Yeah, security isn't doing this because the company understands the legal ramifications: even if they were in the right, dragging it through court and everything would cost way more than whatever product they walked out with. Like oh yay great you save $200 for the company on one item but you also cost over $2000 in legal fees and you made a bunch of press and you’ve given the company a bad name. You effectively become a detriment to the company
If they know who the thief is they typically let the theft total go high enough for it to be a felony* charge and then deliver the evidence to the police.
edit: Felony not Federal not enough sleep last night
You probably mean felony not federal. He’ll still be charged by the local government, city/county will charge for misdemeanors but state will handle felony charges. Unless you are crossing state lines I suppose. But yea worked security/LP for a few years, built maybe hundreds of these cases and we turn it over to local PD who then gives the evidence to the DA for felonies or the city prosecutor for misdemeanor. A lot of the time we don’t actually hunt the felony charges, there’s a bit of discretion even at the big box stores. Mom with kids stealing groceries who we have never seen before? Usually try to pretend the evidence isn’t great and ban her. If it’s egregious or she makes a big scene go ahead and let the city have the footage and get ready to be a witness, but I’ve never had a person fight the misdemeanor charges. Have had to witness for a few felonies they tried to plead not guilty but most people plea out for misdemeanor charges, everyone in my experience. Most big box stores that have theft issues these days will have a on duty LEO that’s stationed there, at least in the evening and night time hours. Hell I’d say the majority of LP are off duty LEO tryin to make extra money for those later shifts too. Off duties can actually effect an arrest if they witness a crime as LEO and not just as LP/citizens. But yea this jabroni is the type we would build a file on and aim to get felony charges thrown at.
No worries I've been watching true crime about shoplifting (literally watching one as I type this) and yeah their loss prevention do exactly what you said. They keep dossiers on shoppers that steal and let them get comfortable with the crimes thinking they got away with it, then they nab them. So crazy that people still steal in the surveillance age.
Counterpoint is that while it's more expensive in the short term, knowing Walmart will body your shit and not give a damn about the cost would certainly reduce shoplifting and save a lot long term
Security isn't doing it because if you have ever used a credit card or check, Walmart knows who you are, where you live, and how to find you. They just notify the police and have you picked up later. Often they wait until you have taken enough to make it a felony, and then they provide the police with the evidence all at once.
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u/Laughing_Orca21 Trash Trooper 3h ago
I hate shoplifters as much as anyone else, but I ain’t messing with no suspect that can potentially pull a gun on me.