I was a store detective for 2 years.

I was a store detective at a marshalls for 2 years. I got there when I was 16 years old and I left when I was 18 because I decided I couldn't do the damn job anymore. I always got to see the "inner workings" of the store and would see the footage from cameras installed throughout the store. I'm going to list some tips based off of my experience.<br><br><br>1) We ALWAYS keep an eye on the dressing rooms. This is where the most shoplifting occurs. And always remember, there are cameras in plain sight in the middle of each mirror in the fitting rooms. Its pretty obvious they know you're going to steal if they put the camera "hiding in plain sight". They will spot the footage and jump on you faster than you can say "oh no". <br><br><br>2) Talking about cameras, there is always a camera above the front entrance of the store with a crappy zoom and one of the screens is always them zooming in and out of the camera at the front entrance. we always have an eye on the door. <br><br><br>3) Always ACT like you're shopping. It's extremely obvious when you're not. And if we agree that you're not, we'll keep an eye on you.<br><br><br>4) If you already have a shoplifting record, you're already being watched. And if your record shows you've stolen from the company before, we are waiting for you to do it again. <br><br><br>5) Be nice to the employees. They will be more willing to sell the stolen goods back to us at a lower price if we raise our suspicions and do a bag check. <br><br><br>6) We have a whole page talking about shoplifting. We have a short list of dress codes that make us raise an alarm. and If you're wearning one of the clothing on the list, you're being watched. this list includes, but is not limited to<br><br><br>- Baggy shirts and pants<br>- Hats<br>- Glasses and sunglasses<br>- Shirts and pants with pockets<br>- Hoodies<br><br><br>7) If you have a backpack, you're being watched. Plain and simple.<br><br><br>8) If you go into the fitting rooms a lot, you're being watched. <br><br><br>9) If you have a past record of shoplifting, we have a sheet where employees can put your face and name with a warning. This sheet also includes If you have actually been caught or not. If you've been caught, your image will stay on this sheet forever. if your warnings have been deleted and you were never caught, the image will be deleted a year after it was put on the sheet. <br><br><br>10) We ALWAYS have security hired on Black Friday. Always. <br><br><br>11) We have extremely good memory. Just because you don't see us doesn't mean we don't see you. Some of the other store detectives I've worked with were a husband and wife, and the husband had extreme memory and he would write up the names and faces of anybody who got caught shoplifting. And he would never forget a face or a name. <br><br><br>12) Always keep the items on the hanger. If we see you take an item out of the bag, we will be watching you.<br><br><br>13) If we see you opening an item and putting it in your bag, you're already caught. If we have enough evidence, we will arrest you on the spot. <br><br><br>14) Don't go in with a group. If you are with a group and we catch one of you shoplifting, everybody will be searched. <br><br><br>15) Always be on your toes. If you have a backpack with you and we have the security guard patrolling the floor, you can bet we will check your bag. <br><br><br><br>Good luck.