Wal-Mart parking lot food thefts

[snopes]

Comment: A woman posted this to a online community I belong to.


When I was checking out of Walmart with my 2 year old in the cart, the
lady at the register gave me this warning. She told me to keep a good eye
on my cart when I got to my car. She told me since the groceries have
gone up in price More people are stealing. Most won't steal from the
stores because of the cameras. What they do is target an Adult alone with
a small child. Why because the first thing we do is put the child in the
car and get them buckled. Often leaving the cart unattended near our
trunks. Then the person walks their cart near yours and grabs a bag from
the top. Most people don't even notice they are missing anything till they
get home. Walmart started getting a lot of calls asking if their bags
were left at the register, which is how they figured out what is going on
because of course they were not there.
I know it is terrible to steal. I just can not help but wonder what
drives a person to do this? Is it like the old saying Desperate times
call for desperate measures? Are they just doing it to get something for
free or are they trying to feed a little one of their own?
With the price of gas, the stations are having more drive offs then ever.
Now its hit where it really hurts the food.
I did ask they say it is happening every where not just in my small town

I know it can not ALL be true, because I used to work for service stations
and it has been a LONG time since you could "pump first" so I question how
much, if any, of this is true.

Hmm...we've always left the small children in the cart, right where we can see them, while we pile the groceries in the trunk. Seems to me that I'd be more concerned about a stranger nabbing my kids out of the car while I go put the cart away than I would be about someone nabbing some groceries while I strapped my kid in the carseat.

[diddy]

why would a criminal gram a random shopping bag without spending the several (very obvious) moments making sure they need what is in said bag? THe reward can't nearly be greater than the potential risk unless they happen to snag a 25 dollar turkey or something similar. Seems a lot of effort than it is worth.

Besides, I see plenty of parents actually either fill the trunk first or take the while cart near the car seat before unloading the kid making the attempt moot.

[Buckle Up]

Originally Posted by diddy

why would a criminal gram a random shopping bag without spending the several (very obvious) moments making sure they need what is in said bag?

Same reason a thief would steal a wallet not knowing how much cash was in it, or steal a piece of mail out ouf someone's mailbox in the hopes that it contained a check he could forge.

The reward can't nearly be greater than the potential risk unless they happen to snag a 25 dollar turkey or something similar. Seems a lot of effort than it is worth.

I think for many it could be worth it, because the likelihood of being apprehended is low, and the likelihood of charges being pressed against someone stealing a small amount of food is even lower.

[HollowMan]

Originally Posted by snopes

I know it can not ALL be true, because I used to work for service stations and it has been a LONG time since you could "pump first" so I question how much, if any, of this is true.

I'm not sure where you live or how long a "long time" is, but I could pump first around two years ago.

Originally Posted by Buckle Up

Same reason a thief would steal a wallet not knowing how much cash was in it, or steal a piece of mail out ouf someone's mailbox in the hopes that it contained a check he could forge.

Not necessarily. With a wallet, you are assured of something of value inside. (Cash, Credit/Debit cards, identification), and with a mailbox you can take a moment and suss out which envelopes have checks in them.

If the thief can tell what's in the bag, it can be worth it, but if it's just a random grab, they stand a chance of coming up with some useless stuff, and probably wouldn't try it.

Another thing that makes me question whether or not this is a viable tactic, is the fact that Wal-Mart doesn't use distinct bags for groceries vs. non-groceries. So (1) the thief wouldn't necessarily know they are stealing groceiries, and (2) why warn specifically against stolen groceries when in fact anything could be stolen. Why not warn against stolen 'stuff'?

Of course, most of my argument falls apart if the thief follows the victim from the store.

[Latiam]

Originally Posted by HollowMan

I'm not sure where you live or how long a "long time" is, but I could pump first around two years ago.



Not necessarily. With a wallet, you are assured of something of value inside. (Cash, Credit/Debit cards, identification), and with a mailbox you can take a moment and suss out which envelopes have checks in them.

If the thief can tell what's in the bag, it can be worth it, but if it's just a random grab, they stand a chance of coming up with some useless stuff, and probably wouldn't try it.

Another thing that makes me question whether or not this is a viable tactic, is the fact that Wal-Mart doesn't use distinct bags for groceries vs. non-groceries. So (1) the thief wouldn't necessarily know they are stealing groceiries, and (2) why warn specifically against stolen groceries when in fact anything could be stolen. Why not warn against stolen 'stuff'?

Of course, most of my argument falls apart if the thief follows the victim from the store.

We can still pump first, except at night.

Every Wal-Mart in my area has cameras all over the parking lots. Seems too risky for toilet paper and bread.

[rangerdog]

Sheesh, with my luck, I'd wind up with diapers, bananas, lunch bags, and a Star newspaper...

[diddy]

Originally Posted by zephyra

Every Wal-Mart in my area has cameras all over the parking lots. Seems too risky for toilet paper and bread.

I forgot to think about that one. Security cameras pretty much cover teh lots of of all big box scores for security purposes.

[Buckle Up]

There are cameras all around the inside of the store, too. That doesn't stop people from stealing seemingly low-worth stuff. Now granted, they know what they're getting when they shoplift, but I'm just saying for skilled thieves, they could make the risk pretty low, at least in their minds. And you can sell anything at a flea market for a profit.

[chocolate kisses]

Originally Posted by Buckle Up

There are cameras all around the inside of the store, too. That doesn't stop people from stealing seemingly low-worth stuff. Now granted, they know what they're getting when they shoplift, but I'm just saying for skilled thieves, they could make the risk pretty low, at least in their minds. And you can sell anything at a flea market for a profit.

Or return it to the store (without receipt) for a refund.

[HollowMan]

Originally Posted by chocolate kisses

Or return it to the store (without receipt) for a refund.

Not if the customer service people are doing their job right.

[imjustasteph]

Originally Posted by HollowMan

I'm not sure where you live or how long a "long time" is, but I could pump first around two years ago.

One of the places here used to have signs encouraging customers to 'pump first, we trust you' and on the same pump, a sign warning about closed circuit cameras to prosecute drive-offs. I noticed recently that the 'we trust you' sign was gone. Still, you can pump first most places around here.

Originally Posted by diddy

I forgot to think about that one. Security cameras pretty much cover teh lots of of all big box scores for security purposes.

Although it seems like there's less effort made to repair ones that go out in the parking lot nd ones in the store. Also, I've noticed in WalMart (during long third shifts on the door) the tv just inside the door shows the security camera view of the parking lot, and also a view inside. The one inside is a lot closer and clearer.

If I was looking to steal something- as in 'something, anything, just something so my kids can eat'- and I stopped to consider that, I'd probably find the parking lot safer.


ETA: Hollow Man, the WalMart here allows returns without reciept. These are supposed to have taken place at WalMart, not Target, right?

[Natalie]

Originally Posted by HollowMan

Not if the customer service people are doing their job right.

Depends on the store. Walmart has good procedures for returns, but my best friend is a manager at a big box pet store, and her store doesn't even have those door alarms that detect stolen goods. The computers in the return area don't tell the cashier whether or not a receipt has been already used for a return, so people use the same receipts over and over to return things they never bought. The store has that information, just not on the computers in the return area.

[HollowMan]

Originally Posted by imjustasteph

Still, you can pump first most places around here.

Really? If I recall correctly, you're just a few miles down the road from me. I wonder if things are different in your neck of the woods, or if I've just been stopping at the few service stations that make you pay first.

ETA: Hollow Man, the WalMart here allows returns without reciept. These are supposed to have taken place at WalMart, not Target, right?

Yeah, I should have put that 'if' in foot tall font.

[diddy]

Originally Posted by imjustasteph

ETA: Hollow Man, the WalMart here allows returns without reciept. These are supposed to have taken place at WalMart, not Target, right?

Target allows for returns without receipt - it is very limited and we record your DL number, but it is done.

First off, the fact that she singled out mothers with children(and appealed to our deep-seated emotions) is a big red flag. If the issue is taking food whlie you pump gas, they would have no reason to target, and if the thefts occur only while strapping in children, then the "pump first" is irrelevant(and was probably tacked on).
Second, if anything large or bulky enough was taken, it would not be that hard to notice that somthing was missing, which puts a hole in the "not noticed until you get home" angle.

[BlushingBride]

Originally Posted by diddy

why would a criminal gram a random shopping bag without spending the several (very obvious) moments making sure they need what is in said bag? THe reward can't nearly be greater than the potential risk unless they happen to snag a 25 dollar turkey or something similar. Seems a lot of effort than it is worth.

"Well, Hon, I got three bags. Surely there's something in there the kids can eat."
"Let's see... adult diapers... adult diapers... denture cream... preparation H... soy based menopause supplements... athlete's foot cream... condoms... tampons... feminine wipes... mashed green peas... mashed asparagus... and a packet of fiber supplements. Well, we'll be eating pea and asparagus mash with denture cream garnish, but on the bright side, we'll all poop like champs."
"Hurrah!"


On another note, there's probably not a lot of risk. If they target someone using plastic bags (anyone using reusable will probably notice PDQ if one of their bags goes missing), with a lot of shopping, and only took one bag off the top, the owner probably would not notice right away. (I'm thinking of the shoppers who routinely have overflowing carts of 15-20 plastic bags.) Even if they were caught in the parking lot, the thief could just drop the bag and run or hand it over to the owner with an apology (or sob story). It's not a major theft, so it's doubtful that many would find it worth the risk of trying to detain the thief.

ETA: Just to make this clear, I'm doubtful that there really is an epidemic of grocery bag thieves with this MO. I just don't think it's particularly risky as thefts go.

[imjustasteph]

Originally Posted by HollowMan

Really? If I recall correctly, you're just a few miles down the road from me. I wonder if things are different in your neck of the woods, or if I've just been stopping at the few service stations that make you pay first.

I don't know exactly where you are...but then, I tend to always stop at the same few places, so that may have some effect. Of course since the main one I stop at is the one in front of WalMart, I more often than not pay at pump with gift card, so my current experience is limited.

I do remember about the time we moved down the mountain, the main place we went to up there started requiring pre-pay. But even there, if they looked out and recognized you, they'd turn the pump on.

Originally Posted by diddy

Target allows for returns without receipt - it is very limited and we record your DL number, but it is done.

Sorry, I've never even been in a Target store. That was meant as a joke on all the complaints you always hear about Target's return policy.

[MacLloyd]

It didn't happen at a WalMart, but my daughter was grocery shopping at an Albertson's three days ago and while she was putting her groceries in the trunk, a young fellow came by, grabbed her cart, ran a few yards away, tossed the four or five bags of groceries in the back of a pickup truck, jumped in and away they went.

Needless to say, my daughter was a bit upset. She went in to tell the people in the store and they told her they couldn't help her and that it was happening more and more often. After a bit, they actually replaced her groceries, which was very kind as they weren't in any real sense liable. My daughter was just glad that her purse was on her shoulder and not in the cart.

Mac"maybe they were just really hungry"Lloyd