Obviously only when you lift small, easily concealed items. That's how I tend to do it when I'm grocery shopping at a supermarket I don't frequently visit. I put small, but relatively pricier items into my cart, then when I'm in a less watched isle, like the cereal isle, I discretely slip them into my sweater pocket. I don't do this often, certainly not often enough to build up to a felony amount at any particular store. That's about the only way I feel brave enough to do it.

In a big store, how likely is it that someone notices it on security footage? It intuitively feels much less risky than just pocketing something and walking out the door without paying for anything.

    • john_browns_beard [he/him, comrade/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      This is the way. I feel like pocketing something is more risky because A) they will be watching for it, and B) it builds a much stronger case for intent if they do catch you. You're better off just "missing" a scan or 10 and then playing dumb if anything happens.

      • Cummunism [they/them, he/him]
        ·
        edit-2
        2 years ago

        there's no playing dumb, once you go past the register they consider it shoplifting and theyll make you sign something saying you wont shop there again or theyll call the pigs on you, who im sure would be there in a hurry.

    • corgiwithalaptop [any, love/loves]
      ·
      2 years ago

      I used to steal weeks worth of groceries at a time by doing this. The store I'd hit was a more upscale grocery store that had a bar. I'd fill my bags, have a few pints, and then just walk out with all my stuff after an hour or so.

  • Aryuproudomenowdaddy [comrade/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    That's basically what I've always done and I've never been caught. Usually feels safer when there's a lot of people in the store, but I can't imagine loss prevention is riveted to the cameras the entire time. I used to have a friend who watched the security cameras at a casino and he said it was extremely boring.

    • Golgafrinchan [none/use name]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Just walk in with a trash bag, load it up with expensive items, and walk straight out the door.

      It helps to arrange with a fence beforehand, so you can grab what he requests.

  • Cummunism [they/them, he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    be careful though. one time i just forgot i had some 12 packs on the bottom and just forgot about them and left and security made me sign some bullshit form saying i wouldnt come back. i still shop there cause fuck them.

  • jwsmrz [comrade/them]
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    I shoplift probably 75% of my groceries, I have a few different tactics. In all cases, extra reusable grocery bags are essential

    In my area it's common for people to make several stops on your shopping trip at once for different stuff, so seeing people carrying bags that are half full isn't weird / they dont get checked

    If I'm just grabbing a couple things, I'll just put my bags inside my basket / small cart and put the expensive things inside a bag and put the cheap things on the outside. Then when I get to the cash I'll just put my bags over my shoulder while I unload my stuff onto the till and pack everything else overtop of them, pay for whatever got scanned and leave.

    If there's a self checkout, my tactic is just performative ineptitude. Basically you want to make such a maelstrom of mess in your cart / around the self checkout till that no one can really keep track of what's going on. Alternatively, just pack the stuff you mean to shoplift into a specific bag in your cart like the previous tactic but on a larger scale

    Advanced big cajones tactic - Bring a granny cart and just fill it up with shit as you're shopping as if it's your grocery cart, pay for a few things you're carrying. Again, not weird to make multiple stops on a grocery trip and 95% of people here are pedestrians or using transit so its not odd for someone to have a granny cart but only be buying a few things. Wouldn't make a habit of it but I do it every few months to stock up on things for the freezer

    Pretty much everyone I know does stuff along these lines, grocery costs are out of control

    Anyway I've been doing this at the same handful of stores for years.