Theft At Walmart in Florida

Hands to face slap. OMG! Almost every trip to Wally Worlds looking at a $125 ticket !

________________________________
 

Last edited:
Same here, I read that some supermarkets are adding
security tags to blocks of butter and boxes of eggs, it
must cause queues at the tills, while all the tags are
removed.

Mike.
 
Naturally said:
I haven't verified but remember it said that America already has more people in jails and prisons than just about the whole world or something like that. Apparently laws aren't much of a deterrent and courts tasked to uphold those laws are in a tough position to figure how to hold criminals accountable according to their offense without further overloading an already packed system. There are no easy answers.
Click to expand...
So, do you see the merit of this politician's idea? ... ⬇️

Murrmurr said:
Someone, a political candidate or maybe a congressman, proposed the idea that department stores like Walmart and big-chain grocery stores set up a free-stuff kiosk where people could just walk in and take whatever, no questions asked.

The arguments were: who would fund it; state or feds, and the even bigger argument was protecting the would-be thief's privacy. Others would see them enter the free-stuff part of the store and know they're struggling.
Click to expand...
The west coast used to have Free Stores all over the place, in big cities and tiny towns. No one has to steal when they can walk into a shop and take whatever they need or want.

When I commented about laws and stuff, it was only somewhat related the topic; just an observation about the wealth gap between regular people and legislators/lawmakers/congressmen, and that the wider that gap gets, the more complacent they become. Because of their wealth and status they live in a bubble, untouched by the kind of crap regular people deal with.

Calif is especially soft on crime. Carjackings, home invasions, and even violence against women and children goes unpunished every day. And that has nothing to do with the availability of jail-cells. Laws have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent...saving the state a lot of money.
 

Walmart from what I’ve seen locally has but sporadic anti-theft measures in place; very rarely is anyone in position asking to see receipts at exits. It’s just not feasible with heavy volumes of shoppers. I’m sure that silent individual thefts are ongoing, which is why when goods like hand lotion or shampoo are pushing $10 a bottle some stores have but limited quantities out on shelves. They busy help with controlling and replacing inventory after few purchases.

Smash and grab mobs are becoming more of a thing in mall and city stores with thieves descending in packs, quickly grabbing handfuls of goods, overwhelming any store security present, and departing within minutes. Employees making minimum wage can hardly be expected to put their lives on the line, either, not knowing in America who’s packing a gun and willing to use it…
 
There are lots of instances like the OP on Youtube.

There is a fear that confronting these people would lead to extreme violence. Hey, you have liberal gun laws, you risk guns being used. You tackle someone, and you're just as likely to get done for assault. Hell, no-one wants to follow any rules these days because it invades their privacy and is "big brother" watching over them.

I just posted in another thread about parents, and what they teach us. Well, what do you think that little girl is being taught, and what do you think HER kids will eventually be taught? It's one big deep dive into a nightmare.
 
Somebody walks out of Walmart without paying for a $40 dress. Employees could stop her, and detain her until the police came. But when you think of the legal liability in detaining her against her will, the cost of ligation to the store to prosecute, etc, letting her walk out the door may be cheaper. Loosing the dress costs the store about $15 in actual loss, loosing a law suit could be tens of thousands.
Shoplifting is a crime. But if retailers put goods out in the open, with little security, so anybody can walk off with them- then people are going to walk off with them. DUH!
 
We elect the people who have adapted our laws to make this a reality.

Business are pulling out of high crime areas where this stuff happens. they are generally low income areas. That is who is hurt the most. Look at Portland OR, Seattle Wa, Oakland CA, etc.

One day this little girl will try to rob somebody who will fight back. She will be injured, maybe killed. Or prosecuted and convicted of a serious crime. Why do we elect the people who allow this?
 
Last edited:
As I've voiced before several times, what has been sadly happening in California the last decade is the beginning of anarchy, though those in the East just laughed and made fruit and nut jokes. Now same ills have moved over the rest of the nation and no one is still laughing. One needs to understand given the huge wealth gap and invasion of immigrants at the bottom that feel at a disadvantage, there are plenty of those that would like to see this chaos grow. Open borders narratives by Wall Street globalists seeking those willing to undercut wages and sell real estate at inflated prices and political groups seeing power and influence are most to blame. But all is not doomed if we change course.

As to these theft issues, that could very much be stopped though to do so some advocates, lawyers, and psychologists will scream foaming at the mouth. But such needs to be done lest we are doomed. As a society we need to change the way we punish wrongdoers as putting felons in cells without effective rehabilitation has limits. That is why I promote reduced jail sentences with public corporal punishment with transparent oversight that does not inflict historical pain but rather is unpleasant and uncomfortable. And that includes removing publicly naming underage perpetrators and their hidden from the public juvenile justice that has been a disaster for repeat offenders.

And we need to allow store security people to physically enforce without having to worry about being sued from lawyers that is the real reason stores are hands off. And that is merely a matter of political legislation and followed policy.
 
Last edited:
There are multiple food banks, shops for free clothing and supplies, online Buy Nothing sites, charities that provide daily meals, etc. There are options. There’s no excuse for shoplifting.
 
Murrmurr said:
So, do you see the merit of this politician's idea? ... ⬇️

Someone, a political candidate or maybe a congressman, proposed the idea that department stores like Walmart and big-chain grocery stores set up a free-stuff kiosk where people could just walk in and take whatever, no questions asked.

The arguments were: who would fund it; state or feds, and the even bigger argument was protecting the would-be thief's privacy. Others would see them enter the free-stuff part of the store and know they're struggling.
Click to expand...

Allow and even encourage a child to walk out without paying for a dress ...
Have "someone" pay for, allow, encourage, stores to setup free-stuff kiosks ...

Why reward bad behavior and bad choices? Doesn't work with dogs and doesn't work with "humans".
Both will come to feel they're entitled to "it" and continue to act accordingly ... or worse.
Kinda like the "give them an inch" saying.

Are there needy people? ... Yes and as someone pointed out, there are local, state and national agencies standing by to help.
Are there stupid people? ... Yes, they wasted opportunities such as a fundamental free education and have chosen crime and toxic lifestyles while feeling entitled to free stuff ... and "your" stuff.

The problems are not with politicians (in general), charities or courts. The problems are closer to home ... and on social media, with certain type cultural "heroes and idols" and perhaps in part, in schools.

A little girl was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. She said she wanted to draw. When asked what kind of art she liked, she said not art ... draw free money and things like my mom.
 
Last edited:
Naturally said:
Allow and even encourage a child to walk out without paying for a dress ...
Have "someone" pay for, allow, encourage, stores to setup free-stuff kiosks ...

Why reward bad behavior? Doesn't work with dogs and doesn't work with "humans".
Both will come to feel they're entitled to "it" and continue to act accordingly ... or worse.
Kinda like the "give them an inch" saying.
Click to expand...
What bad behavior? No theft has occurred!

The proposal was to reward major chain stores like Walmart and Kroger for including an interior kiosk or adjoining building or exterior department where would-be thieves - folks at risk of turning to crime - can get clothes for their kids, diapers for their babies, put food on the table, etc....a place where they could help themselves to overstocked, returned, damaged and donated items at no charge.

This was a crime prevention plan.
 
We live in Florida and we see locally a lot of arrests for skip scanning and theft from local businesses. I do not think the normal employees, i.e. Walmart greeters get involved as there is a lot of risks as mentioned above. However, I believe there is a concerted effort, at least in our area, for theft loss prevention employees to work in concert with local police and sheriff departments to identify the offenders and bring them for justice. We see pictures of people caught on surveillance cameras, and local authorities are asking the public to help identify the offenders. Note these are not just people who steal high value items. If they can catch you stealing a loaf of bread you are on the radar.

The links below are just from today's on line local news. I hope the links work.

Second suspect tracked down in heist at Walmart in The Villages

Suspect nabbed in Spanish Springs with shopping carts stolen from Publix

Serial shoplifter tasered by police after fleeing Best Buy
 
A possible solution I would consider is to go back to no self check-outs and one way entrance into the store. You could only exit thru a Checker at check out line if purchasing, or a monitored exit line where you show what you have inside any purse or bag if you purchased nothing. I have been to many venues where your bags are checked when entering, why not do the same when you are leaving.
 
Naturally said:
Free Stuff ... the irony that this is a prevention solution. Be proactive and give stuff away. Prevention is better than a cure.
Prevention, detention and free stuff isn't working. There are no easy answers but local, state and national agencies are standing by to help those in need.
Click to expand...
The free-store idea wasn't meant to cure the country's ills. It wasn't an "instead of" a decent education and opportunities to become a productive citizen, it was just a leg-up; just a little help for people struggling to clothe their kids, or eat, or sleep under a blanket.

I don't understand why this concept annoys you.

and, edit; it was a strictly volunteer program. A business could choose to include a free store or not. There was an incentive if they did, but it wasn't being forced on them. Also, most of Walmart's returned and damaged items are destroyed.
 
Last edited:
Murrmurr said:
I don't understand why this concept annoys you.
Click to expand...

Not annoyed my friend. Thought we were having a discussion ... although not in agreement. Hope that doesn't annoy you.

A fact of damaged and returned items in consideration for give away is that as long as those items are on the store premises, the store or corporation and their insurance by proxy is still responsible and accountable for the items ... which in some cases could be a legal liability.

Furthermore and as long as the items are available on store premises ... some "criminals" will accept the free item only to return later to the store for a refund or replacement as though they'd purchased the item new. Criminals have ingenious ways of working a system. Often giving great thought to it. Even finding ways to work around the validation of a receipt. Though I'm not exactly sure how.

Perhaps stores and corporation could donate those returned and damaged goods to an independent third party for distribution and availability. But there would still be the consideration of legal liability in the case of defective and damaged goods possibly presenting a hazard of some sort or other.

Even charity places that accept goods no longer needed and acquired through donation have a screening process and often toss out clothes, damaged items and all things of questionable integrity that others may have used routinely on a daily basis prior to donation. Why? ... because they could be a liability.
 
911 said:
I wasn’t going to publish this story because it sounds far fetched, but here goes. I am staying here in Florida at my friend’s house and yesterday I had to run to Walmart for some hardware to fix my neighbor’s screen door. On the way out, I saw this little girl, maybe about 3 or 4, carrying out 2 little dresses still on the hangers. I told the little girl she had to pay for them before taking them out of the store.

The greeter or package checker or whatever her job is just looked at me. The little girl’s mom was with her. There was a big guy standing in the vestibule where I was. He told the mom to go back into the store and pay for the dresses. I started recording what was going on. The mother didn’t say anything and kept walking. The big guy asked the Walmart employee if she wasn’t going to do anything. She shook her head no.

The big guy told her he needed a pair of work gloves, so I guess I will go get a pair and walk out the door. You stop me and I will sue Walmart. I thought he was only testing her, but he went back into the store, got a pair of gloves, walked past the employee shaking the gloves in her face and walked out the door. She never said a word. I told her I didn’t know Walmart was giving stuff away and here I am like an idiot paying for my stuff. She shrugged her shoulders and that was it. I took my screws and latch kit and left.

I heard about this stuff going on, but never seen it until yesterday. Toda, in the newspaper, there was an article about how much money stores lost in 2023 to thieves. I found it to be somewhat ironic that the story was printed a day after I saw the theft. I know Walmart has Loss Prevention personnel, but they sure aren’t doing their job.
Click to expand...
You mean I could have gotten the sewing machine I just bought for free???
Oh well, it came with a clear conscious.
 
911 said:
I wasn’t going to publish this story because it sounds far fetched, but here goes. I am staying here in Florida at my friend’s house and yesterday I had to run to Walmart for some hardware to fix my neighbor’s screen door. On the way out, I saw this little girl, maybe about 3 or 4, carrying out 2 little dresses still on the hangers. I told the little girl she had to pay for them before taking them out of the store.

The greeter or package checker or whatever her job is just looked at me. The little girl’s mom was with her. There was a big guy standing in the vestibule where I was. He told the mom to go back into the store and pay for the dresses. I started recording what was going on. The mother didn’t say anything and kept walking. The big guy asked the Walmart employee if she wasn’t going to do anything. She shook her head no.

The big guy told her he needed a pair of work gloves, so I guess I will go get a pair and walk out the door. You stop me and I will sue Walmart. I thought he was only testing her, but he went back into the store, got a pair of gloves, walked past the employee shaking the gloves in her face and walked out the door. She never said a word. I told her I didn’t know Walmart was giving stuff away and here I am like an idiot paying for my stuff. She shrugged her shoulders and that was it. I took my screws and latch kit and left.

I heard about this stuff going on, but never seen it until yesterday. Toda, in the newspaper, there was an article about how much money stores lost in 2023 to thieves. I found it to be somewhat ironic that the story was printed a day after I saw the theft. I know Walmart has Loss Prevention personnel, but they sure aren’t doing their job.
Click to expand...
Wish I could do this with health care. :ROFLMAO:

As I look into my crystal ball, I predict that all purchases will be made strictly online. But then thieves will just break into warehouses or highjack trucks.
 
Naturally said:
Not annoyed my friend. Thought we were having a discussion ... although not in agreement. Hope that doesn't annoy you.

A fact of damaged and returned items in consideration for give away is that as long as those items are on the store premises, the store or corporation and their insurance by proxy is still responsible and accountable for the items ... which in some cases could be a legal liability.

Furthermore and as long as the items are available on store premises ... some "criminals" will accept the free item only to return later to the store for a refund or replacement as though they'd purchased the item new. Criminals have ingenious ways of working a system. Often giving great thought to it. Even finding ways to work around the validation of a receipt. Though I'm not exactly sure how.

Perhaps stores and corporation could donate those returned and damaged goods to an independent third party for distribution and availability. But there would still be the consideration of legal liability in the case of defective and damaged goods possibly presenting a hazard of some sort or other.

Even charity places that accept goods no longer needed and acquired through donation have a screening process and often toss out clothes, damaged items and all things of questionable integrity that others may have used routinely on a daily basis prior to donation. Why? ... because they could be a liability.
Click to expand...
No unsafe or expired items allowed.

I worked at a Walmart from 2004 to 2006 or 7. I managed all the non-food departments and the non-food warehouse.

Walmart doesn't bother returning returned and damaged items to foreign manufacturers. Except for certain electronics and appliances produced in the US, everything goes into a giant trash compactor and ultimately, a landfill.

Itemizing/scanning each and every returned and damaged item is a huge hassle. It takes hours and hours every day and requires taking an associate off the floor to just stand in a backroom scanning piles and carts full of items, and return shipping on returned and damaged items is extremely expensive, so Walmart doesn't bother with any of that (except for certain electronics and appliances produced in the US).

A financial bookkeeping corporation simply tallies their (and other corporation's) losses in terms of real money, and submits that number to the IRS, insurance, and other institutions. It isn't an accurate number. It's an estimate based on charted loss-trends over a few years, and then every few years or so, if they see a new trend, they gather new data and adjust the annual loss estimate accordingly.

They can recoup their losses without destroying returned and damaged items. They can just move those items into their free-store instead. That's it. That was that politician's idea.

And I'm saying that idea could prevent a lot of thefts and arrests, criminal records and court costs and etc. going on today.
 
debodun said:
At the WalMart closest to me, the times I've been there, there's a person standing at the exit that stops people and checks the sales receipt against what's in the cart.
Click to expand...
Our Walmart sentries just wave goodbye, or nod. Some of them say "Thank you for choosing Walmart" but I think that's becoming obsolete.
 
When there was still a Fry's Electronics store here, they took theft seriously. Just outside the door were two parking spaces that were marked for police only. There were cameras all over the store and they were monitored. When you left, there was a person who looked in your bag and checked it against the receipt.

One day I was walking in from the parking lot and a kid came out of the store. A moment later a big guy had him by the scruff of the neck walking him back in. He was carrying a computer game in his other hand.

A lot of stores have cameras around. I noticed my CVS does. But, I wonder if anyone is actually watching. I kind of doubt it. Maybe this is something that AI could handle. If this problem continues, I suspect there will be technical solutions developed.
 
WHERE in Florida is this particular Walmart? Different places are different.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top