Tips on Getting Stopped, but not Caught
Lifting or not, people get stopped. You’ve probably been stopped before and never thought anything of it. If you get stopped and questioned, act just like you would if you hadn’t lifted a day in your life. Being polite, while feigning "offended" or "confused" is the easiest way to go. Alternatively, you could be b*tch about being hassled but that may not work for you personally or could be perceived as defensive (making it harder to backpeddle.) Find what works for you. Ultimately though in that moment, you are completely innocent by anyone's standards.
Stores that are “hands off” can’t physically stop you and be within policy. Any employee that isn't LP shouldn't be doing anything remotely close to stopping customers. When they do, deal either one of 2 ways; Either hold a receipt and project the impression of complying with their requests by giving them a closed mouth smile and nod while keeping pace, when they want to check a receipt or bags or something else, just act like its exactly what you’d if you weren’t lifting. Otherwise, walk briskly, showing no receipt, and shoot them a bothered look as if to say their accosting you is rude as is their desire to needlessly waste your time. Legally, SA’s and LP CAN NOT physically prevent you from leaving. They aren’t police, they can’t detain you.
If LP is stopping you, they're stopping you for a reason, so there's no point playing polite. When they stop you, they're either formally accusing you of shoplifting or they’re not. Call them out point-blank and ask "Are you accusing me of something?" Look them in the eye, press them for an answer, and don't let them skirt around it. Say "no" to any and all other requests. If they don't give you a straight answer & evade the question with something like "if you let us see your receipt we can clear this up", don't waste time. Say "no thanks" and walk away. If they touch you, treat it as assault . If they’re accusing of lifting, ask them for the details of what they're accusing you of having lifted, or tell them to call the police and WALK THE FUCK AWAY. If they're going to tackle you, they're going to tackle you, nothing you do will change that. Better them getting an assault charge than you getting a theft charge.
Don't get sucked into the game of "follow me" to the side/office, and empty out your bag", don’t let them inspect your belongings or receipt. I read a post by a former LP who said he couldn't believe how people just blindly complied with any LP request; e.g. "empty out your pockets" - they did, "let me see your purse" - "yes sir" then he went on to say "As LP, I repeat, we have no authority. All we can do is ask you and hope for your cooperation. If they had the authority to search you, they wouldn't be asking. They have no more right to inspect you than a private citizen. LP are good a faking authority, and this works most of the time because people fear authority. To get rid of the fear, disassociate LP from authority. They bullshit people and it works as if the police had done it. You can't let them get to you. Stay safe
