General Discussion

So i work for a big retail corporation and i am going to College for Police Foundations next year.

Now i have worked at this retail store on the sales floor for 16 months so far and they may have an opening in Loss Prevention in the next 8 months (ill be 18 by then)

Now my question is has anyone ever worked Loss Prevention? And what do you think it would be like? I'm hoping it will get me comfortable dealing with criminals and will engage me and get me some experience. My biggest issue right now is i can't hold a steady conversation when i get really worked up i don't know why. But i am pretty strong (5"10, 200 pounds been working out for a few months now)

I believe the pay starts at $14.00/hour but i'de probably make more because i have been with them for a while.

BTW  Loss Prevention go plain clothed and monitor security cameras and report on/apprehend shoplifters.

Hope you run faster than the guys that tried to stop me when I was a kid. 

Bump.

it's all dependant on the type of Loss Prevention. Will you be monitering cctv (closed circuit)? Will you be out on the floor? Mix of both?

You also stated you have issues speaking to people when you get all worked up. What sort? Hard time putting sentences together? Or more of an anger boiling up type? Anger would be a problem. The other is just nerves. I used to work at Sears as loss prevention and we usually had 2 on CCTV duty and at least 2 "undercover" or in streetclothes.

Catching them once you know they are shoplifting or tresspassing is quite easy. You don't need to be big or strong. Wait till they try to leave without paying, walk up to them in the lot, ID yourself as security (never do this alone, always have the other security officer present to back up you and your story or the bad guy can claim abuse etc) and ask them to return with you. 90% of the time they comply. You cannot search them unless they offer to allow you to do it (normally I just asked them in full view of the camera if they would object to showing me the contents of their bags/purse/pockets or whatnot). But it is always better to hold off and wait for the police to do it. If a female has placed some items within her bra or down her pants then you may have a hard time explaing why you went there :p Your job is to ensure they stay put till he police arrive. So bring them back inside to security and just wait it out. If they run, sure try and catch them. If they resist or get violent then let them go. You already have them on CCTV video and they can likely be ID'd.

Most of the time my crew would just wander over to the area where the shoplifter was and make a point of letting the shoplifter know that he/she was being followed. 9 times outta 10 they would go around an aisle and drop the stolen goods and then leave the store a minute later. We would get the items and replace them, no need for an arrest etc. Repeat offenders were issued tresspass warnings and usually were spotted within a min or two of entering the store and then were escorted out.

Very informative... thanks for the reply

Well the job covers both monitoring CCTV and plainclothes detection and apprehension.

Only thing is i dont want to wrongly detain someone or not have full evidence. And i also hope they dont expect a couple arrests a day or something.

I talked to the LPO at my store about his job, he said if you know any type of karate your chances of getting the LPO job are much higher. I use to work at a store as a stock clerk, we had 1 LPO only he would usually walk around undercover. If he ever found someone shop lifting he would call one of the stock clerks to help him out. From working there for 2 years I only seen 3 people get violent and try to run away/fight which never ended up good for them.

The evidence you need will be on the CCTV. Plus when the officers arrive they will search the shoplifter in full view of the internal security camera so it can be seen what he/she had taken. You will be in contact with the CCTV person(s) and they will direct you to the person in question while out on the floor. Or you will guide them to the person if your on CCTV duty. (Aisle 7,brown shirt with stripes,faded blue jeans blah blah).

Once the person is charged with shoplifting then the police will take your name/addy/phone number etc and you will be contacted in some way to appear in court IF and only IF the shoplifter pleads not guilty. Otherwise a copy of the security log will suffice for the courts. I helped catch a bit over 200 shoplifters in about a year and I only appeared in court once (You get paid for it by wok anyways). I was asked if the evidence presented (both CCTV disc and the security log/police report) was accurate. I then had to recount what I saw and did.

If it is a large store with a high volume of traffic chances are you will see on average at least 1 shoplifter per shift. Most often you catch them. But sometimes you may be at the back of the store and someone will make a grab at the front and scoot before you arrive. Not much you can do other than let your supervisor know. Likely they will have you make or get a copy made of the security tape/disc and send it to the police.

I found the hardest ones to be the mothers with children in the baby stroller. There are so many places to hide stuff. And to top it off once you get her and the child in back away from the customers they have a sob story about the child is starving and I cant afford the pablum/baby food etc ( I have 2 kids of my own and understand). More often than not I always gave a warning and a notice and let them go. But this depends on the policy your business sets up in dealing with shoplifters. We were left to use our discretion, usually we warned them and gave a trespass notice. Same went for small children who pocket a candy bar/bubble gum or whatnot, but instead of a trespass notice one of our other officers had made up a bunch of little certificates with stars and ballons that said something about "Today I was a big boy/girl and learned that it's wrong to steal and I promise not to do it ever again" then the child would get to sign it along with one of the security guys. In the end the child was not scared and usually felt kind of proud that he/she fessed up and got a shiny certificate for doing the right thing :)

One of the primary traits you need is patience. Sometimes all you can do is let a suspected thief go and mark him/her down to be watched on their next visit.

On top of that, use your instincts. The way a person behaves is one of the first indicators that something is amiss. Few are truly calm while performing a crime, and even fewer of those are likely to be doing something as petty as simple theft.

Most of all, keep your mind open. I once knew a very pleasant old lady, she was probably in her early 70's. She always passed me by with a smile and a warm greeting. Then we caught her on camera hiding about $200 worth of product in that large purse of hers.

If you suspect someone, but don't have proof, you can easily get most to give an attempt up entirely, simply by making them realize the risk is too high. "shop" in the same aisle they are in, get a uniformed employee to offer them help, etc.

Thanks for the further information i appreciate all the details.

Where you worked as LP did you need any security certificate or did they train you?

The store im working for ATM is telling me they provide the training but my manager sounded unsure when i asked him.