Listen like thieves

Ok… so I just said I was not going to pursue the job at the Security Company. I had made my mind up and I was happy about that. But then yesterday….

Yesterday.

Yesterday was a trip down Loss Prevention Memory Lane. I was working on something on the computer, so my back was to the desk when this lady walks up and says she has an appointment. She was asked her name and she said “Anna Smith”. (names have been changed to protect the stupid). I immediately turned around and looked at her. (smooth I am) She looked back at me and stared for a minute. Now most people we busted never saw me, I was safely locked away in the camera room. But I would always get the feeling that somehow they knew. Anyway – we had been after this woman for months. She has written 1000s of dollars in bad checks and also has been caught shoplifting at one of our Ohio stores. Right before I left Security, I was told by the local PD that if we ever see this woman in the store to call them and get her on video.

When she walked in the back, I called down to security and talked to Greg. I told him Anna Smith was in the salon. He sent Recon up to…well….recon. They called the PD, but were told that since there aren’t any warrants out for her, there is nothing we can do unless we catch her stealing. Do what? What about all the bad checks? Isn’t that a crime? You would think they could do something about that.

About an hour later I spotted another thief sitting outside the salon in the children’s shoe department. Back in January we had a lady come in, select an armful of Ecko sweatshirts and some jeans, throw her coat over top of them and walk out the store. Greg chased her to her car, but she got away. (we recovered the merchandise) It’s funny – watching these people on camera, they seem so much bigger than in real life. She is actually pretty short. Anyway – she is unmistakable. She is real trashy looking with long dark hair with a grey streak down the middle. When she stood up, she had a big flannel coat over her arm. HELLO! It’s the middle of June, 80+ degrees outside, she’s wearing shorts and a tank top and carrying a big ass coat.

I called Greg and told him to get her on camera. He sent Recon up again. Recon walked right up to her and she started fanning herself like she was hot. She said “Boy it’s hot outside”. (thieves always make small talk with security people) He said “So why are you carrying around that big coat?” She said “Cuz sometimes it’s cold in stores.” Yeah whatever.

I left for the day before I found out if anything happened with her. Since she had the coat with her, I assume she was planning to steal, but she probably knew they were on to her when Recon approached her.

One thing Recon said to me was “See. We need you back down there. The store needs you back down there. You are good at this and you remember and recognize these people.”

So now I am torn again. I really do love that job! And I really am good at it. I guess it wouldn’t hurt me to call the Security Company and see what the deal is. Like I said before, if they can’t meet my demands, I won’t work for them. It’s as simple as that really.

Time to go out to the country. Yee haw!