Caught Shoplifting!

[crazypoohbear]

What would you do if you were in a store, i.e. target/walmart and saw a family shoplifting.
I was at Walmart
tonight I needed batteries, I was in the video game section and I see a "father" sitting on the floor with 3 kids about 5-9 years old standing next to him.
Behind him and the kids are"mom, Grandmother and Uncle"
The adults are standing in a semi circle around dad and the kids. I see Dad opening the video games and giving the game itself to the various children. He is then putting the empty package way back on the bottom shelf.
I know that they were shop lifting as I saw the whole thing going down. I heard the "dad" asking the kids which games they wanted.

So.... before I tell you what I chose to do, tell me how you would have handled this situation.

[disneydeb]

Videocammed them with my phone for a while and found a CS rep form Walmart.

I hope you were not identified as the one who turned them in.

[tinkerbellybutton]

I actually also would turn them in. Been there, done that. I even had to fill out a statement for the prosecution but it was worth it. Shoplifters are the reason we pay more and more every day.

[DISNEYLOVERS5]

i work at walmart so I would have called the big man and might have gotten a raise.

[PirateLover]

I definitely would've reported them. Until I started working in retail myself I didn't realize how much even the smallest stolen good can affect the entire store. People are crafty and it's hard for workers to catch them so it's nice if other customers help out once in a while.
You shouldn't even need to take video with your phone. Even if someone isn't monitoring the video all the time, I can almost guarantee that there was a camera on them and all it takes is one person to notify someone so they can go back and check the tape.

[BronxTigger]

Well, I wouldn't have stood around to watch. I would have acted like I saw nothing and then went and told security or an employee.

One time I got caught in the middle of 2 guys and a bunch of Target security. I saw these guys looking over their shoulders and whispering to each other, and running around the aisles. Seconds later, a bunch of plainclothes Target security people came rushing past looking for them. I just tried to stay out of the way.

Another time I saw a couple of people with a cart full of electronics running through the Target parking lot (different Target) and a car speeding across the lot. It stopped, they threw the stuff in, jumped in, and sped away. By that time it was too late for me to really do anything, but I know about that particular Target's security system and I KNOW they had the whole thing on camera - including the parking lot bit.

[PirateLover]

I work at Ikea, and I've been told that there are rewards for catching shoplifters as well. Unfortunately I haven't caught any yet, though I find their evidence every day...

[Georgesgirl1]

I would have turned them in for sure.
I used to work at Victoria's Secret in college and it is amazing what people will steal and also what people would try to return after wearing (YUCK!).
Then it means higher prices for everyone else and more work for the employees who have to tag every piece of merchandise with those anti theft devices. Dishonest people ruin things for everyone else!

Kristin

[princessjojo]

That's really hard to answer, kinda. For me, it depends on what they were stealing. If it were food, necessary foods like baby foods or vegetables, and I felt like they really needed it, no I wouldn't report them, but it still doesn't make it right for them to do it.

But in this case it was nothing more than a video game. That is pure greed on their part. You better believe I would let someone know. It sets a bad example for the kids. I'm the type though that would tell, then stalk them through out the store. And if all else fails, I would make sure they knew I saw what they did. One of my friends used to work for Wal-Mart as a pharmacist and detailed how their security works and the chances are that the family would walk. But my objective would be to let them know that there are people out there who don't take shoplifting lightly and naively hoping that they would think about it before they tried to steal something again.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I would have told a Walmart employee what I just saw, and hoped that they would do something about it.

[BronxTigger]

I'm the type though that would tell, then stalk them through out the store. And if all else fails, I would make sure they knew I saw what they did.

But my objective would be to let them know that there are people out there who don't take shoplifting lightly and naively hoping that they would think about it before they tried to steal something again.

I'm not sure I would want them to know I turned them in. They are brazen enough to be shoplifting with their children on the floor of a Walmart...what else are they willing to do that is illegal?

[DestinationWDW]

Theft is theft; even if you didn't report it and the persons weren't caught by security. Eventually they will have to answer for their sins

The 10 commandments come from Exodus 20:1-17. Here is the verse:


And God spoke all these words, saying: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

8. You shall not steal.

They are good, basic laws that will help keep us right before God, and also help keep us out of trouble with ourselves, our families, our friends and our neighbors.

And if they are stealing necessary items like food or whatever, there are places to get if FREE, like churches, soup kitchens, etc. I hope you didn't confront the thieves and put yourself in harm’s way.

[ncscgirl2005]

I would have turned them in for sure.
I used to work at Victoria's Secret in college and it is amazing what people will steal and also what people would try to return after wearing (YUCK!).

Kristin

Throwing up in my mouth

[ncscgirl2005]

I hope they are prosecuted for their actions. I probably would have went to management or something like that.

[kakn7294]

I would have gone directly to the nearest employee and reported what I had seen.

[katzctkpt]

Most definately report it. They need to be punished and to have the children involved how stupid. Ooh that just makes me mad.

[BigRedDad]

I would definitely report it and hope they take action. Nothing would be more satisfying than seeing 5 adults get arrested and their children taken from them by Social Services for being stupid.

[RalsFam]

that's really hard to answer, kinda. For me, it depends on what they were stealing. If it were food, necessary foods like baby foods or vegetables, and I felt like they really needed it, no I wouldn't report them, but it still doesn't make it right for them to do it.

Doesn't matter, theft is theft. I am sure that someone in that family is in good enough shape to get a job.

[Tinkerfreak]

I also would have turned them in. There is no excuse for shoplifting, and come on people how horrible to be involving the kids.
I saw someone hit a parked car once and reported it. DH said I should have minded my own business but I told him what if it was our car and someone had seen it.

[Dsnygirl]

I would definitely have reported them, as fast as I could. It's one thing (sort-of) when, like what another poster wrote, people are stealing out of necessity - food from a market, that kind-of thing. But video games?? Pure & simple greed.

But what REALLY makes me mad is the father doing it in front of his kids and involving them in it... it's bad enough he's doing it, period. But to use them as shields and teach them... that is purely vile to me. To me, he is no father in that situation, but just a criminal passing on his tools of the trade. How very, very sad.

I truly hope they got caught -- it's sad when a store has to teach children their morals.