The Bunker Blog

Merry Christmas everyone! No matter where you may be, I hope that your holidays are filled with family, friends, and food.
I look forward to our time in the new year, and I do appreciate all our readers, those who participated in our discussions, and those who contributed to our success.
We’ve had a great year! Our readership is up, and many of you have sent me tips, stories, and great ideas. Keep them coming, and we’ll make 2009 another successful year.

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As I was going through some notes today, I realized that I had never written here about an incident that happened to me several years ago. I think it may explain why I’m so bent on bashing these so-called parents who take their kids along on their little shoplifting expeditions.

I was working as a loss prevention supervisor for a large retail chain at the time. I was watching the store’s cctv system when I noticed two females grabbing anything and everything they could. Without checking size, price, or anything else, they were shoving loads of apparel into two shopping carts.

In one of these carts was a small child, about 3 years old. I continued to watch until I was pretty sure these two were going to steal my stuff. I called the store manager and told him I needed him up front. He came up and I met him just outside my office. I discreetly pointed the pair out to him, and he stepped outside to assist when I went to make the stop. I continued to observe these two stuff over $3000.00 worth of our merchandise into these carts. Then they headed straight for the door, without even attempting to conceal the merchandise in any way. As they stepped out the door, I approached them both, and the store manager stepped up at the same time.

That’s when everything went wrong. The mom of the little girl gave her cart a push, out into the parking lot, with the little girl still sitting in the cart. Of course, I ran out to stop the cart before it could tip over or get hit by a vehicle passing through the lot.

Meanwhile, the two shoplifters ran to their vehicle and started it up. By the time I got to the child and stopped the cart, the store manager was there with me. He took the child from the cart and proceeded back to the store to call police.

At this point, you would think that this mom would stop to get her child, but she didn’t. Instead, while the store manager and I were saving her child, she pulled up to the second cart, and with her car engine running, was trying to load the merchandise from that cart to her car.

I ran up to the car, reached inside the driver side window, turned the car off, and took out the keys. At this point, I told her that she would have to come inside. She cursed me and said “We’ll walk”. When I asked her about the child, she said that she would get her back later, and she and her accomplice proceeded to walk away.

I followed them while the store manager called police. I knew we had a “no touch” policy, but I had already bought myself disciplinary action by reaching into her vehicle. Plus, I was downright angry at this point. So, I did what I knew I shouldn’t have done. I grabbed her up and locked her arms behind her. I then escorted her to our sidewalk and stood her against the wall, face-first. Her friend followed, although I’m not sure why.

Within seconds, police arrived. They listened to our account, watched our video, including the incident outside, and then proceeded to write her a summons on the spot and release her, along with her baby.

So, I got written up for “breaking the rules”, and she got charged with larceny. It was a long time ago, but it still eats at me everytime I read or hear about some parent who puts their child in danger by taking them shoplifting. This so-called mom was prepared to leave her daughter with us to escape getting a citation.

I’d like to say that, were this to happen today, I would handle it differently; but I gotta tell you, I’m not sure I would.

By the way, after a review of the video in this case, my disciplinary action was removed from my file.

Anybody else want to share a similar experience?

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Here we go, gang. Erin Boyd, a 21-year-old mom in Palm Bay, Florida, visited her local Walmart on December 1st, with her 10-month-old baby in tow. While she was there, she decided to boost some wine. How did she do it? Well, she slipped the wine behind the baby in the baby’s car seat, of course.

Then, according to reports, when she exited the store and was approached by loss prevention, she tried to pull away from them, presumably still carrying the baby; who was sitting on glass bottles of wine. Talk about your parenting instincts.  I’m surprised she didn’t try to use the baby as a weapon.

All this over Walmart wine? Really? Sadly, it’s true…

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One year ago today, The Bunker Blog launched. We have posted a lot of loss prevention related articles in the past year, and we plan to post many more in the years to come.

I am always researching, looking for new ideas, and working on drafts for articles, stories, etc. So, hopefully, you have found the blog informative and entertaining, and will continue to support us as we head into our second year.

I wanted to thank all of the readers of this blog for your support, for your comments and participation, and for reading our work, of course.

If you work in loss prevention, you know how busy it is for us all right now. You also know how uncertain times have begun to affect our business already.

A few weeks back, I asked for some guest writers. The offer is still open, so if you are interested, please contact me with your idea, etc.

Thanks for a great year!

Joe

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As usual, the Christmas Season has brought out the best, and worst, in people again this year. I know I have been extremely busy for weeks now, and this week has been no exception.

In Witchita, KS, two female shoplifters used a stun gun on Walmart loss prevention agents who apphrehended them for shoplifting a cart full of clothing.

In Fort Meyers, FL, two shoplifters were caught shoplifting hundreds of bottles of lotions and gel from Bath & Body Works stores across Florida. Police estimate the pair stole around $80,000.00 during their spree.

In Denver, CO, fleeing shoplifters Julie Skelly, 34, and Dustin Hyatt, 31, ran over a Walmart employee’s foot while escaping in a pickup truck. The two were later arrested with over $2500.00 in stolen merchandise in their possession.

In Gilbert, AZ, Kentucky Fried Chicken employee Melissa Kess is charged with stealing a customer’s credit card. She and her boyfriend then used the card to make multiple purchases at area businesses.

In Bowling Green, KY, a shoplifting suspect grabbed a pair of scissors in the loss prevention office and threatened the LP agent with them. She is now charged with second degree burglary for her trouble. (Just a side note here; that’s why we teach LP agents to make sure anything that can be used as a weapon is out of reach when we bring a shoplifter into the office for processing.)

In Dover, DE, 22-year-old Christopher Russom stole cologne from a local Sears, and then attempted to lead police on a high speed chase. Police noted his license info, stopped pursuing, and then went to his home and arrested him. He was charged with multiple charges.

In Palm Beach, FL, an accused shoplifter pushed and bit the store manager at a Publix where he had just attempted to steal $38.00 worth of merchandise.

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