[mikysco]

The article strangely seems like it's framing the entire industry/profession of loss prevention in a negative light. Hopefully everyone realizes the more retail theft a store experiences, the higher prices become for those of us who pay... and the more likely a store is to shut down if theft becomes too prevalent.

I'm not here defending a subreddit I've never visited but in general, those in the loss prevention industry don't have the time or context to evaluate if a given shoplifter is or isn't deserving of intervention based on the shoplifter's circumstances. Loss prevention is there to prevent loss - not make moral judgements.

[tyleo]

I live next to a grocery store with a high rate of theft and I couldn't agree more. The home goods section of the store has already closed due to theft. The freezers containing frozen seafood and frozen treats (ice cream) now have locks on them. Not to mention there is almost always a group of homeless folks gathered right outside the entrance which makes the area dangerous: my partner has personally been chased by a homeless person near the store.

I see folks making the argument, "property rights should not be above human life," and I get it, but grocery stores are not charities. Problems should be solved with real solutions rather than sacrificing businesses who are not equipped to solve the problem. In other words, if “property rights should not be above human life” then cities should provide for those lives through taxes and meal programs rather than letting random businesses be targets.

[tmaly]

I have two stories around most policies.

My nephew works at home depot. He stepped in front of a shoplifters cart, and they demoted him.

I was picking up something at an Apple store in the mall. An Apple employee is helping me with some questions on adapters. A guy walks in right next to us and proceeds to start taking stuff and stuffing it in his shirt. I asked the Apple employee what is he going to do. He said nothing, it is store policy to not to get involved.

[beej71]

All I can think is that this must be the cheaper route for businesses, or they wouldn't do it that way.

[logifail]

> All I can think is that this must be the cheaper route for businesses, or they wouldn't do it that way

It might be for some businesses in some jurisdictions but that's not true at global scale. There's just not enough margin in retail to cover losses that way.

(Full disclosure: I'm currently working with a client on a loss prevention project, big retail stores are the customers)

[mikkergp]

Thinking from a systems perspective. Does hiring individual loss prevention officers actually move the needle on a broader perspective? Law enforcement isn't prevalent enough to make an impact. We can't just let shoplifting run rampant. I found this hbr article that's pretty high level discussion of operational excellence:

https://hbr.org/2007/11/lessons-from-the-leaders-of-retail-l...

Also, is snatch and grab the most prevalent type of shoplifting? I found some articles mentioned fradulent returns and failing to ring someone up.

[trs8080]

> Loss prevention is there to prevent loss - not make moral judgements.

So that's just the way it is and it will never change? Maybe we should have less jobs where someone is authorized to use violent force and can check their morals at the door.

[jnovek]

I have no idea why you were downvoted for this.

“Loss prevention” is just private security and it’s definitely problematic. Through profiling it reinforces racism and classism. Can you imagine how unpleasant it must be to be treated with suspicion every time you walk into a Target?

I think retailers could absolutely develop more compassionate ways of preventing things from being stolen, but why would they? There’s no incentive.

[logifail]

> “Loss prevention” is just private security and it’s definitely problematic. Through profiling it reinforces racism and classism.

(Full disclosure: I'm currently working with a client on a loss prevention project, big retail stores are the customers)

I've got a CCTV video in front of me right now showing a retail store being robbed late at night, a guy wearing a hoodie broke into the store, violently attacked three checkouts, and left with an estimated three figure cash payday, in approximately three minutes. The physical damage done to the store done during the attack, and lost revenue when the store was closed the following days for repairs, far exceeded the value of the cash the attacker escaped with.

Loss prevention is about stopping the bad guys from stealing your stuff (whether that's goods or cash).

I've no idea why one would think profiling (or racism) should have anything to do with this?

[jnovek]

Yet… 2/3 of black people have reported to being treated with suspicion in a retail setting.

What’s the disconnect? You, someone who ostensibly works in the loss prevention industry claim that racism is not a factor; but black people, as polled by Gallup, don’t seem to agree.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/24/shoppi...