Why are shoplifters so well dressed today?

[Daniela1982]

Nordstrom's in San Francisco looted.

Three suspects were arrested Saturday night after dozens ransacked a Nordstrom department store near San Francisco in what police are calling a "smash-and-grab" incident.

About 80 suspects were involved in the crime at the department store in Broadway Plaza, an outdoor mall in Walnut Creek east of San Francisco, and they fled in at least 10 different vehicles, Lt. Ryan Hibbs at the Walnut Creek Police Department told CNN.

"A number of vehicles were leaving. We managed to stop one of them," said Hibbs, adding that no injuries were reported.

Authorities are questioning those who were arrested to determine the identities of the other suspects, Hibbs said.

The manager of a nearby restaurant told CNN affiliate KPIX that the looters were wearing masks and carried what appeared to be crowbars.

"There was a mob of people," Brett Barrett said. "The police were flying in. It was like a scene out of a movie. It was insane. ... It was a scary scene for a moment."

Police have not yet estimated dollar amount for the stolen items, Hibbs said.

Now I guess we know why. I guess you can also see why retailers are closing their stores there. I think we should have some of the boys working their as security.
Rants or raves?

Just try and loot our store suckers!

[Effably]

From my experience the shoplifters were most commonly kind old ladies who did it more for the kick of it than stealing in itself. Most of them were reasonably well dressed!

Shoplifting is a tricky problem to solve. We've probably all walked away with someone's pen at some point. Just the same at times people are actually innocent. And that means the guilty can always claim they are. Also hard to police it. But we are gradually moving away from physical stores anyway.

[MCheetah]

I did Loss Prevention for a Target back in 2007 and it SUCKED! They also told us to profile people as well (makes sense, in reality, even if it's ethnically wrong). They never taught us this, but I learned the five levels of force on my own. Obviously, we're not going to shoot people for shoplifting, but the levels are: Presence (just having security there as a deterrent), Eye Contact, Polite Warning, Physical Contact (forcibly removing them from the store or kicking their ass), and Deadly Force. If you're doing your job right, then you never have to go beyond Level 2. The issue is usually not enough security people to cover the entire store. And the people they DO hire are either skinny teenage boys or women. But when they're paying you $7.50 an hour, what else would you expect?

[MCheetah]

Sorry. I got a few steps mixed up. So I'll just post this. It's easier.

[Daniela1982]

Now you realize why stores are closing. These people brazenly steal and mostly get away with it as most stores won't let their employees pursue or apprehend shoplifters and the crooks know they can get away with it.

[Effably]

It is not that you are entirely wrong but shrinkage averages about 1-1.5% for retail. Not all of that is shoplifting or theft.

This amount, while naturally important, is generally speaking not enough to offset the costs and attached downsides of having a physical store.

Basically, even if no one stole it would still be disappearing. Although it is fair to say it might be at a slower rate.

[Daniela1982]

I just saw an article about someone calling out Bed, Bath, and Beyond for spray painting unsold bedding they couldn't sell to make it unusable instead of donating them to a homeless shelter and at least getting a tax write off.

[MCheetah]

"Just try and loot our store suckers!"

Challenge accepted, sugartits!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/BOyW1lCro9ohttps://www.youtube.com/embed/c5gQHcbaJwchttps://www.youtube.com/embed/IoHk7F64aTA

If you're stealing batteries or Zippo lighters, then you gotta do it in STYLE!

[Daniela1982]

Sure, when do I see this style?

[msc545]

I am not going to worry about Nordstrom's profits for one second.

[Daniela1982]

I'm sure they are insured for such losses anyways.

[msc545]

of course they are. I worry about insurance company profits even less.

[Daniela1982]

Agreed. And speaking of that word, just take the "A" off and you have what insurance companies have most of - Greed.

[Massageman]

You would be surprised at how many policies specifically EXCLUDE losses stemming from riots, civil unrest, etc.

[msc545]

This wasn't a riot or civil unrest it was just a bunch of shoplifters stealing stuff. There is a difference.

[Massageman]

Uh, yeah - sure. Try to convince the insurance co's about THAT - I'll wait.

[msc545]

@Massageman Interesting position you have on that. I suppose an insurance company might call it a "riot", but it seems more like a robbery to me.

[Surely]

Rittenhouse might be available now for a security job at a store!

[NathanDavis]

I won't be surprised if they all used the same Whatsapp group chats and then get all caught...

[AviatorTom]

Because they are very good at what they do?

[Daniela1982]

If they were good no one would see them shoplift.

[Poobutt711]

It's kind of impossible to be unseen when a camera I'd every where in stores most days... Only way to really be unseen is try and find a corner of a shop that no camera really has good vision of... Not that I practise that sort of thing. But it crosses my mind sometimes

[Poobutt711]

I'm too much of a pussy tho. I wasn't built for jail

[Cheechee4me]

Because they shoplift clothes….

[Daniela1982]

That was kind of implied in the question.

[KostasKouvalis]

They only steal the best brands

[Sketti2021]

Pretty sure a wife beater isn't stylish

[Daniela1982]

That is because they are too busy using their wife/girlfriend's face as a punching bag to be out shoplifting.

[007kingifrit]

are yes. all in their very fancy hoodies =D

[exitseven]

hahahaha Daniela.