this all the time. My DS partner is a retail manager and they said there is a tag someone where in the bag that wasn't taken off at the time it was brought .Sometimes they are quite well hidden so staff occasionally miss them .They told me to take to to whatever shop you are in customer services. Normally the security guards are pretty good at finding them and normally they will remove it for you .I was going to do this but said bag got chewed up by our dog when i accidently left sweets in it .

I have been searched three times at random within the last week alone at work.
Its true - a lot of theft is done by staff. When I was younger I worked in a clothes shop and we had regular searches. A couple of times I was even taken into the manager's office and asked to remove my uniform for a search. A couple of weeks later found out that another member of staff had been stealing stuff by wearing it under her uniform!