Recoveries....

[ApC23]

what would you do in this situation? 3 females in grocery store, one of the females is grabbing items from the shopping cart while her other two companions are pushing it, and shes shoving items in her jacket and down her pants. she was dressed like a "gangster" with really baggy pants and jacket. my manager actually thought she was a guy. but you didnt get selection on the items, you only saw her conceiling it. i didnt want to risk making the arrest, so i tried to get a recovery, i told the manager to talk to the woman, but the location i was working at had a bit of a language barrier. (he barely speaks english) she eventually spotted me and approached me and tried to make a huge scene, she yelled "may i ask why your following me around the store!?", i only responded "drop the items" and turned away as i didnt want to complicate or make the situation worse.(this happened while still in the store). she then got really defensive and took off through one of the aisles, and eventually met her friends back at the front where they payed for the rest of their merchandise.

how would you experienced investigators have done?

[Nauticus]

Well, if you didn't see her select the items, as you know, you can't arrest. So you did that well.

As I worked mostly in an in-house loss prevention department, we were able to ban from property. If a customer decided to make a scene - for any reason - I would remove that person from the property. In fact, if somebody locates an ISLPO at my store and "blows his cover", we can ban that person for up to 6 months and arrest upon re-entry for tresspass.

So although you couldn't arrest her for theft - maybe she was stealing, maybe she wasn't - if she decided to make a scene, I would have banned her from the property.

If you couldn't do that, the best thing you could have done is just acted like you didn't know what she was talking about, turning around, and going someplace else without saying a word. Now that you basically accused her of stealing, she can file a complaint about you. Your boss will ask why you told her that. You will end up telling your boss that she was stealing. He will ask whether or not you arrested her, and you'll reply that you did not because she didn't commit the crime yet. I've seen this exact scenario played out before ;)

Just hold your head high and keep prodding on. Don't let it bother you, and just let it play out how it may. Don't let it cloud your judgment for your next arrests or suspects, and good luck!

[LPAjh9558]

Is it just you that works there? Or are there other agents? Seems to me that you've got your hands full either way, (especially with the language barrier). It's clear that you didn't have selection on what was/supposedly taken, so you did the right thing in backing off the arrest. If that were me, I wouldn't have said anything to the suspect(s), other than try for the burnout and recovery. Sometimes you'll be successfull, sometimes not.

Once your cover was blown it might have been best to just walk away. Nauticus is right, she could file a complaint against you. Although she may realize that she came close to going to jail and decide to back off herself!

Continue learning from the mistakes, other people that you work with (or know) and you'll be fine. We all have days like that...
Be safe!

[ApC23]

Yes, its just me working at the location. I know I shouldnt have said anything to her. It was just so obvious she had merchandise on her. Normally the manager would apparoach and check the accused when im trying to get a recovery like that...but besides two other part time employees of the store I'm the only fluent english speaking person there.

Thanks for the replies.

[sneakybstrd]

Stay in role, if they come to you, never make any accusations. I've gotten away with the "dirty 'ol man" ploy and even managed to make small talk and get a phone number from a female shoplifter I shadowed once. (She even invited me to "watch out for her" while she continued concealing in front of me...should have seen the look on her face when the badge came out :D)

Avoid talking to them, but if your cornered just make up something else entirely...sorry, I was just wandering if I knew you from somewhere.

[Swifty]

I always used the "would you like to go out sometime?" line to get out of being confronted. It sounds really stupid but it actually works. In certain areas you can use this for both sexes and get away with it. (I used to work on capital hill in Seattle) Makes for some funny stories at least.

[lpnz]

I always used the "would you like to go out sometime?" line to get out of being confronted. It sounds really stupid but it actually works. In certain areas you can use this for both sexes and get away with it. (I used to work on capital hill in Seattle) Makes for some funny stories at least.

Haha wish you had mentioned that a few months ago would have been perfect for one incident I was in.

As for OP we thankfully don't have to have the selection as long as we are reasonably certain the stock belongs to our clients store so I would have backed off and done an approach upon exit. Our companies policy (backed up by Merchant law here) is that if we have reasonable belief and proof that they have concealed stock we are allowed to approach and detain until LE can respond and recover goods. It is also technically theft if they conceal and we can prove beyond reasonable doubt that they had no intention to pay.

Understanding the limitations you've presented and seem to be common in the US (the five/seven step process) you may have opened yourself up to a complaint, but I would have done the same thing. When I got approached by a guy in one of our clients stores a few months ago who made a scene about me watching him (I wasn't as it happened, I walked past a few times while watching someone else) I politely informed him that I had no interest in him (perhaps should have done the opposite :p) and walked off, when he persisted, started making physical threats and than finally made a rude gesture upon leaving I approached him and issued a two year trespass and escorted him from the property. A trespass for "behavior" is a great fullback in these situations (legit reason in the US??).

LPNZ

[Curtis Baillie]

Just a word about the "steps" mentioned. These a guidelines for retailers - not the law. Following the "6 steps" reduces your chances of having a bad stop.

[lpnz]

Just a word about the "steps" mentioned. These a guidelines for retailers - not the law. Following the "6 steps" reduces your chances of having a bad stop.

Of course, understood! We were all taught the steps when we were trained and it is recommended that we follow them for the same reason, to protect ourselves and our clients. As you get more experienced, often you can skip a step or two without jepordising the catch though (if your allowed to as we are). Our trainees and less experienced staff must follow the steps though.

[phatm1ke]

Depends on the state and company..

I know that my company has no problem with just recoveries but prefers apprehensions (whether or not we prosecute is usually up to us) for the simple fact that we get restitution. That $$$ per case adds up, I know with my stats personally it paid for my payroll... (but then again, we don't make that much LOL)