I’m sure it’s all sorts - teams, meth heads, kids, desperates, employees whatever. These “loss prevention” units have to figure the best way to deter theft before it happens, detect theft when it happens, trespass / prosecute thieves, and minimize loss of sales all at once. It’s a difficult calculus I’m sure.
There are organized groups, but they mainly operate through removing and slap-tagging (placing an adhesive barcode for a cheap product over an expensive one).
Some of them get very specific. When I worked at a major outdoors chain, they’d get a $3,000+ Hummingbird sonar unit and put on a tag for a $100 Hummingbird unit, so the cashier would see the correct brand name pop up on the screen.
When I was a teenager I worked at a grocery store. We’d replace the cases of red Bull barcodes with tuna fish can barcodes and go through self checkout with it.
Retailers fault thinking they can save $ by automating away jobs.
It’s organized theft rings with someone likely on the inside providing info. It’s not random people taking items because they’re broke.
I’m sure it’s all sorts - teams, meth heads, kids, desperates, employees whatever. These “loss prevention” units have to figure the best way to deter theft before it happens, detect theft when it happens, trespass / prosecute thieves, and minimize loss of sales all at once. It’s a difficult calculus I’m sure.
There are organized groups, but they mainly operate through removing and slap-tagging (placing an adhesive barcode for a cheap product over an expensive one).
Some of them get very specific. When I worked at a major outdoors chain, they’d get a $3,000+ Hummingbird sonar unit and put on a tag for a $100 Hummingbird unit, so the cashier would see the correct brand name pop up on the screen.
When I was a teenager I worked at a grocery store. We’d replace the cases of red Bull barcodes with tuna fish can barcodes and go through self checkout with it.
Retailers fault thinking they can save $ by automating away jobs.
I’m surprised the scale didn’t flag it
This was early self checkout