#borrowing tips

GENERAL TIPS:

- IF YOU SEE A ‘SHOPL1FTERS WILL BE PROSECUTED SIGN’, OTHER TYPES OF SECURITY IN THE STORE WILL BE LESS STRICT. For the same reason that stores try to get you to dump instead of arresting you or calling the cops, it’s way cheaper and easier for them to focus on preventative measures instead of proactive ones. Signs like these aren’t usually present in higher end stores, because 1. It gives the real customers a bad impression, and 2. Those stores can afford actual LP and monitored cameras.

- IF YOU SEE SOMEONE ELSE CONCEAL, GET OUT. I’ve seen so many LP staff talk about using this tactic to ease suspects into stealing and getting caught. Just finish checking out (if you’re buying) or walk out.

- IF YOU LIFT IN FRONT OF OTHERS, MAKE SURE THEY WONT SNITCH. Just point out someone else, go ‘i think they just put something in their bag’ and see what they say. If they want to snitch on a random stranger who didn’t even steal, they’ll snitch on you too.

- WEAR A SKIRT. Obviously men can’t do this because LP are weirdos, but wearing a skirt gives you the opportunity to hold things between your legs and just walk out of the store. No bags required.

- DO NOT LIFT ON MAJOR HOLIDAYS. A crowded store may be nice for taking attention away from you, but stores will bring in more LP on the days leading up to Christmas/Easter/Valentine’s day because these are high shrink times. If you really want to l1ft in a busy store, go on weekends or the afternoon.

- CONCEAL L1FT1NG TOOLS ON YOUR PERSON. If you use a hook or magnets, conceal them on your body so if your bags are searched the police don’t have proof of intent.

- DON’T RUN IF THEY CATCH YOU. Unless the items you took are over 100-300 dollars and you concealed in a dressing room/left behind no proof/know that they don’t have any evidence to stop you, running will increase your sentence if they snap a picture of your licence plate and call the police. Most LP just want the merchandise back and will let you off with a trespass warning.

- GET OVER DISGUST ABOUT HIDING THINGS IN YOUR BRA. Seriously, any l1fter who has boobs should be using their bra to conceal. Wear a loose shirt and if anyone calls you out for lumps, just tear up a little and say that’s just how you’re shaped. I’ve done this and it embarrasses people so much they usually just walk away.

- DO NOT IMMEDIATELY CONCEAL. For LP to stop you going out the door, they need to 1. See you take the item, 2. See you conceal, 3. See you walk past all points of sale. Waiting to conceal can give you a bumper for security to move onto other targets if they’re watching you.

- STOP DOING HUGE HAULS!!! Taking over $300 in a single haul from a single store will put LP on the lookout and make it more likely for someone else to be caught. For nonessentials just try to be conservative in what you borrow.

- NEVER LOOK AROUND BEFORE YOU CONCEAL. This makes LP watch you, and they can use this as proof of intent. Basically this completely destroys the defence of “I didn’t realize i put it in my bag” if you get caught, and can increase your sentence if police get called.

- DON’T SH0PL1FT IMMEDIATELY. If LP is watching you, they will likely continue to until a reasonable amount of time has passed or if someone more suspicious enters the store.

- HAVE A FRIEND ACT SUSPICIOUS. This only works if you go in separately, you enter first and your friend enters secondly. Have them wear baggy clothes, constantly look around, not make eye contact with staff, pick up high value items, etc. this draws LP (and likely staffed cameras) away from you.

- GO WITH SOMEONE ELSE. (preferably 1-2 others) this works best if you’re white and over the age of 20.

- DO NOT GO WITH SOMEONE ELSE. Teens are known for shoplifting in groups. If you’re not white, being in groups WILL make LP target you because of the appearance of an OCR (most of them are pos racists).

- BE NICE TO THE EMPLOYEES! Just be nice guys. They’re not paid well enough to risk their legs, and if you’re nice they’re less likely to keep you in the store for LP.

- SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING YOU. Target with cameras hidden in their shelves, LP, employees, snitches, someone is always watching your every move. Just assume that everyone will see you and it will make you careful, and reconsider risky items.

- DON’T LOITER! A lot of stores are rolling out ‘AI’ theft prevention, and the system will flag you if you stay in one spot for too long. (or even reach for a bag.)

- PUT TAGS ONTO THE OTHER ITEMS YOU TOOK TO THE CHANGING ROOM. Store employees double tag items all the time, and it’s way less suspicious than a tag taped to the underside of the changing room chair.

- TAKE THE HANGERS WITH YOU. Taking them off and leaving them in the changing rooms is a dead giveaway that you’ve taken something, and it’s far easier for store attendants to pin it on you.

- THEY’RE BUILDING A CASE ON YOU. Big box stores DO NOT PLAY. Just assume that they’re trying to get you on a felony charge and waiting until you’ve stolen enough.

- HAVE A PURSE WITH A GOOD LINING? Cut a small hole in the side, tuck small items/tags into it, and if you set off the alarms security won’t know why because everything’s hidden between the lining and shell of the purse.

- SCOUT OUT THE STORE BEFOREHAND. This obviously won’t work if you’re going out of town to l1ft, but it can help in so many ways. Not having to look up at cameras is so so so handy.

- DON’T IMMEDIATELY PUT THINGS INTO YOUR BAG. Just don’t do this, it alerts LP and the loss prevention AI shit.

- LOOK FOR TOWERS. These are the things that beep, and they can be hidden very well (underneath carpets, on the doorframe, etc)

- IF THE TOWERS BEEP, KEEP WALKING. Just pretend you didn’t hear anything, and if store LP are watching you, it gives you a little bit of time to walk away as most stores won’t chase. Innocent people beep all the time too, for phones and forgotten tags and whatever.

Slight of hand/Blind Spots:

- SCARVES! I love scarves. Scarves scarves scarves. Since I live in a colder place it’s all cool to ‘adjust’ the scarf and tuck items into it.

- GLOVES/TIGHT SLEEVES. I’m talking about the ones with holes cut out for your thumbs, that cover half of your palm. Super easy to tuck small things in while you’re messing around with the displays.

- CONCEAL IN A DRINK CUP! If you’re going to a mall, buy a drink from a chain fast food place that has a store in the mall. Drink it, wash it out, and cut an X shape into the bottom of the cup. This lets you tuck small things like makeup and jewelry into the cup without opening the lid, ever.

- BLIND SPOTS ARE ONLY BLIND FOR A BIT. Keep moving. Assume LP are watching you.

- IF YOU NEED A BLIND SPOT KNOCK SOMETHING OFF THE SHELVES. When you bend down to pick it up, use the space between your body and the floor as a blind spot.

- BLIND SPOTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN AISLES WITH LOW SHRINK. Things that aren’t stolen often, yarn/utensils/cheap shit that’s bulky. Avoid concealing in aisles with high shrink rates, makeup/batteries/razors/electronics.

- SPECIFIC AISLES ARE LOW RISK. What I mean by this is that aisles like greeting cards, chips, yarn, etc like the ones listed above, are unlikely to have cameras. If you haven’t had a chance to scope out the store/you’re travelling, try to conceal in these aisles.

Clothes:

- NO BAGGY CLOTHES OR HUGE BAGS. it’s suspicious. Bring a purse if you have to, preferable use shopping bags from other stores, and wear clothing appropriate for the weather. Tighter clothing is less suspicious.

- NAME BRANDS. Name brands make you look like someone who has money or wants to look like they have money. LP, and the average snitch, are less suspicious.

- DO NOT CARRY YOUR COAT OVER YOUR ARM UNLESS YOU HAVE TO. LP are aware of this tactic and will watch you for it.

- AVOID BAGS. If you’re going out to get makeup/small items that you can body conceal, don’t bring a purse. LP and store clerks are told to watch anyone carrying their own bags, so if you can body conceal ditch the bag.

- WEAR LOOSE PANTS/FLOOR LENGTH SKIRT AND LONG SOCKS. Long, tight, stretchy socks. It’s so easy to squat down, tie the shoelace that you untied before you entered the store, and tuck the merchandise into the socks. Or just pretend to look at the shelves closer to the floor. Walk out with the merchandise safely secured and hidden. I’ve done this with things as big as cds, just use a good pair of socks.

- WEAR LOOSE SLEEVES AND ARM WARMERS. Same premise as above, but remember to only use this one or the other, never both at once unless it’s very weather appropriate (cold if you’re using sweatshirt/pants, warm if you’re wearing linen/flowy fabric).

- LEARN TO SOW! You don’t need neat stitches or even a machine, but knowing how to sow lets you repair instead of throwing away (and hidden pockets, magic bags, and so many other handmade l1fting equipment is available)