Nothing But Theft

Reading so many people (‘antis’, but i don’t like that term) responding to popular pro-shoplifting posts makes me want to. I can’t speak for all people who shoplift but I can speak for me. I am a teenager, I am not from a particularly well off background, I thought I was but as I get older I discover more debt and problems in my family which make me angry. I am angry that although everyone related to me works as hard as they can, it’s be in debt or not eat. Be in debt or no personal hygiene. Be in debt or no comfort.

So yeah, I fucking steal.

I steal food. I steal clothes. I steal makeup. I am stealing a ton right now because my nieces deserve a lovely Christmas with presents to open. My mother deserves things that make her feel good about herself. I sneak in her room and replace her perfumes and lotions that are running out with ones I’ve stolen so she won’t worry about spending her hard earned money on ridiculously overpriced shit that she deserves. I don’t take from family run stores, local businesses, market vendors. I spend money there and at charity shops too. I take from the big corps that I know for a fact it doesn’t hurt.

‘But-but- employees get-’ No, they don’t. Not where I steal from. Shoplifting is not their problem, they are not to blame for it, it is SO illegal here to cut paychecks or hours for shoplifting unless it’s a local/family run place, which as I said are off limits completely. The big trendy chains here can more than afford a lipstick going missing, a dress stuffed in my bag. The staff are not hurt and if I ever found out otherwise I’d stop this in a heartbeat.

I steal and I’m not fucking ashamed. I am careful, I think about what I take and why and where from. I will steal until we get out of the poverty my government has put us in.

See, my mother has a business, one she worked hard on. Once she broke even, she was forced to shut down part of it because of a ridiculous new law based on taxing square fucking metres of space and she was centimetres over, and subsequently could not afford the extra thousands of pounds a year. She was then forced to lower prices which are already cheap to get as much business as possible because they said if she earns just above what she is earning currently she is taxed hundreds more.

This system keeps us poor and in return I am going to take what I want and need from it.

You hate thieves? Cool. Yell at the people who robbed Pewdiepie. Or the ones who smash n grab at Pandora. Or the assholes who would dine n dash at my mother’s business because it’s a small place and we are too busy to chase. The people who threaten family run gas stations for the till money. THEY are the bad guys here.

🌸 NUMBER ONE RULE EVER IS KNOW THE AREA of the store. I am not talking about the store layout, type of store, I am talking location of the property. Macy’s can be in shitholes with hella good security or be in snooty folk town with almost non-existent LP.   

🌸 Rule 2 NEVER NEVER ASSUME THERE IS NO LP. As stated above even if its a snooty area, they will and can have lp. Example, A very very rich part of my city has a walking outdoor strip mall type thing ( I forget the word) Of literally just makeup stores,mac,sephora,ulta, bloomingdales and whathaveyou. They have a fuck ton of security. But in the higher middle class area its bare none. Always explore all options of places you want to lift and always count the Lp, some will be labeled while others wont, and some may be straight up police officers stationed in that store. This can be good and bad, because it means its a high shrink store so there are quite possibly very easy ways to steal from these locations as the police are mostly a scare tactic. It is up to you, as I have mentioned before I have lifted so much from stores like this its stupid. Use your own judgement. 

🌸 Rule 3 ALWAYS no matter what carry your lifting tools on your fucking body. I don’t care if you'rer a dude or androgynouss or whatever you identify as. If you do ever get stopped it saves you automatic jail time and a felony. I keep my hook and mini magnets on my left bra cup and my big magnet on my right bra strap that wrapsaround my body. Exacto knifes and smallscissorss are okay to carry in a bag, pocket w/e because they are not considered to be under the category of intended theft. If you don’t wear a bra, use spanx, a back brace, shoulder braces, even your fucking shoes.This is just me but I also have a fucking lock pick (so extra) But half the good stuff is locked up and their locks are not good at all, you could prob do it with a bobby pin tbh.

🌸 Rule 4 ALWAYS ALWAYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS WEAR A DISGUISES.I DONT GIVE A FUCK IF YOU ALREADY “blend in” GET A FUCKING DECENT WIG, GET 3, USE MAKEUP TO CHANGE YOUR FACE, GLASSES, CONTACTS, WHATEVER. I have 15 wigs. I use them all. If they ever for some reason tracks something back to you, this is your defense. Don’t confess, obvi. But this is your last line.

🌸 Rule 5 NEVER take more than 10 items from one store (unless its likeclairess or some shit) This will cause them to up their security and you don’t want that. I explained it in a previous post. You want to aim for 3-5 per store. 

🌸 Rule 6 OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE YOUR WORST ENEMY I should not have to explain this just fucking never do anything in front of them, because it’s human nature their jealously kicks in and they want to tattle. NEVER. Thats the whole reason antis exist. “they get this I don’t and its wrong according to these old white men” whatever just don’t.

Now onto the details. The mini magnets are the small circular ones from home depot, they open any kind of hook blocker, like at sallys on hair extensions or at walmart on some electronics, and you can make yourself a bracelet that either holds them or they cling to for easy access and to not look sus while “examining” the price tag, you and use anywhere between 4 or 6 and be fine. The big magnet I use for clothing tags, bags, anything else magnetic is 15000gs golf detacher I bought online, just google it. Same for the hook. Same for the lock pick if you wana go hard(but please practice first I have had to do this for like 4 years before so yeah). Go to michaels or A.C Moore and get yourself the exacto knife and small scissors. And get a pack of rubber bands, they are a game changer. Bit tall boots, you can drop things in, panties, makeup, accessories, whatever as you go! Please wear thick socks tho or else your feet will  hurt. You can take them out in the bathrooms. SPANX! Use to conceal palettes, brushes, even clothing literally almost anything really, HUGE game changer.

SEPHORA- I went into a pretty detailed explanation for sephora last post, so I will just copy paste that and put in a few more tips  For sephora it’s completely dependent on the location. Similar to ulta, in the poor parts of town they usually have beefed up security so try to go for richer, snooty or middle class stores. If your sephora is in a mall, leave it for last as in your last lifting stop before you leave. If it’s a stand alone sometimes you can get away with just walking out with a bag (like the tote I have done this 4 times) if it’s busy. In every sephora I have been to they have a big slanted display for the sephora brand products and at least 3 big ass pillars with mirrors on them. Usually only one side of the slanted display is covered by cameras ( I can think of 3 locations like this off the top of my head), And you can do the walk and conceal method when passing by a pillar that is blocking you from view ( This is my favorite ) just make sure your not on the mirror side doing this lmao. Do this as you are browsing, and try to make sure no SA’s see you with said item. Example: Find a palette, grab it look at price, swatch, walk to blind spot drop in bag and keep walking to next target item. Lastly you can always find blind spots in regular makeup aisles, every sephora I go to has at least 2-3 blind spots just in general. Your biggest problem in sephora are the SAs. They will make or break your trip, I swear to god sometimes they can be the most annoying racist shits ever. I am white passing, but I am latina and if you try hard enough you can tell and I swear to god I was at this uppity sephora and the manager and 2 sa’s followed me around, legit isle to isle just staring with their arms crossed. If this happens, don’t even try I think I only got some lipsticks on that trip it was horrible. But do not ever be rude to them, that will make you memorable and you do not want that. If you are approached be nice, if asked if you need help, say I am looking for -insert vague item here- and I think I found it I am just comparing, or No thank you I am gift shopping and know what they want, ect. Do not ever say anything that will make them want to help you because they will just drag you around forever and waste not only your time, but if you already looked at a product because they showed you then go back to it later its weird. Also I know everyone says “If they offer you a basket they are on to you” but thats just not true all the time. It is literally part of their job to be helpful and that is considered being helpful. Pay attention to their tone and body language if they do hand you one, but most of all watch to see if any other SA’s are watching you. The little shopping totes can be quite useful at times too, for having decoys on top and whatnot. If you are ever recognized and you are in a different disguise, Immediately play dumb and leave like 5 mins later and don’t go back for at least 3 months. It happens, it is fine and no reason to freak out. Sephoras inside a JCP are not impenetrable, but please use this as a last resort. Wear long sleeves, in trend. I have a long black sweater with ties around the wrist and the sweater hangs over my hands, this is perfect for this kind of store. Hold your phone in one hand, and find an item, hold it with your phone, and detag the rfid strips with your thumb, but don’t look like an idiot just standing there fidgeting, keep browsing, testing products, moving around. Moving around make it harder for any lp to follow you or see what you are doing. act calm, act natural. 

ULTA - This is pretty tricky. Pay attention to your state laws first and foremost. Ulta will ignore policey and chase you/grab you/ get your plate/ block your car if they know you stole or REMEMBER you from a previous visit. Park FAR FAR away. The LM boxes ( white boxes that are light sensitive) are basically just stickers. Unless you have an inside person at an ulta, the only 2 ways around these are taking the item out of the box that the LM is on and putting the empty box back, or coming on shipment day before they are all tagged and everything is out in carts. Ulta’s difficulty can range from location to location, some don’t use LM on every palette, some do, some only use them on perfume. The RFID’s that are found on most other makeup product can be either peeled off or cut with your exacto knife. hair care and skin care have never had tags in my experience, but always check. Ulta has pretty shitt cams but still try not to conceal on them, they do have a million blind spots, use them. Always have decoys. This is different than my sephora technique because I conceal all at once and usually leave, so I get decoys to make it seem like I am still carry the items. I honestly hate going to ulta, but I have figured out the safest times to go is ( for me, this might not be for everyone)  either Sundays around 4:30-5, shipping days, or fridays from 6-7. Ulta rearranges their stores quite frequently, if you happen to go on a day like this you are in luck! lots on blindspots and boxes stack high and random shelving units. 

Starbucks- Usually only one or 2 cameras, sometimes none. I have 3 that have none that i frequent for snacks and cups. Just make sure a customer doesn’t see you and its easy as shit. 

MALLS- This is probably where most everyone does lifting, so I am going to make a post about rules for malls. ALL MY OTHER RULES APPLY STILL. Go to the bathroom 2 or 3 times during your visit. Never take anything out of the packaging. If you beep, keep walking at a normal pace. Always carry a reusable shopping bag ( even 2 if you plan to lift a lot ) it is not suspicious and is an easy access quick conceal. If you don’t have one, go to some store like hot topic, box lunch, forever 21, aerie, and just ask for a bag. Make sure its not see through and big enough to carry what you want but not obnoxious. As for the whole in the side of the bag concealing method, cut a hole in the side of paper bags to slide things in, while this is a great tip PLEASE use your exacto knife to cut the slit, and make sure whatever bag you are using is not white. If you try to use scissors, the cut will be way to noticeable. Cut exactly where the crease is naturally in the bag. Only use this for small items, like lipsticks, hair pieces, jewelry, ect or you can risk ripping your bag and then you are fucked. Make the cut towards to top of the bag, so when you hold it closed its virtually unnoticeable and the weight of the items in your bag won’t cause continuous ripping of your slit. ALWAYS be friendly to SA’s. I legit just make small talk about how their day is and retail sucks and share  a bit about myself, it makes you WAY less suspicious because you come off as an honest, nice person. This is KEY in smaller stores, IE zumies, HT, Aerie, whatever. BE NICE. RELATE. ALL SA’s ARE DOING IS THEIR JOB DON’T BE A DICK. I also sometimes have one earbud in listening to music and lightly singing it helps deter the SA approach.

HOT TOPIC- Literally the easiest thing in the world. you can pick up items you want, if they have a tag hold them under your arm (the one with the magnet) while continuing to look at other things and hide the magnet in whatever you were looking at. Rinse and repeat. 

ZUMIES- Tbh I stopped going here and like, cosmic and tilly’s when I was like 16 so I can’t really give too much info besides I believe the one I did go into had massive blind spots, you don’t need the fitting rooms to conceal if you are kind to the SA. They will leave you alone after that. 

ClAIRE’S/ICING- like, idk this is so dumb just dump whatever you want in your bag avoid mirrors and pay attention to the SA. If they are giving a piercing its a free for all. Overall SA’s here really do not care and are either swamped with paperwork or overwhelmed because its only them in the store with 16 kids or 15 teenagers. I feel for them. 

VS/PINK- OK long awaited post about this shit company. I feel zero regret stealing from them. I am going to copy paste my previous reply with added detail. For VS, you have to see if its busy or slow. If it’s busy, I usually get a tote and get about 7 items (not including panties) but only steal 3 and only some undies in the fitting rooms and listen for no SA to be outside when you exit and just leave the tote in the little tote/rack thing. If its slow you can find blind spots in the store and remove the pencil tags easily if you carry your magnet like I do (in your bra strap that goes around your body) just holding it under your arm while looking at another item or w/e and just hide the tags as you go, or as always throw them away in the trash cans in the fitting rooms. Trash cans can also be found in the store, so use them as well. If you want something with a hanger, either take the hanger with you and ditch it somewhere else (or keep it like I do they are so soft) or find something to switch it out with. Most of the time they will have hanging items, and folded items of the same design and I tend to grab those. 2 I got today didn’t even have tags on them. VS and PINK are both a giant question mark until you get to the store on how much you can get away with or if you can get anything. This store is where the reusable totes come in most handy, and use your rubber bangs to make bulky clothing less bulky. If you are using a tote they provide, you can put perfumes/makeup/socks/sandals/ w/e in them and hide hem under clothes if you want them. a good bulky distracting item to get is a robe ( even the velvet/satin ones in the VS section are good), because it covers SO much and most sa’s assume that plus like 1 or 2 things is all you have. Also vs and pink all have blind spots in the store, the legging racks, VS sport, and the little walkways between sections are ones I have noticed. Good places to conceal if you don’t want to rick fitting rooms because if the SA is in a super duper mood fitting rooms can be somewhat difficult.

BEST BUY- So its not impenetrable but it is hard. The person at the front is the “main” AP (asset protection) and they have monitors that cover most of the store. Be nice to them, seem normal, and it will make it easier. I have someone in bb so its easier for me to get things but either way its not impossible since I have lifted from them before I knew my guy. Least monitored sections are housewares, and believe it or not TVS. I am going off my stores so take all this with a grain of salt. Best buy marks up ALL their products ridiculous amounts (1 year rosetta stone is bought for $15 and sold for $120) so yeah they are kinda dicks. If you DO chance it with best buy, so for small items, grab a distraction, shop around for a blind spot, conceal the small item, and go back to where you got your big item and compare again. Do not leave asap, shop around, then always say have a nice day on your way out. Be careful each store is different. here is a story : there is a best buy near me that used to have a HUGE shrink rate, for ALL kinds of theft, orc, employee, petty, you name it and it happened there. UNTIL a new GM was hired and he was like no this is not happening and installed a completely new camera system, it was very very expensive but guess what, they now catch everyone who tries to steal and have the lowest shrink rate in the state. If you abuse your spots, they will fight back so don’t ever ever ever take some memorable amount or this will  happen.

Target- I rarely fuck with target because its where I get my medications so I can’t really help you here.

Aerie- On floor concealing is best, lots of displays to hide behind. no cameras ( at least at my location)  Always be aware of SA’s.They change their clothing often so if you see something you love I suggest getting it before its gone for good.

Forever 21- Honestly I rarely lift from here anymore. Most of it rips or falls apart, that includes clothing and accessories. I don’t recommend them at all. If you MUST fitting room is best option, there are decent blind spots but it is usually too crowded to use them. Honestly I hate this company and everything about them so even stealing from them feel so so wrong. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

BOX LUNCH -  MY FAVORITE! I actually try to buy here when I can, they have great bags for the slit method, and their products are AMAZING. They actually sell nendoroids like omg. Best store ever, no cameras, but SA’s can be aggressive, just be nice, relate, and they will move on. Not much is tagged, and if it is just use the method mention for HT.

CVS/WALGREENS- Easy as pie. I always go here for drinks, shipping supplies, food, whatever. Their cameras are extremely shitty except for the ones up front.You can use your body to block is necessary. Both stores have MASSIVE blind spots, in seasonal, grocery, drinks, toiletries. Like is so easy to get vitamins and shit please get some be healthy. 

PACSUN- I don’t really like much here, but sometimes they have golden pieces. I always use fitting rooms, bring 4 items and leave 3. they are just such a bare store I cant feel good going in with a ton and leaving with a little. You will need rubber bands and to detag while the music plays. 

 BnN/BAM!- AMAZING novelty items and books are easy, just find blind spots. I adore these stores because of the increase of certified japanese figure imports ( BTW I COLLECT PLASTIC BUTTS AMIAMI LOVE ME) 

Container Store- Cake, usually only 4 cameras, both of the ones I go to don’t have cameras in the bath storage.makeup storage isles so, literal ffa. 

Hallmark- No cameras, or one near the toys. Ffa.

DSW/PAYLESS- For dsw, I grab 4 or 5 boxes, 2 of which I want, go to an isle about 2 over from the closets camera, and make a huge mess sitting on one of the mirror chairs. I slide the shoes I want into my purse also sitting on the opposite side on the bench thing using other boxes to block the back angle and put all the paper back and all the boxes except ONE with the shoes in it back, walk around a bit more, then decide not to get them and leave them somewhere. never conceal in clearance, but feel free to look.  For payless, just pick an isle without a camera, or if they all have cameras sit on the thing with your back to the camera, stack boxes between your seat and the self to block its view, detag, move into purse.bag. and put lid on box and put box back. 

IKEA- So this is gonna be kinda sketchy. I have only done this twice, and I had a partner. So you shop like usual, pick little knick knacks for your cart and write item numbers down. now while your in the actual storage part, you can conceal some of the smaller items you picked out while looking for your right color item or whatever leaning in. To get the big items out, we walked to line, waited for a good 5 mins, then acted like we saw an open register further down. He went to get the car and I push the cart and just push it through the sales point and out the door, smiling at the receipt check holding a safeway receipt lmao. Honestly I have no full proof way for ikea but I do know they are more concerned with ORC and internal theft so thats where most the cameras are. I just really wanted my two alex drawers for my makeup vanity so I took a risk and it paid off.

WIGS STORES- if you do not live in a large city, I Highly suggest ordering a high quality lace front wig online. If you live in a city with good chain wig stores, bring a big bag, and just stuff that mother fucker in there in a blind spot. the main thing with wigs is care, so you will want to get wig care stuff, cleansers brushes, ect. specifically made for wigs. 

🌸 For anything designer ( Kate spade, MK, Calvin klein) Go to outlets if possible, if not try to find a macy’s/bloomingdales.lord&taylor/whatever that doesn’t do that stupid string lock bullshit. bring a magnet. 

The things I’ve learned. Too fucking extensive guys. LP is a whole new WORLD.

Let me share with you some of the more lesser known things since taking this job.

1.) Companies ARE aware of the lifting side of the internet, they DO read our posts for clues.

2.) Lifters are usually on their game when they think they can identify LP. Those posts about like “you know it’s LP when ______such and such happens_____” they’re DEADON

3.) Know at Târget, cameras are always watched by one or two people and they communicate with at least one or two plainclothes by texting.

4.) SO, if you notice someone near you twice in a store and they are texting and not really shopping….BIG CLUE.

5.) LP make bets on how many lifters they can catch. It is a boring job, we mostly watch the cameras and find honest people.

6.) Catching a lifter gives us an adrenaline rush. It’s a cat and mouse game. Making yourself obvious only fuels us to hunt down others.

7.) Acting SUS will get our attention immediately. Distraction may work to divert our attention.

8.) BIGGEST RED FLAGS:

–> Drag queens, transvestites, people who seem like they are in wonky clothes or dressed beyond their gender. If you look weird, we will watch you whether or not we think you’re lifting. It’s simple human curiosity and entertainment.

–> Minorities. Especially minorities in large groups.

–> Large groups of pre teen girls

–> Anyone with a big bag

–> People with baby bags and strollers

–> People who wear beanies, hoods, hats, or other accessories making their face hard to see.

–> People who avoid sale sections

9.) Internal theft is investigated a lot more than shoplifters sometimes.

10.) It’s a lot harder for us to see you conceal when you’re walking in a straight line and using your hands discreetly. Walking will make us have to zoom and adjust to your movements, it’s a pain in the ass.

I haven’t been on Liftblr in ages, and I think it’s been even longer since I’ve lifted. I’m not sure what happened- lifting was so exciting for me, but I think a combination of being sussed for the first time, and seeing three shoplifters in the act (something i’ve never witnessed), and one of them getting caught in front of my eyes, just knocked the wind out of my sails. I got away with so much, it makes my blood run cold to think how lucky I’ve been to get away with everything in my entire spell of lifting.

so I’ve had a long period of not lifting, but there’s some things I want but can’t seem to summon up the strength to do it. I’m terrified of getting caught now; I’ve been lucky for so long, maybe my luck will run out? I even start to wonder was these things I’ve seen, and the off-put feeling, some kind of message from the universe.

BUT. a Charl0tte Ti1bury concession has opened up near me in a department-store-based $eph0ra. and fucking hell, I LOVE that shit. and it’s all just THERE. I really want to try and lift some things but I’m too fucking scared of doing it now. what the hell has happened to me, I miss the lifter I used to be. all this stuff is there for the taking, just tantalisingly sitting out in their beautiful boxes. the staff at this place are lax af. ugh why can’t I bring myself to do it?