Shoplifting Seminar

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Shoplifting Seminar

• Jackson Police Department

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Topics

• Community Policing
• Shoplifting/Penalties
• Watch Video
• Shoplifting Techniques
• Employee Theft Techniques
• Q A

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Community Policing

• Proactive Approach to Deter Crime
• Community Awareness of Crime
• Problem Solving
• Community Partnerships

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Local Statistics

• Shoplifting
• 23 cases in last year
• Commercial Burglary
• 29 cases in last year
• Larceny
• 270 cases last year
• Fraud
• 93 cases last year

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Shoplifting Penalties

• Town Ordinance 9.20.040
• Any person who willfully conceals or willfully
  takes possession of any goods offered for sale by
  a wholesale or retail store or other mercantile
  establishment, without the knowledge or consent
  of the owner thereof and with intent to convert
  the goods to his own use without paying the
  purchase price therefore, is guilty of
  shoplifting.

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In Other Words

• If you steal a priced item from a store you are
  guilty of shoplifting.

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Reasonable Detention

• Town Ordinance 9.20.050
• Any peace officer, merchant or merchants
  employee who has reasonable cause for believing
  that a person has committed the crime of
  shoplifting as defined under Section 9.20.040 may
  detain and interrogate such person in regard
  thereto in a reasonable manner and for a
  reasonable time.

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In Other Words

• If you, as a salesperson, believe a person has
  just stolen a priced item from your store, you
  can detain and question them.

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Obtain Description
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Shoplifting Techniques

• Slight of Hand tricks
• Moving items to hidden locations
• Distractions/Team Play
• Grab and Go!
• Open bag/purse drop
• Baby stroller
• Baggy clothes
• Lone employee curse

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Solutions

• Be Aware!
• Reduce Hidden areas with mirrors, cameras, et.
• Cashier Positioning
• If possible, 2 or more employees on duty
• Merchandise Positioning

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Employee Theft

• Employee theft accounts for 80 of total loss
  from business
• Cash Targets
• Item Targets
• I deserve this, they dont pay me enough!

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Solutions

• Employee Theft
• Prevention is mainly a matter of hiring and
  management practices
• Hiring Practices
• Do not hire a dishonest employee
• Require complete application
• Verify employment record and references (ask for
  independent references)
• Check criminal and credit histories
• If you cannot verify all information presented,
  do not hire

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More Solutions

• Employee Theft
• Management Practices
• Set clear policies and guidelines for all
  employees it should contain security procedures,
  accountability, and assigned duties
• Limit access to critical areas as much as
  possibletrack keys, knowledge of lock
  combinations, establish standard procedure for
  making deposits
• If a crime does occur, do not discount current or
  ex-employees as suspects
• No matter what, PROSECUTE

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Any Questions?

• Mark Smith
• CSO
• Jackson Police Department
• [phone] ext 170

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Where to Get More Information

• Us, we are more than willing to help
• http//www.crimeprevent.com/