A recent study showed 89% of the women polled, who carried large shoulder bags, were treated like shoplifters by store personnel.
While female shoplifters typically carry large purses to hold what they intend to steal, all women who carry large purses are not thieves.
Nevertheless, loss prevention personnel are trained to spot certain attributes of potential shoplifters; and carrying large purses into a store is a loss-prevention training detail.
In 2010, out of 100 shoplifting complaints where police were called, 83 resulted in lawsuits against the complaining business. 71 of the 83 ended in settlement payouts of undisclosed amounts. All cases involved women who carried large purses while shopping.
Some women asked whether they should just carry a wallet inside places where they shop. Others protested saying it was not fair to them to have to inconvenience themselves to satisfy retailers' paranoia.
Those protesting the idea pointed out that women carry necessary items that require roomy compartments.
Aside from being necessary, large purses are also part of fashion a statement or simply a personal preference. At any rate, women feel strongly about being able to carry whatever size purse they choose.
Estelle Grice Leland, CFO of The East Coast Retail Management Group, believes store security's preoccupation with women carrying large shoulder bags takes attention away from the real culprit, who has figured out other ways to steal inconspicuously.
Modern loss prevention training details the many ways and means shoplifters use when taking merchandise. Today's retail thief is a bit more creative and resourceful, often working as part of a team effort rather than a solo venture.
Adjusting to new and improved security measures, shoplifters developed more skillful and unassuming ways to steal.
The most effective of which so far is operating with two or more participants, commonly known as a 'shoplifting ring'.
Therefore, women carrying large shoulder bags in a retail outletis of no consequence anymore, in terms of using them to lift merchandise without paying for it. An organized ring makes it possible for thieves to steal without notice.
Vera Wang Tiffy Women's Black Silk High Heel Evening Sandals (10)
Shoplifting rings take the time to plan and organize their 'hit'. They may have a well-dressed couple posing as husband and wife, and a couple of scraggly-looking fellows enter later as a distraction.
Because the well-dressed couple looks respectable, security turns its attention away from them and focuses on the two wayward-looking individuals.
This allows time for the well-dressed couple to skillfully take all the jewelry and small electronics they can carry, without drawing attention to themselves.
For those women who are debating over dumping their purse when shopping, there is no universal answer. In fact, based on statistics and evolving shoplifting methods, it would be safe to say women can go shopping carrying a garbage bag.
Retailers and their loss prevention teams will continue to follow their instincts, which is usually wrong where shoplifting is concerned.
Unless retail security training changes with shoplifting methods, it won't matter. Legal settlements for being falsely accused will ultimately bankrupt retailers who employ security personnel who use behind-the-times loss prevention procedures.
So ladies, carry whatever size bag you choose when shopping. Just make sure, if stopped, you don't have anything in them that you didn't pay for. And if you are stopped and frisked, you will be in a bargaining position when they realize they made a mistake.
Copyright © 2015 by Peggy Hatchet James
While female shoplifters typically carry large purses to hold what they intend to steal, all women who carry large purses are not thieves.
Nevertheless, loss prevention personnel are trained to spot certain attributes of potential shoplifters; and carrying large purses into a store is a loss-prevention training detail.
In 2010, out of 100 shoplifting complaints where police were called, 83 resulted in lawsuits against the complaining business. 71 of the 83 ended in settlement payouts of undisclosed amounts. All cases involved women who carried large purses while shopping.
Some women asked whether they should just carry a wallet inside places where they shop. Others protested saying it was not fair to them to have to inconvenience themselves to satisfy retailers' paranoia.
Those protesting the idea pointed out that women carry necessary items that require roomy compartments.
Aside from being necessary, large purses are also part of fashion a statement or simply a personal preference. At any rate, women feel strongly about being able to carry whatever size purse they choose.
Estelle Grice Leland, CFO of The East Coast Retail Management Group, believes store security's preoccupation with women carrying large shoulder bags takes attention away from the real culprit, who has figured out other ways to steal inconspicuously.
Modern loss prevention training details the many ways and means shoplifters use when taking merchandise. Today's retail thief is a bit more creative and resourceful, often working as part of a team effort rather than a solo venture.
Adjusting to new and improved security measures, shoplifters developed more skillful and unassuming ways to steal.
The most effective of which so far is operating with two or more participants, commonly known as a 'shoplifting ring'.
Therefore, women carrying large shoulder bags in a retail outlet
Vera Wang Tiffy Women's Black Silk High Heel Evening Sandals (10)
Shoplifting rings take the time to plan and organize their 'hit'. They may have a well-dressed couple posing as husband and wife, and a couple of scraggly-looking fellows enter later as a distraction.
Because the well-dressed couple looks respectable, security turns its attention away from them and focuses on the two wayward-looking individuals.
This allows time for the well-dressed couple to skillfully take all the jewelry and small electronics they can carry, without drawing attention to themselves.
For those women who are debating over dumping their purse when shopping, there is no universal answer. In fact, based on statistics and evolving shoplifting methods, it would be safe to say women can go shopping carrying a garbage bag.
Retailers and their loss prevention teams will continue to follow their instincts, which is usually wrong where shoplifting is concerned.
Unless retail security training changes with shoplifting methods, it won't matter. Legal settlements for being falsely accused will ultimately bankrupt retailers who employ security personnel who use behind-the-times loss prevention procedures.
So ladies, carry whatever size bag you choose when shopping. Just make sure, if stopped, you don't have anything in them that you didn't pay for. And if you are stopped and frisked, you will be in a bargaining position when they realize they made a mistake.
Copyright © 2015 by Peggy Hatchet James
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