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Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of punishme

JANFU

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Thoughts are?
Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of punishment

Imagine you’re browsing at Bloomingdale’s when a security guard taps you on the shoulder and accuses you of shoplifting. He takes you to a private room, sits you down, and runs your name through a database to see if you have any outstanding warrants. Then he tells you that you have two options. The first involves him calling the police, who might arrest you and take you to jail. The second allows you to walk out of the store immediately, no questions asked—right after you sign an admission of guilt and agree to pay $320 to take an online course designed to make you never want to steal again.

Which would you choose?
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Thoughts are?
Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of punishment

Imagine you’re browsing at Bloomingdale’s when a security guard taps you on the shoulder and accuses you of shoplifting. He takes you to a private room, sits you down, and runs your name through a database to see if you have any outstanding warrants. Then he tells you that you have two options. The first involves him calling the police, who might arrest you and take you to jail. The second allows you to walk out of the store immediately, no questions asked—right after you sign an admission of guilt and agree to pay $320 to take an online course designed to make you never want to steal again.

Which would you choose?

Tell him to call the police, I call my lawyer and tell him we have a misdemeanor charge from Bloomingdales to make the store and police look bad and a very juicy civil suit for at least 20 million as well as possible defamation charges. And I make sure the person who brought me into the room and the person watching through the camera can hear and see everything, as well as I'd spell the name of the law firm.

I'd then watch this guard break out into a sweat, let them give me store credit and kiss my ass and STILL file a civil lawsuit as well as make sure the lawyer subpoena's the video from my "questioning".
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Welll....I wouldn't shoplift in the first place...So if they accuse me of such a thing, I would refuse to comply and go on my merry way.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Thoughts are?
Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of punishment

Imagine you’re browsing at Bloomingdale’s when a security guard taps you on the shoulder and accuses you of shoplifting. He takes you to a private room, sits you down, and runs your name through a database to see if you have any outstanding warrants. Then he tells you that you have two options. The first involves him calling the police, who might arrest you and take you to jail. The second allows you to walk out of the store immediately, no questions asked—right after you sign an admission of guilt and agree to pay $320 to take an online course designed to make you never want to steal again.

Which would you choose?

At my store we tend to have either video evidence or multiple eyewitnesses before we accuse someone of wrongdoing. Either that or catching them in the act. Accusations of shoplifting can't come out of nowhere.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Thoughts are?
Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of punishment

Imagine you’re browsing at Bloomingdale’s when a security guard taps you on the shoulder and accuses you of shoplifting. He takes you to a private room, sits you down, and runs your name through a database to see if you have any outstanding warrants. Then he tells you that you have two options. The first involves him calling the police, who might arrest you and take you to jail. The second allows you to walk out of the store immediately, no questions asked—right after you sign an admission of guilt and agree to pay $320 to take an online course designed to make you never want to steal again.

Which would you choose?

If I'm white and with no priors I'd fight it. If I'm black I'm agreeing to the shakedown because otherwise my day is about to get a whole lot worse.

Edit: never mind that, I'm going with Ockham's answer.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

At my store we tend to have either video evidence or multiple eyewitnesses before we accuse someone of wrongdoing. Either that or catching them in the act. Accusations of shoplifting can't come out of nowhere.

Same here, there are specific procedures in place that only actual shoplifters are ever even accused.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

At my store we tend to have either video evidence or multiple eyewitnesses before we accuse someone of wrongdoing. Either that or catching them in the act. Accusations of shoplifting can't come out of nowhere.

that's what I was going to say. You can't just accuse someone of shoplifting without proof.

Now if you are really shoplifting, then I think it's a good idea. It will give you a chance to fix things, without it possibly ruining your life.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

I'm not going to some room. If he wants to call the cops he is more than able to do so and when he does I'm suing the store.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

When I worked in retail, back in my highschool days - yes, they had highschool back then - it was common for someone who was caught shoplifting to be given the choice of paying for the goods they were accused of stealing and being banned from the store in the future, or they could sit back while the store contacted the police. Pretty much everyone who could afford to paid for the stolen goods.

As with most things in life, those who can ill afford to get in trouble have the hardest time getting out of trouble. Lots of times little junior called home and mom or dad came down with the credit card and got junior off the hook. But if mom and dad are working or have no money, junior gets in the system.

As for the situation outlined in the OP, it's a make money crock, in my opinion, at best, and at worst it is extortion and should be punishable with jail time.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Thoughts are?
Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of punishment

Imagine you’re browsing at Bloomingdale’s when a security guard taps you on the shoulder and accuses you of shoplifting. He takes you to a private room, sits you down, and runs your name through a database to see if you have any outstanding warrants. Then he tells you that you have two options. The first involves him calling the police, who might arrest you and take you to jail. The second allows you to walk out of the store immediately, no questions asked—right after you sign an admission of guilt and agree to pay $320 to take an online course designed to make you never want to steal again.

Which would you choose?

I would request to see the video evidence of the so called 'shoplifting' while I looking for my lawyers phone number -

If they couldn't produce video evidence which of course would show nothing since I don't shoplift and would not let me walk out freely at that point, hit send on my phone and calling my lawyer. Second I would call the police myself.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Thoughts are?
Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of punishment

Imagine you’re browsing at Bloomingdale’s when a security guard taps you on the shoulder and accuses you of shoplifting. He takes you to a private room, sits you down, and runs your name through a database to see if you have any outstanding warrants. Then he tells you that you have two options. The first involves him calling the police, who might arrest you and take you to jail. The second allows you to walk out of the store immediately, no questions asked—right after you sign an admission of guilt and agree to pay $320 to take an online course designed to make you never want to steal again.

Which would you choose?

Am I guilty?
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Thoughts are?
Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of punishment

Imagine you’re browsing at Bloomingdale’s when a security guard taps you on the shoulder and accuses you of shoplifting. He takes you to a private room, sits you down, and runs your name through a database to see if you have any outstanding warrants. Then he tells you that you have two options. The first involves him calling the police, who might arrest you and take you to jail. The second allows you to walk out of the store immediately, no questions asked—right after you sign an admission of guilt and agree to pay $320 to take an online course designed to make you never want to steal again.

Which would you choose?

Let them arrest me, and sue for false arrest.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

I would request to see the video evidence of the so called 'shoplifting' while I looking for my lawyers phone number -

If they couldn't produce video evidence which of course would show nothing since I don't shoplift and would not let me walk out freely at that point, hit send on my phone and calling my lawyer. Second I would call the police myself.

Indeed. If I am being accosted and threatened unrightfully, I think I am very emotionally damaged, and will be receiving a nice fat piece of compensation from Bloomingdales' for my troubles.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

I'm not going to some room. If he wants to call the cops he is more than able to do so and when he does I'm suing the store.

Actually, I've always wondered about the legality of a store's security person being able to take you to a little back room.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Actually, I've always wondered about the legality of a store's security person being able to take you to a little back room.

They don't even need to do it. They know what I look like, they have a phone and if I stole something they have video proof. I see no reason I should go with them. If they want to kidnap some dude they can pick someone else.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

They don't even need to do it. They know what I look like, they have a phone and if I stole something they have video proof. I see no reason I should go with them.

According to a thing some guy on the internet said, they can make a citizen's arrest and detain you, but cannot search you.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Actually, I've always wondered about the legality of a store's security person being able to take you to a little back room.

Allow me to give you some insights from first hand experience. As an inventory associate I often have to cover the asset protection specialist (usually the guy who stands up at the front) when he goes on break or for some other reason is unavailable. In our training videos, if we witness shoplifting, we are to confront the customer before they attempt to exit the store and apprehend them ("apprehend" not in a legal sense but just having a firm physical grip on the individual), and then lead them to the back room (usually the asset protection office where all the surveillance and video equipment is). I would say the vast majority of the time people choose to comply - if they don't, we try to prevent them from leaving the store until we can get the police involved.
 
Last edited:
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Thoughts are?
Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of punishment

Imagine you’re browsing at Bloomingdale’s when a security guard taps you on the shoulder and accuses you of shoplifting. He takes you to a private room, sits you down, and runs your name through a database to see if you have any outstanding warrants. Then he tells you that you have two options. The first involves him calling the police, who might arrest you and take you to jail. The second allows you to walk out of the store immediately, no questions asked—right after you sign an admission of guilt and agree to pay $320 to take an online course designed to make you never want to steal again.

Which would you choose?

The article did a good job laying out the problem. Assuming I was actually innocent, it's still not a no-brainer to fight the charge. If the police did file charges, it would cost far more than the $320 to fight it assuming the risk of conviction was zero. You'd burn through that with the first phone call to a decent attorney. The possibility of $5,000 or $10,000 in attorney fees wouldn't bankrupt me so I could afford the risk and not suffer any change in lifestyle, but that's not true if you're poor.

It all depends on whether the retailers are operating in good faith. If they are, and the article offered no evidence they were making spurious allegations, then there probably is little downside, and lots of petty criminals avoid a very damaging hit on their record for no more than a speeding ticket in lots of jurisdictions.

FWIW, the traffic court in my area poses the same risks - if you're ticketed, it really doesn't pay to fight the ticket for 99% or so. My last one was total BS, but the fine was $100, I plead no contest, the judge put me on 3 month traffic "probation" and it stayed off my driving record. If I'd plead 'not guilty' it's my word against the police, and if found guilty I'd owe another $500 in 'court costs' for the 'trial' AND have a hit on my driving record. I was IMO completely innocent, but I paid the fine - no brainer. I'm not sure why I wouldn't take the $320 cost in this case for the same reasons, even if innocent.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

They don't even need to do it. They know what I look like, they have a phone and if I stole something they have video proof. I see no reason I should go with them. If they want to kidnap some dude they can pick someone else.

This isn't about ****ing kidnapping. The reason the individual is taken to a back room is so that 1) They can be confronted with evidence that they were shoplifting 2) be given a choice to either pay for the merchandise or return it to the store and 3) if some type of confrontation or dispute arises it doesn't become a spectacle for the whole store to see. It isn't like detaining someone in a jail cell.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Indeed. If I am being accosted and threatened unrightfully, I think I am very emotionally damaged, and will be receiving a nice fat piece of compensation from Bloomingdales' for my troubles.

Glad you understood my thinking! :)

I'm not afraid but under false pretense, they certainly would have a bigger problem for holding me. :doh
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

This seems to be a private version of the Probation Before Judgement (PBJ) plea deal frequently issued by the (corrupt?) court system now. The only difference being who gets to keep the booty. Whether the PBJ is issued by a judge and requires anger management, defensive driving or substance abuse classes, paid for by the "guilty" to prevent being called guilty, makes little difference. It is a shakedown either way since you "volunteer" or else.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

Seems like it could cost the taxpayers less in law enforcement, court, and even prison costs. (The latter less likely).

But I thought that most retailers had a policy of not detaining shoplifters for reasons of safety and liability? This seems dangerous for basic security people, unless more highly trained and also....requiring higher pay.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

This isn't about ****ing kidnapping. The reason the individual is taken to a back room is so that 1) They can be confronted with evidence that they were shoplifting 2) be given a choice to either pay for the merchandise or return it to the store and 3) if some type of confrontation or dispute arises it doesn't become a spectacle for the whole store to see. It isn't like detaining someone in a jail cell.

I would question the statement of putting your hands on someone....These days you may be the one finding yourself in cuffs for assault.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

The article did a good job laying out the problem. Assuming I was actually innocent, it's still not a no-brainer to fight the charge. If the police did file charges, it would cost far more than the $320 to fight it assuming the risk of conviction was zero. You'd burn through that with the first phone call to a decent attorney. The possibility of $5,000 or $10,000 in attorney fees wouldn't bankrupt me so I could afford the risk and not suffer any change in lifestyle, but that's not true if you're poor.

It all depends on whether the retailers are operating in good faith. If they are, and the article offered no evidence they were making spurious allegations, then there probably is little downside, and lots of petty criminals avoid a very damaging hit on their record for no more than a speeding ticket in lots of jurisdictions.

FWIW, the traffic court in my area poses the same risks - if you're ticketed, it really doesn't pay to fight the ticket for 99% or so. My last one was total BS, but the fine was $100, I plead no contest, the judge put me on 3 month traffic "probation" and it stayed off my driving record. If I'd plead 'not guilty' it's my word against the police, and if found guilty I'd owe another $500 in 'court costs' for the 'trial' AND have a hit on my driving record. I was IMO completely innocent, but I paid the fine - no brainer. I'm not sure why I wouldn't take the $320 cost in this case for the same reasons, even if innocent.

Personally from my experience this has never been a problem - these things don't even usually get that far. There is a really good way for any individual to prove their guilt or innocence, and that is to empty pockets/bags/purses. If you have no unpaid-for merchandise on your person, then the store would be hard-pressed to file charges against you - it's simply not worth their time and effort to do so.
 
Re: Pay us or we’ll call the cops: Many U.S. stores giving shoplifters choice of puni

i would unzip my trousers and tell them to suck it
while pissing all over their electronics

but then i would not have stolen anything or have any outstanding warrants and could get away with such brash behavior
 
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