We dont really give a rats ass what you post to this forum, but try to be witty at least! And dont even think of posting any spam. Tell us a story, write some poetry, babble incoherently about nothing whatsoever... the choice is yours!http://www.zooass.com/forum/list.php?1Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:37:49 -0500 Phorum 5.2.8 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,24580,24580#msg-24580 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,24580,24580#msg-24580People were posting continually.
Now it's deader than hell.......
Tell me what went wrong??

Cheers
toom]]> timeoutofmind Anarchy and ChaosThu, 01 Oct 2009 06:09:19 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,24199,24199#msg-24199 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,24199,24199#msg-24199 Anonymous User Anarchy and ChaosThu, 18 Sep 2008 22:28:15 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10967,10967#msg-10967 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10967,10967#msg-10967
?..??.???...SHOPLIFTING TIPS????..??..

I will attempt to post a lengthy note on some of the tricks to the shoplifting game. Most of the information here has been obtained from other post or off the internet. I have just compiled it into a more useful / readable form. If some of these tactics are new to you, they are not to everyone else. Loss Prevention personnel (store security) should be aware of all of these scams. With that said - there are still good ways to use these methods (tailored to your style) to relieve the stores of their merchandise.

Newbs : OLD RULE OF CODE -

A) IF YOU CANT DO THE TIME - DON?T DO THE CRIME.
Even if you don?t go to jail, and you probably wont on your 1st or 2nd offence, try to explain in your job interview why you were stealing. Unless you like flipping patties all your life, don?t expect a high paying job.

B) BODY LANGUAGE.
From the time you enter the parking lot to the time you leave you should act as if someone is watching your every move (they probably are). The biggest mistake a shoplifter can make is to act like a shoplifter. Nervousness, constantly looking around, looking at security cameras and suspicious behave are what L/P are looking for. This is what they were trained for and you will make their job much easer. You want to remain cool and look as normal as possible. You should have already done your homework and studied the layout of the store. Where the camera placements are and any blind spots. You want to look like an everyday shopper who has no cares in the world.

C) DON?T TRUST ANYONE YOU DON?T KNOW.
Just because she looks like a sweet old lady doesn?t mean that she wont alert the staff to your wrong doings. He looks like a teen age punk, but really he is under cover Loss Prevention watching your every move. Loss Prevention personnel come in all sizes and age.

D) IF IT DON?T FEEL RIGHT - ABORT!
Stop what your doing - leave, come back another time. If it don?t look or feel right always go with your instincts, they could be right.

E) DRESS FOR THE JOB.
L/P are trained to watch everyone, regardless of race or age. If you walk into a store wearing the latest baggie hip hop cloths, a jacket when its warm out, or leave your sunglasses on, then yes you will be watched. You want to blend in. Notice what the average shopper is wearing and dress like them. Every store and every area will be different. A ?high end? department store will have better dressed shoppers then a discount or home improvement store. No matter what, always wear clean cloths, bath, comb your hair, and have as ?clean look? as you can.

F) NEVER STEAL FROM A MOM & POP STORE.
Stay to the chain stores - why : 1- Pop might shoot your ass. 2- If caught the police, judge, DA and everyone else will be harder on you. 3- Most don?t have the insurance to recoup their losses. It hurts them a lot more.


Remember this is a game of chance and luck. All it takes is one slip on your part too ruin a perfectly good day. Always think, plan, then think again before you do any shoplifting. Most of the people who get caught are the ?spur of the moment? grab it and go lifter who does not think or doest do their homework. If you spend a little time doing research, you might not end up doing time

??????..Tricks of the Trade - ?Boosting 101???????..

Most shoplifters are amateurs; however, there are people and groups or teams who make their living from shoplifting (called boosters), and they tend to be more skilled. Some individuals shoplift in an effort to resist selling their labor, and/or to protest corporate power. These are some of the most common shoplifting (S/L) scams.


Cash Drawer Theft:
Cash drawer theft is usually attempted by a shoplifter purchasing a low dollar item and giving the cashier a large bill or by asking a cashier to change a large bill. As the cashier is counting change the shoplifter will attempt to create a distraction. One such is telling the cashier that they are giving the shoplifter the wrong amount of change. Once the cashier looks down to recount the change the shoplifter will reach into the cash drawer and grab what they can. The cashier then hands the shoplifter back the change and shoplifter leaves the store. Usually cash drawer theft is not detected until audits of the register are completed and show a shortage. To combat cash drawer theft many retailers will not accept bills larger than twenty dollars or will not give out change at the register. Also cameras have been placed over the register to watch all transactions.

Counterfeit Bill Passing:
Although the act of counterfeiting currency is a far more serious crime than the act of shoplifting (think Secret Service, federal felony), counterfeiters often use retail outlets to launder their fake bills and in effect are stealing merchandise at the same time. Typically, a counterfeiter will use a large denomination bill, like a fifty or a hundred, to purchase a low priced item. If the currency is accepted, the counterfeiter successfully launders the fake bill and leaves with the merchandise and legal currency as change. Most retailers require their cashiers to verify large bills with a counterfeit detection pen. However, due to poor training or when faced with long lines of customers this procedure is often disregarded.

Gift Card Cloning:
In this scam, a normal store gift card with no value attached is stolen from a store. The shoplifter then clones the magnetic strip on the back of the gift card and makes a copy or copies of it. The original gift card is then returned to the store by the shoplifter. The gift card is activated once purchased by another customer, and the dollar amount applied to the legitimate gift card is passed to all the cloned gift cards. This scam requires some computer knowledge and a card reader.

Fitting Room theft:
Typically this scam is seen most often in large clothing retailers. This scam generally preys upon the common Loss Prevention policy prohibiting apprehension of shoplifters when concealment is not actually seen by an investigator. Also that it is against the law to observe anyone in a dressing room. The would-be shoplifter selects a large amount of merchandise and takes it to a fitting room. Once inside, the would-be shoplifter conceals the merchandise into another stores bag out of sight of store employees and store investigators. Another way would be to hide the clothing under your cloths or my favorite is to where old cloths in, new ones out. Some store now count the clothing going in - too get around this just bring in some old cloths and exchange them.


Metal-lined Clothing or Containers:
Metal-lined jackets, bags or containers (such as aluminum foil-lined bags) allow a would-be shoplifter to shield the RFID tags attached to merchandise concealed on their person from the scanners at the door of a store. The tags must be completely shielded for this to work. If there is a ?leak? (i.e. If the radio waves from the tower reach the tag through a tear) the towers will be activated. In some states the use of ?tools? to defraud a store may increase your charges.

Booster Boxes:
A booster box is a device that allows shoplifter to conceal a large quantity of merchandise on their person. Typically professional shoplifters of large girth most commonly attempt this scam. The use of booster boxes is most prevalent at clothing retailers due to the fact that clothing merchandise can easily be molded to fit better inside the box. Some professional shoplifters have been known in the past to attempt to use booster boxes to conceal electronics and DVDs. Be warned - A foil bag, box or tool will cause a jump from misdemeanor to a felony in some states.

Bag Switching:
Bag switching methods are generally attempted by a group of two shoplifters. Typically the first shoplifter will have a large bag and gather a large amount of merchandise quickly to get the attention of a Loss Prevention Investigator. Once the first shoplifter knows that they are being followed they will conceal the merchandise into the bag. The first shoplifter will then switch their bag with the second shoplifter, who usually has a matching bag that is already filled with items that don?t belong to the retailer. Often the Loss Prevention Investigator will miss the switch and arrest the first shoplifter. Subsequently, the first shoplifter may claim false arrest and receive a gift card from the retailer.

Box Stuffing:
This scam involves the use of a box which had a cheaper item in it that has been removed. A would-be shoplifter removes the item from the box and proceeds to conceal a large amount of merchandise inside. The would-be shoplifter then reseals the box and takes it to a checkout aisle, where they pay the purchase price for the item. If the scam is successful the would-be shoplifter walks out of the retailer with concealed merchandise still inside the box. You can also leave the low priced item in the box if you have room for your concealed merchandise, make your purchase, then just bring the box with the item back for a full refund.

Grab and Run:
A common shoplifting technique is known by the Loss Prevention community as a "grab and run." Simply put, a shoplifter enters a retail establishment usually with prior knowledge of what they are looking for. The shoplifter moves very quickly toward the merchandise they wish to steal. Once the shoplifter has the merchandise they proceed to the nearest store exit, usually running. Due to the short time that shoplifter is inside the store persons who attempt this scam are rarely caught, or in some cases even detected. Less common is for a group of people to rush a store and grab as much merchandise as possible and then rush out. The speed with which this happens and the large numbers of people involved make it difficult to stop.

The Milkshake Concealment:
A less common shoplifting technique used for smaller high-dollar items is the milkshake concealer. A milkshake is purchased by the shoplifter and taken into the store. The shoplifter proceeds to drop small heavy items like jewelry into the milkshake. On leaving the store their milkshake is unlikely to be searched. Shoplifters using this method must be wary of drinking too much of their milkshake or the items will be revealed in the bottom of their cup.

Fake Returns:
Sometimes shoplifters attempt to return packages to a retailer that contain no merchandise, a used item, or in some cases things like bricks. This scam is aimed at inexperienced or naive cashiers, in hopes that they will not check the package during the return. When successful, the fake return is usually not discovered for several hours.

Receipt Matching:
The receipt matching scam involves using receipts to match merchandise codes from the receipt to items found in a store. Most retailers use company specific merchandise codes on their merchandise so store personnel can identify the location more quickly and efficiently. Additionally the merchandise is used to verify merchandise that was purchased at a particular retailer during a return. This information is printed onto the receipts of purchased merchandise. Typically shoplifters will search either retailer?s parking lot or trashcans looking for receipts that have a high dollar item on it. The shoplifter then enters the store and compares the code on the receipt to the codes printed on the merchandise in the store. Once the shoplifter finds a match they will take the merchandise to the return area and receive money for it. Typically, to avoid detection, shoplifters will use a piece of paper with the merchandise code they are looking for written on it. Some stores try to prevent this by installing outdoor cameras.

False Returns:
Shoplifters will actually gather an item from the selling floor and try to receive money for it without a receipt at the return station. Although this method is not as fool proof as the receipt matching method, it is very effective particularly when done to an inexperienced cashier. Usually the shoplifter will start complaining to the cashier about their inability to return the merchandise. Typically the shoplifter will state that they lost their receipt or threaten the cashier by stating that they want to talk to their supervisor. To avoid confrontation the cashier will ring up the return and give the shoplifter dollar value of the merchandise.

Self-checkout scam:
At some larger retailers customers have the option of using self-checkout lanes, in which customers do not interact with employees at all when making purchases but check themselves out at a computer. Customers are expected to scan the items that they wish to purchase, insert payment for the scanned items, then bag the items and leave the store. Shoplifters have been known to purchase small items with these machines, and place additional items in their bags without paying for them. Many shoplifters intentionally act slightly confused when using these machines, and act as if they are attempting to scan the item which they wish to steal, so that, if confronted, they can claim that they took the additional items by mistake. Beware - these checkout lanes are watched very closely by L/P. Most have a camera overhead watching what you scan and a computer screen off site mirroring what you scan.

Shopping Cart Magic:
Shopping cart tricks are often disregarded by Loss Prevention personnel. Typically, older or professional shoplifters usually attempt this scam. The scam works in the following way: when the shoplifter first enters the store, they locate an empty shopping cart. The shoplifter finds the item they are looking for and typically place on the bottom or under the baby seat. The shoplifter then continues to gather a small dollar amount of merchandise and places it in the shopping cart. The shoplifter then brings the shopping cart to register and removes all the merchandise with the exception of the item they wish to steal. If the cashier is not paying attention the shoplifter will usually be able to get the merchandise past them without much effort. After paying for the smaller dollar items the shoplifter leaves the store and successfully pulls off the scam. The most prevalent method used to combat this scam is the use of door personnel who are trained to ask for receipts for high dollar and un-bagged merchandise.

Shopping Cart Passing:
Shopping cart passing is usually attempted by a two-person group of shoplifters. The first shoplifter will gather the desired merchandise into a shopping cart and take it to the register. The cashier will then ring up all the merchandise and place it in bags. Once the total is rung up, the first shoplifter states that they forgot their wallet in their car. The first shoplifter will then exit the store and most cashiers will put the shopping cart off to the side and resume ringing up customers. At this point, the second shoplifter moves in and grabs the cart and walks out of the store with the stolen merchandise in bags.

Ticket Switching:
Ticket switching is among the oldest shoplifting scams that retailers have faced. Typically, the shoplifter finds an item on clearance and removes the clearance tag. The shoplifter then finds a high dollar item and applies the clearance tag to it. The shoplifter then brings the high dollar item to an unsuspecting cashier and pays for it at a clearance price. Most retailers today now utilize electronic barcodes that when scanned will ring up the correct price. Usually, when the shoplifter challenges the price a cashier supervisor will refuse to ring up the item at the clearance price. Some more clever shoplifters are now utilizing modern printing and digital technology to copy low dollar bars codes for retail merchandise packages. These shoplifters then print bar code labels that will actually ring up at cashier registers.

Accidental Stealing:
Accidental Stealing is when a thief takes their place in the queue with the items they intend to steal, and pay for only one of those items while holding what they want to steal in full view to cause confusion (or place said items into their pockets) but avoid suspicion due to their apparent intention of payment. If the unlikely event of being caught, the thief could simply pass off the attempt at stealing as accidental.

Out the Wrong Door:
This method requires a common outside door with two diverging doors from the vestibule: one for an entrance (which is not usually supervised) and one for an exit. Two people enter the store. One person retrieves merchandise from the selling floor. When this person is ready to leave the store, he waits at the entrance door. The other person walks around to the exit, walks into the vestibule and activates the entrance door on the way out, and the person with the merchandise also leaves. Sometimes the second person will just distract the cashiers while the person with the merchandise waits for some unknowing customer to enter the store and activate the entrance door.

The Self Bagger:
In this scam the shoplifter enters the retailer with the stores bags already on them. They make their selections and then proceed to a secluded part of the store. He will then bag up his merchandise and place it the cart. Then with bagged merchandise leave the store. This works really well if there are multiple Points-of-Sale ( cashers ) through out the store,


???????????..STORE SECURITY ???????????..
??????..LOSS PREVENTION - ASSET PROTECTION?????.

Loss Prevention / Asset Protection.
They are a form of private investigation, working for the store, that looks into larceny and theft. The focus of such investigations generally includes shoplifting, embezzlement, credit fraud, and check fraud. Loss Prevention ?LP? or Asset Protection ?AP? are a term used to describe a number of methods used to reduce the amount of all losses and shrinkage often related to retail trade.

To combat ?bad stops? retailers have introduced a series of steps designed to help establish probable cause. The number of steps vary from company to company but are usually in some semblance of the following:
? The investigator must see the suspect enter an area or department with no merchandise in their possession.
? The investigator must see the suspect select the store's merchandise.
? The investigator must see the suspect conceal the store's merchandise.
? The investigator must maintain constant surveillance of the suspect and be certain the store merchandise is not discarded.
? The suspect must pass all reasonable points of sale with the merchandise before conducting an apprehension.

Shoplifting incidents rarely go according to the five steps listed above. Investigators must use their best judgment when establishing probable cause. Most retailers today have established certification programs that a Loss Prevention employee must pass before they can make arrests. Usually these programs consist of a buddy system, which pairs a new investigator with an experienced investigator. These programs usually last for several months.
One method of bypassing steps commonly employed is establishing the selection of merchandise. This is usually done by noting what a suspect had when first observed. If seen later with several items they did not have before, it may be reasonable to assume that the merchandise belongs to the retailer. Many feel strongly that good judgment is key to making successful apprehensions. At times not all conditions can or will be feasibly met to make an apprehension. However it is still possible to prevent the loss.

Some investigators have been known to attempt forms of consent searches in an attempt to obtain probable cause without legally detaining a person. It may be explained to the customer "we need to check your receipt to be certain you were not double charged" or some other reason. However such techniques, while not false arrest may still result in the firing of a Loss Prevention Investigator if it is a violation of company policy. Others feel all steps must be met before any action is taken. This second approach is used to protect the company from law suits resulting from "bad stops" which insult innocent shoppers. The exact definition of a "bad stop" varies from business to business; it is generally understood as false arrest.

The strict adherence to the rules of apprehension have also come about as some criminals try to defraud the loss prevention industry by "egging on" or pretending to steal as a way to get LP officers? attention while others in the store really are stealing or simply to get themselves arrested falsely for use in suing the company. Some companies have taken a "hands off" policy to detaining shoplifters due to past law suits.


??????..ANTI-SHOPLIFTING DEVICES???????

CCTV camera systems:
CCTV is an abbreviation for Closed Circuit Television. CCTV camera systems are common to almost all loss prevention departments. The obvious benefits of CCTV camera is that the investigator can gain a better view of a suspect, record incidents, and not reveal themselves to shoplifting suspects. Some retailers use two-man teams in which one person uses the CCTV camera system to detect shoplifters and a floor man follows the suspect and apprehends them.
CCTV camera systems have been drastically modernized in the last decade. Most systems now record digitally as opposed to using video tapes which were more common in the past. Instead of storing video on a tape many systems now include a computer server that contain video for months at a time. One draw back of many of these digital recorders is their inability to move and view more than one fixed area of the store. However new digital cameras overlooking registers have greatly increased the number of internal cash thefts being resolved.
In relationship to its effectiveness, the CCTV has to be considered one of the greatest tools ever used in not just Loss Prevention but the security industry in general. Firms which offer leases on such systems have brought the costs down to a point where the franchise owner can consider it economically justifiable. A quality CCTV system including a videotape recorder and monitors (at least one of which is visible to the public) is a proven deterrent with many related benefits. Some related benefits of the CCTV system include protection from employee theft. A well advertised visible system also acts as a holdup deterrent and when thefts do occur, prosecution is simplified.

Covert CCTV Cameras:
Covert CCTV cameras are fairly recent innovation within the loss prevention industry. Usually the cameras are small and compact and can be easily moved from area to area. Covert cameras can be easily made to look like fixtures or in some cases boxes inside a stockroom. Most covert cameras are undetectable by the average employee. These cameras can be as small as a quarter with an antenna and real hard to see. In a high theft store think blind spot.

Dummy Domes:
Dummy domes have become prevalent in all forms of retail loss prevention. Dummy domes do not contain cameras, although they are identical to appearance of domes that do contain cameras. Dummy domes can be strategically placed to herd shoplifters into a particular location or be used as a deterrent to shoplifting.

Ceiling Mirrors:
Ceiling mirrors were once a staple of the loss prevention industry. Now ceiling mirrors for the most part have been relegated to convenience stores. Ceiling mirrors allow loss prevention investigators to watch activity in a high theft area without being seen. Some loss prevention departments have been known to use mirrors to increase the range of their camera systems.

Viewing Towers:
Although the necessity of viewing towers has been eliminated to large extent by CCTV camera systems they still exist today in older stores. A tower is usually a centrally located observation platform generally found in a location raised above the sales floor. An investigator can spend time in the tower while searching for shoplifters or investigating employees much in the same manner with CCTV. Some stores have secondary security rooms/closets on the floor with computers that can pull up CCTV views for closer observation.

Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) -
EAS is a deterrence system used by retailers to deter shoplifting. EAS involves the use of electronic security towers and electronic security tags. If the tag is not disabled or removed it will activate the alarm tower, which is generally located at the entrance to a retail store. EAS systems provide a good deterrent against casual theft. The occasional shoplifter, not being familiar with these systems and their mode of operation, will either get caught by them, or will refrain from stealing. Informed shoplifters with appropriate tools can in some cases remove or deactivate tags. As a service to retailers, some manufacturers embed security tags in the packaging of their products, or even inside the product itself. These tags come in several types. The most common is the Acousto-magnetic system which is a small plastic rectangle tag (? by 2 inch) found inside all DVD / CDs. You will always find these tags within 3 inches of the bar code (Industry Standard). Second is the hard tag which is used by clothing retailers. They may be rectangle or round. These are removed at the cashier with a magnet releasing a pin on the backside of the tag.

RF EAS Stickers:
RF EAS stickers are usually placed on small items such as shaving razors and cold medicines and are used by retail drug stores. RF EAS stickers work on a different system then Acousto-magnetic system. RF EAS stickers are printed on a thin piece of square 2x2 inch paper with a spiral wire design on the back and are difficult to remove. Usually the sticker includes a retailer?s company logo and serves as an indication to would be buyers that the merchandise has been stolen.

Ink Tags:
Ink tags have been around for several decades and are most commonly used by clothing retailers. The ink tags require special equipment to remove the tags from the clothing. When the tags are forcibly removed, one or two glass vials containing permanent ink will break, causing it to spill over the clothing, effectively destroying it. Ink tags fall into the loss prevention category called benefit denial. As the name suggests an ink tag denies the shoplifter any benefit for his or her efforts. Despite this, shoplifters have found ways around them, such as duct-taping the holes through which the ink comes out and then removing the tag with pliers, resulting in little-to-no damage of the merchandise.

Serial Numbers:
Serial numbers are now being commonly placed on high dollar store merchandise. If loss prevention departments record the serial numbers they can subsequently track stolen merchandise if it were to be recovered by the police. Recording serial numbers is usually only done by larger retailers due to the fact that they have district investigators who investigate organized shoplifting over a certain geographic area. Also serial numbers are used when you try and return a high end / electronic item to make sure the item you are retuning is the same item on the recite. This is to deter buying a new item, then swapping it out for a broken item and returning it.

Electronic Journals:
Almost every large retail institution has some form of an Electronic Journal. An Electronic Journal records all the transactions that occur in a retail store. Information such as credit card numbers, gift card numbers, refunds, and merchandise voids is all gathered at the point-of-sale. These electronic journals can then be used to view and print facsimile of receipts and in some cases checks.

Cash Office Audits:
A cash office audit is usually conducted by a common retail employee who counts up the cash from transactions at the retailer's registers. A shortage occurs when the dollar amount added from the register does not match the total the cash audit says it should have. Shortages are used to begin and close cash embezzlement cases that are investigated by loss prevention departments. Generally cash office audits include information pertaining to which employees used a particular register during the day. This information is used by loss prevention investigators to narrow the field of employees in their investigation into the shortage.

Two-way radio sets:
Almost all loss prevention departments have some form of two-way radio communication. This technology is used by investigators mainly to help two-man teams follow a shoplifting suspect in conjunction with the CCTV camera system or to summon assistance when apprehending a shoplifter.

Point of Sale:
POS is a form of electronic journal that allows the loss prevention investigator to see a transaction at the cash register as it is occurring live. Typically this system is either displayed on a computer screen or on a monitor that is linked to the CCTV camera system. This system has proven valuable in assisting investigators in closing employee embezzlement cases pertaining to merchandise passing, merchandise voiding, and discount fraud.

Exception Reports:
Exception reports are compiled on an annual basis into a report. Usually the reports are received monthly or bi-weekly. The reports include information on cash audit over and shorts, no-sales, flagged returns, employees ringing themselves up, fake employee numbers used to avoid commission docking, and merchandise voids. Exception reports have dramatically reduced the amount of time an investigator needs to spend to detect a possible sign of employee embezzlement.

Refund Checks:
Refund checks are aimed at possible fraudulent and high risk refunds. The customer is told they will receive a check in the mail instead of receiving cash or store credit during the actual return. This tactic is typically employed instances where a customer does not have a receipt or there is prior knowledge that the return may be questionable. Generally a loss prevention manager or operations manager will have to approve the release of a refund check. This tactic works well because fraudulent refunders generally will not call the store to complain when they do not receive their check in the mail.

Bottom of Basket:
Bottom of Basket Loss (BOB), occurs when an item is placed on the lower tray of a shopping cart and the cashier forgets to check the lower tray for items resulting in the item not being paid for. What makes this form of shrink unique is that it often happens both intentionally and unintentionally on behalf of the customer. All estimates for the dollar amount lost in this manner are over $2 billion US per year in North America alone, or $7 per lane per day. There are a few products on the market to help prevent this loss. The most common are mirrors mounted across the checkout lane, some stores have employed camera systems pointed at the lower tray with monitors for each cashier. Neither of these systems work effectively because the problem is the inattentive cashier and not so much visibility. A newer type of system has been released which actively monitors the checkout lane and alerts when an item is detected on the lower tray of the shopping cart. One such system is named HIDE Alert which uses IR sensors to detect the shape of a shopping cart, then scans the lower tray for items. However, this system causes many false alarms since umbrellas, children, or other things passing in front of the sensor can trigger the alarm.
One system that has proven the most effective is the Lane Hawk? Visual Scanner from Evolution Robotics Retail. Lane Hawk identifies items, sends their UPC codes to the point-of-sale system and includes those items as part of the transaction. Lane Hawk is based on its patented visual pattern recognition technology used in some of today?s most sophisticated robotic applications. This technology enables Lane Hawk to virtually eliminate false positives ? Lane Hawk only identifies and sends BOB items to the POS that the retailer specifically chooses.

Consent Searches:
Consent searches are a tactic that is widely used in law enforcement and is still present in Loss Prevention today. By asking a customer to consent to a search of their belongings such as shopping bags and receipts any illegal search or seizure requirements can be circumvented. Consent searches in some instances can be used to build on previously existing facts to establish the probable cause necessary to detain a shoplifter. The extreme end of establishing probable cause through a consent search has been all eliminated except with a few smaller companies who still utilize it.
In modern Loss Prevention consent searches are a tactic that is most expansively used today by warehouse retailers such as Costco and Sam\'s Club. In using this tactic warehouse retailers have made consent searches of their customer\'s purchases a part of the membership agreement. Although a customer may refuse to consent to a search of their purchase from a legal standpoint, the warehouse retailer does retain the right as a private business entity to strip the customer of their membership or issue a verbal trespass. Warehouse retailers have been able to utilize consent searches to lower their prices on goods and reduce external shrinkage at the same time.

Integrity Shops:
A common example of an integrity shop is marking a large denomination bill such as a $100 dollar and placing it in a cashier's drawer. The goal is to see if the bill disappears from the drawer or doesn?t make it to its appropriate location such as a cash office. The information gained from an integrity shop can be used to initiate investigations or conduct interviews that could possibly reveal dishonest activity or outright theft.


????????..SOME EXTRAS??????

First the basics :
Search the web for different security systems, and Loss Prevention (LP) forum web sites.
Know your store, - i.e., Parking lot lay out and exits, outside security (cameras - roving security vehicles), store exits (also outside doors ?not? used by customers), employee only side or storage rooms, POS (casher) placements, busy/slow times (medium is best), EAS (anti-theft) bars / towers beside or above exit doors (maybe hidden by advertisements or in ceiling tiles), Mirrors - wall & ceiling, cameras & domes, same person walking around store (may try to look like shopper - any age, race, sex), dressing room - is there an employee outside of or a sign that says ?we are watching you?. I?m sure I probable left something out but you should get a general idea. Its easiest to scout out a store if your with someone else. Let them shop while your looking bored. By-your-self, just go shopping and don?t make it look obvious that your looking around. You don?t have to buy anything, but you must look like your are shopping (check prices - different colors). Don?t be afraid to talk too sales help.

Appearance is a factor in shoplifting. Most teenagers are watched the most when they walk in a store in a group with no adults with them. Also, people with radical styles of appearance are monitored a lot as well. Dress like you have no reason to steal something. If you buy something and try to smuggle something out, act like you are in a hurry to get to your study group or something. Be creative. Also, don?t be scared. If someone suspects you of shoplifting but didn?t see you take the product or even have it in your hand, they will try to intimidate you in to putting the item back. In this situation, just grin and go about your ?business?. Make it look like you are still browsing through the store and walk out with the item already concealed. Deny everything. If you are caught outside the store, give them the stolen items and run to your car. If you want, you can try to run with the items to your car. This technique is not recommended to someone without a car, workers might chase you on foot. Avoid looking at cameras. If you plan to go back to the store and you were monitored when you shoplifted there before, workers will have been informed and will be on the lookout for you. The cameras will also monitor you more closely when you go in next time and you may be caught
Never admit to anything if you are caught, don't say a word! Why would you want to make their job easier. The burden of proof that you committed a crime is on them. You do not have to talk or sign anything - its your right not to - use it.

Come on foot, or park out of view of the store.
Pay attention to your "shopping". Only lifters watch other shoppers.
Be casual. Don't look up, or around.
Once loaded, move fast, and weave.
Use alternate exits if you don't feel safe.
Pay attention to radio announcements from nearby employees.
Hit the bathrooms or changing room to screw them up.
Floor workers by their own lonesome cannot stop you. But they may be used as backup.
If all else fails, drop the stuff in very plain view, and leave.

Leaving The Area :
When leaving, always follow through. If the alarm goes off, just continue walking out the door. Once you?re outside, workers can?t legally apprehend you. A tip would be to try and walk out as someone else is walking out. With luck, they will think that something wasn?t scanned from their purchase, while you walk out with no visible items.
In the event that a worker does try to apprehend you, you will need to escape. Since no beginners have cars, I would assume, running is your best option. If you are running from someone trying to grab you, zigzagging is a good evasive maneuver. If you are in or near a crowded area, make your way to the most dense part of the crowd and walk at a moderate speed.

Security cameras :
Okay, on to the electronic security. You've no doubt noticed the hundreds of black plastic camera domes mounted in the ceiling of your local retailer. Well, just as you suspected, quite a few of these are fake. But several dozen of them are not. Every store has a "camera placement plan" they follow, which may vary slightly from store to store, but generally follows similar guidelines. Most real cameras will be placed over high-theft item areas, such as Electronic Goods, the Pharmacy, Automotive, and so on. There is literally a camera mounted over every single register in the store, pointing down to watch transactions. And, of course, it is illegal for any store to place cameras in the bathroom, or near enough to the open-ceiling dressing rooms to see in.
Like I said, it may vary between stores, but here are typically where all the movable, zoom able, real cameras are:
Over the Electronics checkout
One at each end of the front lane registers
Automotive section
There will be one above each of the front corners of the building, for scanning the parking lots
One at the back of the building, near the rear loading docks
Usually in the middle of the Clothing sections, but far enough away from the dressing rooms
Possibly right over the Pharmacy section, or nearby
Right near the Guest Service desk.
Above the wall-rack that divides the Men's and Women's Clothing sections
Also, the fixed, non-movable (and often black and white) cameras are usually mounted:
Near razors and razor blades
Near any medicines commonly stolen by junkies
Pointing at an angle at the incoming and outgoing doors, to catch face shots of thieves as they enter or exit.
Over various aisles near the Electronics section, with computers, games, stereos, etc.
Over auto radar detectors
Over GPS units in the camping section
*Definitely* over every single register, even in the Deli, Bakery, Starbucks and Pharmacy
Over the jewelry counter
A lot of the real ones have been in use for a long time, and have larger plastic domes. The newer fake ones are smaller, but the older, bigger ones don't get taken out and replaced to match because who wants the hassle, right? Don't go strictly by this, because you never know. But it's a good guideline.
All the cameras are routed back to the security Office, which is somewhere near the front of the store. The doors are almost always locked, even when people are inside. Inside, there will be a room set up with several monitors, usually about 6 to 10, which are all connected through multiplexers to VCRs or DVRs. So L/P, A/P can sit at the monitors and control the cameras using an old-style joystick switch, or a more modern sort of trackball. They can punch up any camera in the store on any monitor, although usually only about nine or ten will be able to move. The rest are fixed, and are most likely being recorded on a three-second skip. This means only every third second gets recorded, which aids thieves since it makes it hard to review and see quick motions. Sometimes thieves appear on an aisle, and a moment later seem to just vanish without doing anything. Of course, watching the cameras in real-time doesn't have the three-second skip. But if they have to go back and watch the tape again to see if you really did do what they thought you did, they have to worry about missing it if you moved too fast.
The cameras that *can* move are top notch. They can often zoom in so close that they can read information right off your driver's license all the way from the ceiling. One of the big things L/P has to get is face shots. They depend on being able to say, Yep, that's the guy. I've got his face on camera right here. So L/Ps become very good at tracking moving people and objects, and at switching quickly to other cameras for a better view. If you spend too much time wandering in a spot where there are no good cameras, or no cameras at all, they'll have to deploy from the office and watch you on foot. This can be good for you, as it heightens the chances that they'll miss something important.
One of the biggest ways to get caught easily is to *look directly at the cameras*. I know this sounds stupid, and lacks common sense, but you would not believe how many nervous amateurs will glance repeatedly, or just boldly stare at the dome right above them, giving security a perfect chance for a face shot and clear view of whatever they're stealing. Keep your eyes down, boy. Just assume the camera is real, and that you should be hiding your hand movements anyways. If you want to scope out a camera, do it from a long way off, and do not tilt your head or eyes up. Use your peripherals. And trust me - you *cannot* see through the domes to tell if it's pointed at you. They're double-layered to prevent this. And an upturned face is *very* easy to see in a camera, even on one of the smaller monitors, and will instantly attract attention.

Foil bag
1- Get a 1 gallon zip lock bag.
2- Wrap it in heavy duty aluminum foil 4 times.
3- Wrap the foil in masking or duck tape - this keep the sound of wrinkling foil down.
4- Place a cell phone in the bag.
5- Fold the lip of the bag a couple of times and seal it tight. You must be able to completely stop the Radio Waves in order to pass through the towers.
6- If, after sealing the bag, the cell phone rings - you have a ?leak?. go back and make a tighter seal.

Good luck and Happy Retail Redistribution.
Pea]]> Pea Anarchy and ChaosWed, 17 Sep 2008 12:47:38 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10958,10958#msg-10958 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10958,10958#msg-10958
Face it the S/L forum brought a few people to the ZooAss pages?so why would you not bring it back?
What was it hurting?
It will be missed, as will some of the people who use to visit.



Pea]]> Pea Anarchy and ChaosSat, 23 Aug 2008 16:45:54 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10956,10956#msg-10956 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10956,10956#msg-10956
Survey says......

Yes ____

N0 ____

Occasional 3ways with Chin _____]]> Herpes Anarchy and ChaosTue, 12 Aug 2008 13:39:53 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10955,10955#msg-10955 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10955,10955#msg-10955...how i miss you now...]]> belzun in red Anarchy and ChaosFri, 15 Aug 2008 23:27:07 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10952,10952#msg-10952 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10952,10952#msg-10952
Haven't checked in with this site in a long time. Been too busy hauling ass coast to coast. Whasup? Where in hell is everybody? Don't even see a post from Arizona Ranger.]]> Peterbilt Anarchy and ChaosThu, 31 Jul 2008 21:57:14 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10921,10921#msg-10921 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10921,10921#msg-10921Most of the stores do not have cameras or even A.P. so typically it should be easy. However, the ones with A.P. will use certain tatics to catch you. If anyone has ever shopped in one of these stores, you will see that the store is broken up into tiny rooms. These are similar to what you see at Old Navy, they are sort of like three walled cubicles. Well, if you look at the walls, you will notice that they are panels that can be seperated. A.P. will split the panel in the wall so that they can look through it from the room on the other side. So make sure that you look for this. Second, in the corner of each room, where the two walls meet, there is a crawlspace that A.P. likes to hide in. If you peek into the corner where the two walls meet you might find someone staring back at you.
The easiest way to take something from there is from the fitting room. The employee is supposed to check what you take in there but they hardly ever do. Just wrap what you want to take into the items you are taking in.
If you want to really mess with them, ripp off the tags and leave them in the fitting room. Then ditch the stuff really fast and make your way out the door. Steve and Barry does have quotas on catching people so you can use that to your advantage if you get caught.]]> Doomsday Virus Anarchy and ChaosThu, 05 Jun 2008 08:48:38 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10916,10916#msg-10916 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10916,10916#msg-10916 FIVE-O, OH,-NO! Anarchy and ChaosWed, 02 Jul 2008 14:20:11 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10911,10911#msg-10911 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10911,10911#msg-10911 Fresh Anarchy and ChaosThu, 29 May 2008 17:03:25 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10909,10909#msg-10909 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10909,10909#msg-10909
What I want to know is - especially for laptops - how do you bypass the system when it is ON? I checked it out once, there seem to be about five little wires in that cable leading to whatever attaches to or plugs into the laptop.

Okay - the ones with an adhesive plug that attaches to the metal of the laptop. How do they work? Is there a way to fool the system and detach that plug without the alarm going off?

Is there a way to strip the wires in the cable and somehow short the right ones to bypass the alarm?

And unpluggin the whole damn thing - unplugging from the AC outlet the entire power supply to the laptops and alarm system - i did that once at Best Buy and waited and waited, but when I tried to tweak the plug attached to a laptop the system started screaming. Battery backup!

THERE GOTTA BE A WAY!]]> Abster Anarchy and ChaosSun, 01 Jun 2008 16:46:39 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10889,10889#msg-10889 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10889,10889#msg-10889
1- Get a 1 gallon zip lock bag.
2- Wrap it in heavy duty aluminum foil 4 times.
3- Wrap the foil in masking or duck tape - this keep the sound of wrinkling foil down.
4- Place a cell phone in the bag.
5- Fold the lip of the bag a couple of times and seal it tight. This is important - Sensormatic (long rectangle tags used in DVD / CD) is primarily Acoustic Magnetic. Checkpoint Systems (small square or round paper or button) is primarily Radio Frequency. You must be able to completely stop the Radio Waves in order to pass through the towers.
6- If, after sealing the bag, the cell phone rings - you have a ?leak?. go back and make a tighter seal.

Good luck with the bag. I, personally never use to bother with them. Back in the day, I would remove 25 DVD?s at a time, several times a day from different stores. There was good money in it about 5 years ago with small store owners paying an Averaged $10.00 a DVD. Now you your lucky to get $5.00 (more like 2).

This is how I did it - go into store w/cart and fill it up with household items. Always made sure I grabbed some masking tape. I would then select the newest DVDs - all 25 of them. Put them in the top part of my cart with a bag of chips and some clothing to help conceal them. Would go down a ?blind? isle and stuff 5 at a time into my pants. 15 in the back 10 in the front. Yes, I wore large pants with a belt, and also a tight under shirt (wife beater), a t- shirt with a baggy button down shirt over that to help conceal sharp corners. Went into the bathroom, opened the packages, removed the sensors, and taped them together, 5 at a time so I could tape them to my body. Put all plastic / sensors it the toilet and flushed. Never leave behind anything LP can find. At this point they are probably watching you, but as long as you didn?t slip, you will walking out the front doors with 25 of the latest DVD taped to you ass.
It has been along while since I was doing this, but there was no store I could not do it in. I was redistributing thousands of DVDs a week.

Think - Plan - Scan - then think again before you do something.
Good luck!

Pea?]]> Pea Anarchy and ChaosSat, 31 May 2008 17:12:28 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10886,10886#msg-10886 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10886,10886#msg-10886
simple but effective]]> chin Anarchy and ChaosTue, 03 Jun 2008 21:50:39 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10880,10880#msg-10880 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10880,10880#msg-10880 Moi Anarchy and ChaosTue, 03 Jun 2008 17:15:28 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10873,10873#msg-10873 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10873,10873#msg-10873
dont mess with the ones that had the red L.E.D. ON - just the ones that are dark, off. that means the security system is not armed on those. MANY TO CHOOSE FROM.

Enjoy.]]> Chin Anarchy and ChaosWed, 30 Apr 2008 20:40:08 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10842,10842#msg-10842 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10842,10842#msg-10842
I also got the tools to slide-un-lock the spiders around the boxes. That tool has a beep beep in it...just wrap IT in foil on the way no. No problem.

I also got the tool to undo the security tags, the bigguns. THAT'S got a beep beep in it too. Wrap it in foil, NO PROBLEM!]]> Manba Anarchy and ChaosTue, 03 Jun 2008 21:53:44 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10832,10832#msg-10832 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10832,10832#msg-10832
cable.ubr01.brom.blueYAWNER.co.uk?]]> Herpes Anarchy and ChaosTue, 12 Aug 2008 13:41:22 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10831,10831#msg-10831 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10831,10831#msg-10831let me know. Thanks.]]> BK Anarchy and ChaosFri, 21 Mar 2008 13:59:53 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10830,10830#msg-10830 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10830,10830#msg-10830
The fact that nobody has posted to this forum in over TWO WEEKS should tell you something. Were I you, I would take steps to return Zooass to the days when it was really ZOOASS. Unless, of course, you enjoy going bankrupt . . . . .]]> Master Bates Anarchy and ChaosSat, 23 Aug 2008 16:57:12 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10828,10828#msg-10828 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10828,10828#msg-10828 FIVE-O, OH,-NO! Anarchy and ChaosSat, 03 Jan 2009 00:14:27 -0500 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10824,10824#msg-10824 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10824,10824#msg-10824
Hiya, Butt Breaths.

Just dropped in for a peek to see if y'all were here.

Yep, you are!]]> Master Bates Anarchy and ChaosWed, 02 Apr 2008 20:25:02 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10796,10796#msg-10796 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10796,10796#msg-10796 FIVE-O, OH,-NO! Anarchy and ChaosSat, 23 Aug 2008 16:59:48 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10760,10760#msg-10760 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10760,10760#msg-10760
How I long for the days when the Zooass forum was really ZOOASS! That was before they started listing everybody's URL, so that there was less anominity. Somehow that must have inhibited everybody, so that very few posts of worth have been made since then.

Or maybe it's something I'm missing.

Maybe all those who used to post have died.

Maybe all those who used to post have all gotten knocked up, or have knocked someone up, and are now occupied with raising their brats.

Maybe all those who used to post have won the lottery and are vacationing in the South Seas.

Maybe all those who used to post have gotten jobs, and are now too busy to post.

Maybe all those who used to post have gone back to school to learn how to spell.

Whatever the reason, Zooass is, regretably, no longer ZOOASS!

I think I'm outta here!


Master Bates, aka

Arizona Ranger
Peterbilt
Stan the Warlock
Dave
and my favorite:
Shithead]]> Master Bates Anarchy and ChaosMon, 26 May 2008 11:46:35 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10698,10698#msg-10698 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10698,10698#msg-10698 lady death Anarchy and ChaosSat, 24 Nov 2007 00:11:27 -0500 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10695,10695#msg-10695 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10695,10695#msg-10695I think so.

]]> Obi Wanky Nobby Anarchy and ChaosFri, 22 Aug 2008 12:24:44 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10685,10685#msg-10685 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10685,10685#msg-10685 lady death Anarchy and ChaosSun, 13 Apr 2008 17:02:49 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10684,10684#msg-10684 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10684,10684#msg-10684 lady death Anarchy and ChaosMon, 05 Nov 2007 22:30:07 -0500 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10682,10682#msg-10682 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10682,10682#msg-10682forward to participating. hehe unless i get
too distracted!

eric]]> xztheericzx Anarchy and ChaosFri, 09 Nov 2007 22:43:34 -0500 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10677,10677#msg-10677 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10677,10677#msg-10677 jjjee Anarchy and ChaosSat, 05 Apr 2008 14:50:04 -0400 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10669,10669#msg-10669 http://www.zooass.com/forum/read.php?1,10669,10669#msg-10669 Cool Anarchy and ChaosMon, 18 Aug 2008 04:32:30 -0400