JCPenney in Flint, Michigan, Cashes in on Holiday Shoplifting

As holiday shopping comes to a close, various retailers will cash in on the excessive Christmas spending and some will also collect on fines due to apprehension of shoplifters.

Retailers have been increasingly adding technology to catch shoplifters. Shoplifting has an effect on the community as well as to the business. Not only does the business lose out on sales, hurting their end of the year stock, but causes those businesses to cut employee staff which has a chain effect all around.

Better cameras have been allowing retailers to get closer to their subjects than ever before. The newest cameras have allowed one business in Flint, Michigan to crack down on what has been their biggest apprehension in two years.

JCPenney has been a reputable retailer for over a hundred years, founded by James Cash Penney. They have become ideal for the middle-class shopper, with fair prices on name brand clothing and various household appliances and décor. Also equipped with outside services such as optical, photo, and a styling salon, JCPenney finds itself one of the nations top retailers.

With a majority of the chain's stores built on two floors, it was once easy for a shopper to conceal items and walk out with them. But thanks to high tech cameras placed in nearly every corner of the store, the store was able to recover over $1,000 in merchandise this past Monday.

"We had a few familiar customers enter the store and we immediately called our L.P. extension to let them know," supervisor Linda Bailey said.

"They've got away with a lot of merchandise in the past and we always aim to make sure that doesn't happen again, especially with reoccurring customers."

After a recovery effort, the two males eventually walked out of the store, not aware they were being watched the entire time thanks to on-the-floor loss prevention associates and superb quality cameras zooming in on the pair. This allowed the other L.P. associates to zoom in and see exactly what the pair was attempting to conceal.

"The fitting room was where we knew we got them. They went in with quite a few items and came out with a lesser amount," the women's supervisor said.

Once the males walked out the store, the loss prevention associates proceeded to run after them, immediately taking them back to the office where Flint Township Police were then called.

The two had attempted to steal over $1,000 in merchandise, including several jewelry pieces and Polo clothing. Watches not enclosed were the target for the two males. This bust has been their biggest recovery in almost two years.

"It was like they just went on a five-finger shopping spree!" says associate Debbie Collins, who has worked for JCPenney for over 15 years in the loss prevention department.

"Many times we have shoplifters who steal and try to return items for store credit to purchase new items that they actually want," she says. "However, if we know they come in here stealing, we have the right to refuse a refund of any kind by management discretion."

The unnamed males will undergo prosecution procedures and in JCPenney's favor, the company requests a double amount in fines for merchandise recovered.

"We did our job in protecting our assets and now they will have to pay over $2,000 to the company on top of the fines associated with the crime."