• PeludoPorFavor [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    I don't much do it these days (only sometimes), but i had a phase in college when i would steal all the time, ESPECIALLY from the university. overpriced bullshit. after my first year I never bought anything from the school bookstore after they screwed me my first semester, and then actively worked to take as much as i could. text books, regular books, supplies, etc.

    my best tip, like others have said, just be casual, and if you can, buy something. self checkouts are harder now cuz they weigh shit, but if you 'forget' things in your cart, that's chill. very small goes right in the pocket. I have a parka that has a wonderful big pocket on the inside for goggles or gloves (like a snowboarding jacket basically) and that was so clutch to slide even relatively big things in without being noticed.

    for other stores, especially if i have bought there before, i use their bags. I've stolen so many book from B-rns and Nobel because I will buy a book, peruse for more (treat that shit like a read-in library anyways) and then just put shit in my bag once I'm sure that there is no security sticker. I still pretty consistently would steal from them because i hate digital, amazon sucks, and I sometimes want to keep things forever rather than return to a library.

    for electronics, I've def brought stuff to the bathroom and removed security stuff there, but that was very sketchy and not worth it and just don't care about that shit any more cuz i can pirate stuff easier. I just really wanted some dvd box sets from Hal mart.

    harder sometimes, but just straight up leaving through the garden center at big box stores. usually less fuss, and no security really. after hours they will close it and make you go through main doors which sucks.

    i try not to take from the same place too often, but especially if you're in a small town that's sometimes the only place to grab from. without being obvious, you can get a feel for where the cameras are or where are blind spots. works good if you're by other people.

    my one hack was always to try to leave the store when a group was passing through. harder to pinpoint who is the theft if the alarm goes off on like 4 people, and then i just keep walking because it couldn't possibly be old me?!

    removing packaging is a good idea but can be hard depending on what it is. the smaller and easier to hide the better. and while it's maybe counterintuitive, i try to go when there are the most people because while the store may be understaffed in off hours, there is less cover. crowds may have snitches, but they also provide more cover.