10-22-2005, 06:20 AM
I work in a retail store. As such, I am used to spotting and arresting shoplifters. Although it is not technically a part of my job, I like to assist my trusty LPO ("Loss Prevention Officer") whenever I can. My LPO is also known as Tino, and we play Diablo 2 together when we get the chance.
A couple of days ago, while we were both working, Tino alerted me to a noise. He just pointed and said "listen". I listened, and I heard the unmistakeable sound of a plastic bubble casing being cut open. I kept my eye on the direction of the sound, while also performing incredibly polite and helpful customer service to the non-criminal people.
Soon enough the cutter appeared. He was crouched down while cutting open the plastic casing for a crappy pair of headphones. That was the sound we heard. After he was done with the headphones, he came up to me and asked "Where do you keep your CDs?". I put a giant smile on my face and pointed the racks of music out for him. His backpack was hanging low and his overly-large coat spoke volumes.
I flagged down another supervisor to take over for me while I assisted Tino. We were gonna nail this guy.
Tino and I took up camouflaged positions while stalking the thief. We watched him cut open a CD case and pocket the contents. We watched him cut open a couple of cordless shavers. The thief was looking around like a paranoid freak, but never spotted us watching. Tino and I were like ninjas, but not the bad kind of ninjas. We were the good ninjas that give candy to widows and orphans.
This guy was also what Tino likes to call a "tweaker". He was skinny, fidgety, and not-quite-with-it. This is a sign of a shoplifter on some kind of drug. This can be dangerous when the arrest is made, so it's something you need to be made aware of. Tweakers can do all sorts of crazy crap when you arrest them.
The shoplifter decides that he has enough, so he goes to the exit. Tino and I are about 10 feet behind him, looking as casual as can be. He goes outside and we grab him. Tino does his little LPO "I am arresting you" speech while I just grab his left arm. Thankfully he doesn't freak out or try to fight. Those ones can get nasty.
We bring him back into the store and to the security office. Tino reads him his rights and calls the cops. I am checking my watch because my wife and son were going to meet me when I was done working, which was about now.
This shoplifter was a pathetic story. Unless someone is really interested in it I won't go into details. I hung around until the cop appeared (an absolutely LARGE and intimidating man), and took my leave.
My wife and son were waiting for me outside the office doors.
The first thing my 3 year old son said to me was "Daddy, you get badguy?". My wife explained that my son saw the police car outside and that he put 2 and 2 together. I told him, "Yes, Tino and I got the badguy." My son likes Tino, and knows him well. "Tino and Daddy get badguy?" Just then the police officer escorts the shoplifter out the door, handcuffs and all.
My son watched this and said "YAY! Daddy got the BADGUY!".
That felt great. I was my son's hero :)
A couple of days ago, while we were both working, Tino alerted me to a noise. He just pointed and said "listen". I listened, and I heard the unmistakeable sound of a plastic bubble casing being cut open. I kept my eye on the direction of the sound, while also performing incredibly polite and helpful customer service to the non-criminal people.
Soon enough the cutter appeared. He was crouched down while cutting open the plastic casing for a crappy pair of headphones. That was the sound we heard. After he was done with the headphones, he came up to me and asked "Where do you keep your CDs?". I put a giant smile on my face and pointed the racks of music out for him. His backpack was hanging low and his overly-large coat spoke volumes.
I flagged down another supervisor to take over for me while I assisted Tino. We were gonna nail this guy.
Tino and I took up camouflaged positions while stalking the thief. We watched him cut open a CD case and pocket the contents. We watched him cut open a couple of cordless shavers. The thief was looking around like a paranoid freak, but never spotted us watching. Tino and I were like ninjas, but not the bad kind of ninjas. We were the good ninjas that give candy to widows and orphans.
This guy was also what Tino likes to call a "tweaker". He was skinny, fidgety, and not-quite-with-it. This is a sign of a shoplifter on some kind of drug. This can be dangerous when the arrest is made, so it's something you need to be made aware of. Tweakers can do all sorts of crazy crap when you arrest them.
The shoplifter decides that he has enough, so he goes to the exit. Tino and I are about 10 feet behind him, looking as casual as can be. He goes outside and we grab him. Tino does his little LPO "I am arresting you" speech while I just grab his left arm. Thankfully he doesn't freak out or try to fight. Those ones can get nasty.
We bring him back into the store and to the security office. Tino reads him his rights and calls the cops. I am checking my watch because my wife and son were going to meet me when I was done working, which was about now.
This shoplifter was a pathetic story. Unless someone is really interested in it I won't go into details. I hung around until the cop appeared (an absolutely LARGE and intimidating man), and took my leave.
My wife and son were waiting for me outside the office doors.
The first thing my 3 year old son said to me was "Daddy, you get badguy?". My wife explained that my son saw the police car outside and that he put 2 and 2 together. I told him, "Yes, Tino and I got the badguy." My son likes Tino, and knows him well. "Tino and Daddy get badguy?" Just then the police officer escorts the shoplifter out the door, handcuffs and all.
My son watched this and said "YAY! Daddy got the BADGUY!".
That felt great. I was my son's hero :)