tips for lifts

Alot of us don’t have a magnet (I don’t) but plan on getting one, or debate on it! So let’s look at the pros and cons of getting/having one so you know if you should or shouldn’t get one.

Pros:

⭐️Very small and fits in almost every bag, easy to carry around.

⭐️Detaches MOST of the main tags used in retail and are often used in hauls from M@cy’s, Forever 2!, Anthropølog!e, etc. Basic point—You can use them pretty much anywhere

⭐️Hooks (Not a magnet, I know) can be hidden in tampon or pad boxes, gum packs, tins of mints, and so on, which can be helpful.

⭐️Many theme parks that have dressing rooms in their gift shops are gold mines because they usually stick to gator tags (if they tag at all) which are a CINCH with magnets

⭐️Places like Garage, that tag literally EVERYTHING in their store, (not even 1 thing is left untagged unless it scrunchies or candy by the register) become easier to lift from.

⭐️UO becomes a hell of alot easier!

⭐️Basically—Makes lifting super easy!

Cons:

⭐️Possession of one is illegal

⭐️Makes noise! (You might have to drop a hanger on purpose if you’re detatching in dressing😕)

⭐️Doesn’t work on all tags (I don’t think they work on ink tags!)

⭐️Some stores have magnet detection at the door (or so I’ve heard)

⭐️Very lightweight in a bag but if you take it out to detag in dressing and happen to drop it, EVERYONE will hear. It is made of bulky metal🙃)

⭐️Don’t work on the White Box of Death

⭐️Some places were even thinking about implementing checkpoints before dressing rooms to ensure nobody has one (though i think the “wrapping tupperware in foil” trick works to combat it?)

⭐️Usually super expensive to purchase

⭐️Doesn’t COMPLETELY guarantee a successful lift because some places do use tags that can’t be magnetized 👎😿

⭐️Don’t work for rfid, just rip up the rfid or put it in your phone case to take out and shove somewhere in the store.

⭐️Super hard to get past airport security cuz its a giant piece of metal🤷🏻‍♀️

Finally:

🌟Ask for Ebay giftcards for birthdays and holidays if the magnet you find is too pricey.

🌟Always do homework on here to see what stores do and don’t have magnet detection.

🌟For minors that live @ home with nosy parents, tell them it’s a bobby pin holder (“if i spill the bobby pins or there’s a few in a place i can’t reach I just wave the magnet over it and they stick to it”) or for a science project.

Now, you don’t NEED a magnet for a good haul. Plenty of lifters don’t have one and pull off outrageous hauls. Places like Hot Topic and Charlotte Rušśe tag few of their shirts💝 so thats helpful! Makeup rarely uses tags like that, most of the time its judt rfid on makeup but always check barcodes and inside the box too for it.

🐚 - What’s your favorite thing that you’ve lifted?

🌪 - What store would you say you’ve shoplifted the most from?

🌊 - When did you start lifting?

🦋 - What’s the first thing you remember lifting?

🍀 - Was there ever a time while lifting when you got really lucky?

🌱 - What is your favorite place to lift from?

🌙 - Do you plan out your lifting sprees or are they more sporadic?

💫 - Are there any big brands or stores you shoplift from specifically because they have done something bad or underpay their workers?

✨ - What type of things do you shoplift most?

⚡️ - Have you ever been caught / almost caught?

🌈 - Have you ever ended up buying something ridiculous to try and hide that you were lifting?

🔥 - Have you ever shoplifted anything that turned out to be really low quality or disappointing?

🌺 - Have you ever shoplifted with other non lifters (family or friends)? Have you ever had a close call when they almost caught you?

🍄 - What’s your favorite technique to use?

This applies to Panera as well as any restaurant that keeps prepaid online/ to-go orders out in the open for people to pick up…

Usually I’ll just walk in and go to the shelf that they keep the bags on and I read the labels pretending that I’m looking for my name. If I see something I like I’ll grab it and walk out casually.

IF YOU’RE PICKY LIKE ME…and nothing there sounds good, I’ll either sit down and pretend I’m waiting for my order and when they put a new one up I’ll check that one out.

Orrrr you can just sit down for a little while and then ask the expo person “hey how long on the online order for *insert name*”. When they tell you they don’t have a to-go order by that name, they’ll probably ask what it was. That’s when you tell them what you really want (don’t get too much or it’ll be sus) and VOILA they’ll make it for you and apologize :-)

Honestly I just wanna share with you my favorite lifting tool which is the seam ripper!

Unlike magnets and hooks, seam rippers aren’t illegal to carry around in stores, and they’re small enough to hide anywhere. If you don’t wanna hide it, you could get one of those mini sewing kits and have it in your purse and just say you carry that shit around everywhere in case you get a hole in your clothes!

!! disclaimer: these are what have worked for me, i say try this after a little bit of lifting experience !!

☁️ okay so, here are some tiny rules for this (and in general for lifting): ☁️

🌱 don’t get greedy

- if they see you carrying a whole bunch of books around the store, they’ll keep their eye on you. stores want to make their daily goal and depending on the location, the b&n may have more attentative employees.

🌱 grab some books you may not want

- this is best if you conceal on the floor instead of the cafe, because they might see you w/ like 4 books but suddenly 0? have like 2 you’re not gonna get and put them back where they belong and leave.

🌱 check for tags

- from the tips ive received any book that is above $40 dollars, is hardcover, or in the medical section, all have rfid tags embedded in them. do not attempt!!! for paperbacks, “read” through them. you might find a rfid sticker in there, just peel it out. you’ll find these more in manga, but always check!!

☁️ now time for blindspot and concealing tips!!: ☁️

🌱 b&n cafe

- in my opinion the best place to conceal is inside the b&n cafe, you find a table not too close to the cafe register and place your bag and books on the table. then what i do is take out my wallet (leave my bag open), head to the register and order some food, a snack, or a drink. get my receipt and go back to my table. i then put my wallet on one of the books, hold it together and put it in my purse.

- while eating you can read through the books, making sure there’s no rfids, and slowly put them in your purse or shopping bag.

- what ive done once is ask my partner or friend to call me and i fake having to rush and leave, so i stuff the books in my bag and leave while on the phone w them (do this after checking for rfids)

🌱 concealing on floor

- find your blindspots!! this is a known rule here but it bears repeating, find your blindspots!!! if you’re going to conceal in an aisle, make sure theres no cameras above you or infront of you (there’s bookshelf cameras!!)

- i like to conceal while sitting on the mini sofas because your purse is in your lap and its a quick sleight of hand to put the book in it. find a chair/sofa in a blindspot!!

- and i see teens do this a lot, sit on the floor in the aisles and “read”, its so common to see that at b&n that some SA’s wont bat their eye

🌱 kid’s section

- this has its own part because the kids section at b&n usually doesnt have cameras, but they do have: at least one SA walking around (and the kids section isn’t exactly the biggest), and parents and kids who might be able to see you conceal. so be careful here

So I know that covering your tattoos is a big part of concealing your identity while lifting, but what do you all think about using the higher end temporary tattoos on visible areas of your body to alter your identity as well? There are some temp tattoo printer papers out there that you can even make custom designs for.

So my last post went over great, so I put together some info based on the questions I got xoxo

Excuse my design skills, I’m a lifter not a designer. 

This is also based on my own time and my own experiences only 

Avoiding any employees

Not looking at prices and if it’s a big sale or coupon/money saving store - the signs or ads

Thinking just because you have turned your back you have automatically made a makeshift blindspot

Getting things that aren’t clothing and putting them under a pile of clothes like people wobt notice

Trying 20 things on and carrying around 5 other items and buying absolutely nothing

Shifty eyes - good cameras and good lp pick up on it.

Noticing every single person who walks by you. people who aren’t sus dont notice other shoppers.

Literally the most stupid and most common way I personally notice people: walking quickly past every single isle looking for a blind spot and no people.

Coming in with a semi structured bag that is flat on the sides and obviously empty and leaving (attempting to) with it bulging.

Thinking babies and children in strollers dont make you sus. We watch and follow automatically esp if you put your coat over it and items in it.

Literally carrying you coat over your purse and putting items in that hand and making them “disappear”

hello, my sweet babies!! here’s a post that hopefully will turn into a flourishing thread because it needs to be addressed! for any of my minors out there, BE MINDFUL that by law you aren’t supposed to consume alcohol under the age of 21 (but who’s stopping you amiright?!)…let alone lift it (even better lol)!! regardless, take all of this info with a grain of salt and stay safe, lovely’s!!

🍷Knowing your advatanges/disadvantages:🍷

It’s no secret that alcohol is constantly being watched by LP. Even in “low security” stores that appear to have little/no surveillance, there is usually at least one camera ALWAYS pointing toward the booze because they expect you to steal it. So, you should first really look at yourself and check for any of the following:

❌RED FLAGS (Disadvantages):

- being under 21 yrs (duh)

- LOOKING like your under 21 yrs… ^these first 2 disadvantages are HUGE and should not be looked over. pls be careful

- Having a bad habit of leaving/returning constantly to the same area very quickly

- Having a large, black bag OR BACKPACK (don’t fkin do this bro your ass will get watched like a hawk)

- Picking up too many other things

- Being Sus before even getting to the booze isle

- Being a suspect from previous lifting trips (if you’ve been hella sussed before and you think they’ll remember your face, bag, liscense plate, or if they took and hung a picture of you in the back blah blah blah)

If any of the above might be of concern to you, try your best to change these red flag or avoid lifting alcohol all together. better safe than sorry, ESPECIALLY MINORS.

✔️That being said, here are some POINTERS (Advantages):

- Appearing older or having a more professional physique (look mature, but not overly standoutish)

- WALKING WITH PURPOSE. if you walk shy and timid, they will watch you more closely oml

- Get in the habit: Check prices, Read Labels, Dont act skiddish, Seem like a shopper

- Very experienced with: walking and concealing, lighting concealing, recognizing VERY GOOD blind spots

🍷Knowing your booze🍷

This might seem redundant, but it’s actually very important: different kinds of alcohol will be much harder to lift compared to others. For example, the next time you visit your local grocery store or whatever, take a look at the placement of not only the cameras, but also the alcohol!!! Wines and Wine Coolers tend to be or appear to be less directly watched (eg. they’re on the end of the isle, on a display that’s not being seen by the camera from one side, or on a display in a main isle that’s not near a camera). Here are some things I’ve picked up:

***GENERALLY**** Less Surveillance On:

- WINE (mf NUT)

- Wine Coolers

- Boxed Wine

- Cheaper beers

- Alcohol “accessories” (Marg mix, mixers, ect)

***HIGH SURVEILLANCE***** (i have not even tried these)

- Hard Liquor

- Expensive Wines/Beer Cases

- Champaign

- Rums (sigh)

My general rules of thumb when determining MY PERSONAL OPINION of what’s high or lower surveillance:

- is it available at a common grocery store?? WINE: duh, therefore it’s less “rare” and in my experience, less watched HARD LIQUOR: no, sadly; therefore, it’s a high budget item sold at special stores almost exclusively and will be highly surveiled

- how many are available? Again, wine is legit everywhere

- in less surveilled stores, is this item directly monitored by a camera?? In A FEW** of my local grocery stores AND gas stations, wine has been out of the way of cameras and sometimes even the liquor isle all together

** DO NOT visit one store and assume that because a certain drink is directly surveilled or not, it’s like that everywhere; scope out many locations (grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, ect) and try to figure out some rules specifically for you and your local boozey drinks!!

🍷BEFORE🍷

Before you go over to that isle for the LOVE OF ALL THATS GOOD AND HOLY, identify ALL cameras, ALL SAs or customers that may be near the area, ALL blind spots, ect. this part is crucial, babies

🍷CONCEALING🍷

After considering all of the above and really taking your time with it, it’s time to get to work!! Like we’ve said a million times, booze is hard to lift but it’s possible. You may have to tweak some of your own concealing techniques because of alcohols difficulty to get away with. Here are a few of my personal favorite ways to conceal:

- Grab a bottle very discretely. While walking away from the camera, slowly and carefully move your arms in from of your body and quickly put the bottle in your purse without large movements. The camera will more than likely just see you walking away harmlessly with your bottle!! Be sure to walk to an area without a camera so it won’t see your empty hands after immediately leaving the isle.

- Scope out some bottles and look very interested in reading and pricing. With your body facing away from the camera and your purse by your side, either pop one bottle in very smoothly with one hand while “digging for a bottle at the back of the shelf”; OR grab a few in your basket and conceal one while walking away

- IF YOU LOOK OLDER, grab a few in your basket and shop around, them pop some in your bag in isles with no cameras (if you are/ look young, they will wonder why you have that much alcohol in the first place)

- If the bottles are on a display table, walk past the table with your back to the camera and grab one VERY DISCRETELY while walking if you’re sure that no customers are coming toward you. Conceal in from of your body to block from camera (personal fave)

- You can plop them in a reusable grocery bag too… i prefer that over a purse sometimes

In Conclusion: Be fast, Be smooth, Be Discrete, BE CONFIDENT

🍷TIPS🍷

Alright guys, things to from this post and my personal tips and tricks:

- smaller (NOT MA & PA STORES) grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores in your area are safer bets. Wáłmârt, târgêt, çvś, Ect. will be harder to lift from because of their technology and $$. they can afford more LP and more surveillance in alcohol so I honestly wouldn’t mess with them at all (although my local CVš is easy for me because of its setup). Stick with more run down and smaller stores, but pls don’t take from personal businesses guys!

- Hard liquor is going to be hard regardless. Liquor stores are nuts yo

- BEST TIP: go to a grocery store WITHOUT TOWERS. Yes, they exist. That’s another reason I love smaller chain grocery stores. That way you don’t have to stress about tags or stickers… one less thing to worry about! **BE AWARE some places may have hidden towers, but smaller chain grocery stores and gas stations probably don’t js. That’s why we scope places out multiple times before we lift! just use your noggin, think about it a store could really afford hidden towers, cams, ect… be smart!

- GLASS MAKES HELLA LOUD SOUNDS. Either only take one glass bottle or be sure to bring a shirt or so

thing to wrap/separate the bottles so they don’t clink (id do this in the bathroom tbh)

- DO. NOT. DROP. THE BOTTLE.

- DO. NOT. DROP. YOUR BAG.

- Don’t so this frequently please!! be safe y’all

- Minors: being caught with alcohol is another offense on its own. Especially in your car. Please, do not have alcohol or anything like that in your car because you will get fucked up if police find it. Try to get it off your person as fast as you can when you get home!!

- OVERCONSUMING ALCOHOL IS DANGEROUS TO THE BODY & CAN INFERFER WITH SOME MEDICATIONS & DONT DRINK N DRIVE & DONT DRINK IF YOUR PREGNARANT ECT (i had to put the warning)

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

This is not for everyone, but for those who are interested/ capable… I hope this helps!! Remember, alcohol is high theft and will be watched, but we’re smart!! leave more tips & comments below!!

Hey y'all so as someone who works retail I have some insight into the give aways that we don’t think about sometimes.

1) unless you are in a store with a changing room and you have clothes DO NOT load up on stuff to try and make it look like you don’t have something with you (in the shopping bag) 9/10 times I see someone with a lot I think shoplifter or big sale. Both times I’m going to SA the fuck out of them to get the sale. Going off of that don’t make it seem like you’re going to have a huge total if you aren’t to seem less sus… we will follow and help you more so you buy a lot.

2) always be nice to the workers. If someone asks you how you’re doing say I’m doing great how are you and if they ask what you’re looking for don’t say browsing. I automatically think lifter and so do other people. Say you’re killin time before work or say you want some earrings or something basic and then shop around. Please buy what you’re looking for or ask someone to hold it and say you realized you left your wallet in the car or something. Say thanks when you leave. Ask questions. Be friendly.

3) if you say you work in retail we don’t care about you tbh. We may bitch to you but we won’t really think to sus you out.

4) pay with cash when you pay/if you pay

5) if you feel like you’re being sus and can’t help it for whatever reason tell a worker you think your ex is following you and ask if you can just hide out in here for a bit. Gives you an excuse to stay in there and leave when you’re “safe” without buying anything. And makes your shakiness understandable. If they ask if you want them to call security or police say no because you don’t want to cause a scene

6) if you’re looking at cams and a worker catches you causally mention you work in retail and the cams at your store are horrible and you’re jealous of the cams set up. Half the time you’ll get info on their security too.

7) ask about sales seem like a real customer.

8) look at prices

9) if you don’t work in retail and you say you are then have a plan of where you work and what location it is if asked.

10) go in when it’s busy. Especially if it’s a small store. We are focused on sales we have to meet a goal for the day.

11) don’t leave tags or hangers or any evidence behind. Those lifters are the ones who make us mad.

12) if someone offers you a basket that doesn’t mean you’re being sused… a lot of stores that is just policy. Watch how you’re treated after that to see if you’re actually being sused.

13) if you can slightly change your appearance between each store. Most people are pretty basic but we get calls from other stores with descriptions all the time. Put your hair up. Or take it down. Change shirts if you have another. Put on a jacket. Take off a jacket.

14) I know we all say it but if you have unnatural hair colors be more careful. It’s so much easier to spot someone with purple hair than blonde hair after we get a call to warn us of a lifter.

15) don’t go to all basic stores. If someone lifted from us my coworkers will look for them in vs or Sephora or forever 21. Don’t be predictable.