Cops track down sunglass-shoplifting suspect

CITY POLICE

NEWS RELEASES

************************* Male wanted for shoplifting incident located and arrested

Officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service located and arrested 26-year-old Brian Wing of no fixed address yesterday evening on Sutton Place and charged whim with one count of theft under $5,000 and one count of personation with intent.

It is alleged that on the 14th of September the accused shoplifted a pair of sunglasses at Zellers on Northern Avenue and when security apprehended him and dealt with him he falsely identified himself.

He is to appear in bail court this morning.

************************* Female shoplifters arrested

Officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service arrested 40-year-old Shelley Murphy of 160 Amber Street at her residence last night and charged her with one count of theft under $5,000 and one count of breach of probation.

It is alleged that on the 12th of September, the accused stole a number of grocery items from Food Basics on Trunk Road.

The accused was captured on store video surveillance cameras filling a grocery cart full of items and leaving the store without paying.

At the time of the offence the accused was on probation with conditions that she keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

She is to attend in court on the 18th of October.

************************* Shoplifting prevention tips

Shoplifting can cost your business thousands of dollars each year.

Shoplifters may be any age, gender, or economic or ethnic background.

There is no "typical" shoplifter.

They often work in pairs or groups to divert the clerk's attention while they steal.

They often operate when employees are apt to be less alert, e.g., at store opening and closing times, during the lunch and dinner times, and during shift changes.

Shoplifters also learn to take advantage of crowded stores during peak hours.

Effective prevention begins with an aware and alert staff.

The following tips will help prevent shoplifting:

Protective measures

- Make the shoplifters feel watched. Elevate the cashier’s platform. Install mirrors that enable cashiers and sales people to see over and around displays. Install one-way glass in offices to enable employees to see into the store without being seen from the floor.

- Install surveillance cameras to cover cash registers, high-value merchandise displays, entrances, loading docks, etc. Mount monitors showing live video at main entrances to let shoppers know that they will be under surveillance in the store.

- Post signs warning against shoplifting. Emphasize that you will prosecute.

- Keep display and clothing racks away from entrances and exits to discourage "hit-and-run" thieves.

- Keep small and expensive items out of reach or in locked display cases. Have sales people show only one item at a time from a case.

- Use good locks and laminated or “strong” glass in cases that contain expensive items. This will help prevent smash and grab attacks.

- Arrange merchandise neatly to make it easier to detect missing items.

Fitting room security

- Keep fitting room doors locked when not in use.

- Limit the number of items allowed to be taken into the dressing room.

- Post a sign that directs customers to see a sales person before taking items into a fitting room.

- Issue colour-coded tickets and tags to indicate the number of items taken into fitting rooms.

- Use a return rack for unwanted items.

- Post signs in fitting rooms warning against shoplifting.

Anti-theft devices

- Install video surveillance cameras.

- Attach anti-theft tags to your merchandise and install security towers at your exits. They will sound an alarm or otherwise indicate when someone takes a tagged item out of the store without paying for it and having the tag deactivated or removed.

- Provide cashiers with a means of deactivating or removing the tags when items are paid for.

Educating employees: train your sales people to:

- Watch for people with loose or baggy clothing inappropriate for weather, and people with large bags or other props, such as newspapers, strollers, briefcases, or umbrellas that can easily conceal merchandise.

- Be aware of shoplifter’s tactics to confuse and distract you. For example, when working in teams one shoplifter will create a disturbance, e.g., complaining loudly, staging a faint, or knocking over merchandise, to draw attention away from the other who is doing the lifting.

- Be attentive to people in your area. This helps legitimate customers and deters shoplifters. A simple "Can I help you?" or "I'll be with you in a moment" warns shoplifters they are being watched. Keep a close watch on people who seem nervous or refuse assistance. - Cover their entire area of responsibility, even blind spots.

- Have another sales person cover your area when you leave the floor, e.g., to check for items in the stockroom.

- Be especially alert at when the store is crowded. Shoplifters often operate when sales people are busy helping legitimate customers.

- Watch for shoppers walking with short or unnatural steps, which may indicate that they are concealing lifted items.

- Watch customer's eyes. If they are looking at you they may need assistance or are thinking about shoplifting.

- Keep employees alert by holding periodic review sessions on store shoplifting policies.

- Watch for customers lingering in one area, loitering near stock rooms or other restricted areas, or wandering aimlessly through the store.

- Watch for customers who visit the store frequently, but make only token purchases.

- Be alert for disturbances that distract sales people and cashiers.

Stopping a shoplifter

If you suspect that someone may be considering lifting something, approach the person and ask "Can I help you?" or "Can I ring that up for you?"

If you suspect someone has lifted and concealed something, keep him or her in sight and notify a manager or security personnel immediately.

If you are working alone, request the assistance of another worker.

Plan a "buddy system" for your own safety and as a witness.

If someone leaves your store without paying for an item, have an employee follow the suspect and get a good description of him or her and any vehicle used, and call 911.

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