Category: Let's talk
Hi all,
This may seem like a stupid question, and maybe there are only a couple of answers, but this is sort of unfamiliar territory for me. I work in a convenience store that is owned by someone who is blind. There were at least two documented cases of theft and attempted theft by customers before I started working there, and I suspect that there have been two thefts since I became a cashier. About two months ago, I heard a girl say into her phone something about stealing as she was walking out the door. Then today, two girls came up to my register and said that they saw a guy come in, act really shady, and leave with a bunch of stuff in his pockets. Of course, it's just been my boss and me working during these incidents. Besides cameras, is there anything else we can do to stop this? The cameras we have in the store right now are just for show. A couple of years ago, someone was caught stealing on tape, but after taking the tape with them, the police did nothing about it. After that, my boss turned off the cameras, concluding that they were pointless. But I know one of the guys on the force, and I plan on asking him to see that our situation is taken seriously if I can get my boss to reinstate the cameras. In the meantime, I thought I'd come here and see if anyone had any additional suggestions.
Thanks,
Becky
I've worked in several of those types of stores, Becky. I know there were thefts in my time there, and attempts at them. Cameras were the only way we found around it. At first a camera was put in just for show, but it didn't take people long to realize that's all it was for. Then we activated the cameras, and thankfully our building's security staff took it seriously. It only took two instances of stealing and those people being banned from the store for it to stop.
In the other building, that did not have cameras, twice customers ratted out someone who was trying to steal something. That stopped it both times. Would-be thiefs learned not to try stuff when anyone else was around, because there was a good chance they'd get told on. How many thefts actually occurred in that store, I do not know.
yeah, and these venders stands get closed down quickly and you're the one to blame. and this is what the state does to innocent people and then you are out of luck and out of a job, the counselor gets all the credit that he got you a job.
Get the cameras back in and yes, encourage customers to point out pilpherage. It doesn't matter whether you are blind or sighted, people will always attempt to take something as long as they can get away with it. The problem we have is that unless the theft amounts to a prescribed amount of money, it is considered a low priority. One thing that can help is to demonstrate that your business has a higher likelihood to have goods pilphered from it and you may then have the police take a closer look. If your store is in an area with onsite security, make sure you have good relations with the security staff so that a security presence is observable. That should help.
Concur with the other posts on here. Important that the person owning the establishment maintain a strong and confident presence, and that goes for the cashiers as well. Retale establishments lose millions a year to theft, that goes for big guys like Target and Walmart.
In a smaller setting, if you encourage and, dare I say, reward, customers for ratting out shoplifters I think you'll find a change. That, and provided the cameras are maintained and live as long as the store is open.
Just make sure you know who counts the till, and someone's got an eye on the books. As a blind vendor I was pretty anal about that stuff, and spent time every night with the spreadsheets doing the books.
that's why you couldn't pay me a million dollars to ever, ever be a cashier again! Was a cashier at a goodwill store a few years ago... the store got robbed... there was no security or cameras or anything.
I don't know how much money was stolen because I wasn't the employee who gave the individual the money. Nevertheless, i had to testify in 2 court trials 5 years apart just because I was in the store when the robbery took place. It seemed completely pointless and unfair for me... I mean, I didn't know the individual, I couldn't identify the person, I didn't give them any money or anything, and I didn't even know how much was actually stolen and little to nothing about what really happened
So my advice is just be very, very careful, and good luck.