Title: Shoplifting Detention - How Retail Stores Detain a Suspected Shoplifter?
Headings: Shoplifting Detention – How Retail Stores Detain a Suspected Shoplifter?
Shoplifting Detention – How Retail Stores Detain a Suspected Shoplifter?
Shoplifting Detention
Shoplifting Detention: The Policy Decision
Shoplifting Detention: Approaching the Suspect
Shoplifting Detention: The Stop
Shoplifting Detention: The Use of force
Shoplifting Detention: Processing the Shoplifter
Shoplifting Detention: Written Incident Reports
About Chris McGoey

Content: The Stop
The detention process starts when the customer is initially confronted. If the suspected shoplifter has unpaid merchandise at the time of the detention, ask them to, “please return to the store so we can clear up this matter.” If you act professionally and with back-up, ninety-eight percent of the time the shoplifter will comply and go anywhere you direct, without fanfare. The loss prevention agent should try to recover at least one item outside of the store to confirm that a theft occurred and the item was not dumped. Stopping a customer without stolen goods is called a bad stop or unproductive detention. Unproductive stops can and should be terminated while still outside, along with a sincere apology for the confusion. When escorting a shoplifter back inside the store, care must be taken to see that the thief does not try to run. Customers and store employees could be at risk if a scared shoplifter decides to escape by running through the aisles of the store towards another exit. To prevent this from occurring, at least two loss-prevention agents should walk very close to the suspect while speaking in a calm manner. To prevent the risk of escaping, the loss prevention agents should consider using holding force to guide the shoplifter or simply hang on to their belt.