When the Exit alarm goes off, at the store we shop at, The suspect is allowed to go ahead.
@lookatdesktop (27156)
Dallas, Texas
July 20, 2018 6:16pm CST
When I was entering a store I passed by a customer on their way out with their shopping cart full of grocery and other items.
The exit alarm sounded. I told the person they should, they SHOULD go to customer service. The customer asked me, 'DO YOU WORK HERE?" - I didn't answer the customer. I told the customer, that he/she should talk to a customer service person to see if one of their items still had a tag on it.
When that happened, and as that suspect customer stood at the front of the store, waiting to talk to a customer service rep, the person in charge of self checkout told the customer to go ahead and that there was nothing to worry about.
I know that is faulty thinking. If an alarm sounds, it's supposed to alert security, not just alarm a customer. If that alarm went off just because it was set too high on it's sensitivity settings, the sensitivity settings need to be lowered.
The fact is, most ordinary customers would stop and think, that the exit alarm sounded only if a customer was walking out with something that had a sensor tag on it, a magnetic device that indicated the product it was connected to was being ripped off, stolen, and the store security should have followed up on this. But no, they let that alarm go off all the time and by now, the ones who actually are taking something out they shop lifted and did not pay for, then they know to act calm when the alarm sounds, just to keep themselves from appearing GUILTY of theft.
I have been in retail long enough to know that the shrinkage rate from shoplifting thefts is a regular and a common thing. The alarm is a necessary deterrent.
So, given you were in that same situation, what would YOU DO?
4 people like this
5 responses
@Deepizzaguy (122367)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
21 Jul 18
The local Wal Mart has that alarm system as well. However at the exit area there is a Wal Mart employee who checks the cash receipt to make sure no items were stolen. I know if I had some item when the alarm rings, I would stop and have the employees check it out since running from them would show that I am hiding something.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
21 Jul 18
You are a good person and I admire you for it. 

1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
28 Jul 18
@Deepizzaguy , IF more people focused on the GOODNESS of the common man, the world would be a much brighter place to live for EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE. You are like a light of hope in an age of bad news. Keep up the good work.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122367)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
28 Jul 18
@lookatdesktop Thank you for the kind comments.
1 person likes this

@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
25 Jul 18
A lot of times no one stops and thinks anymore. Too many thefts can even be inside jobs. But this is Sad when it happened right before you and no one cared enough to want to do anything
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
25 Jul 18
Yes, it would appear as though they either did not care or they were specifically instructed not to do anything. I do hope their security gets an upgrade.


@wolfgirl569 (136058)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Jul 18
I have seen many just keep walking. I always stop. Sometimes the strip just dont get deactivated or the cashier missed seeing it on there.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
21 Jul 18
In some cases that is likely, but in others it may simply be that the store does not have anyone trained for security and ready and available and to prevent an occurrence involving conflict with a potential shop lifter, they might have to just let it go at that moment and count their losses. They do, however, hopefully, have camera footage at the exit of the store and can check footage of a particular suspect for future reference, so if that person returns and is suspect and footage shows they have in fact taken something by the action of shoplifting, then they can get law enforcement involved.
@RasmaSandra (98158)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jul 18
That customers shopping cart should have been inspected. Afterward, apologies could be made but what if???
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
21 Jul 18
Certain large box stores employ the proper security and their own discretionary methods towards all customers and they ask for proof of purchase at the exits when there are large items and the customer has been reported by security to store greeters to double check certain individual shoppers as a matter of course.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
21 Jul 18
You are among those honest ones. I only wish all were like that.
1 person likes this






