What Would You Do? (please give advice)

ok. so i run a boutique right?......

we just reopened as a 'new' store Friday.
Anyway, last night a guy came in with a HUGE (empty) 'happy birthday' bag. i didnt think too much, but i watched him .(not to be stereotypical, but he was def NOT the type of person that shops with us)

anyway.... so when he left i noticed that a $100 bag was missing. (its a very tiny place and you know when something is gone immediatly) i asked the woman who works with me 'did you sell that?' she said No.
Ok.. so today i asked this other girl 'did you sell that bag yesterday?' and she said No.
OK... so now i THINK it was him. but cant be 100% sure.

so, tonight.... he comes in AGAIN with the same empty happy birthday bag. the other girk was watching him closely. he was staying near the bags.... but it was time for her to go home and i didnt want to keep her, so i finally send her home....

ofg course just then a woman needs something from teh back. i was gone for 30 SECONDS. and when i was coming back in i saw that he was jetting out of the door....
Sure enough, ANOTHER $100 bag was missing.
So i was sooooo pissed that i didnt catch him.

Can you believe he had the audacity to come BACK in?!!?>!! (yes with teh empty HB bag!)
(im sure he put it in his car and came back in)
He was again staying near the bags and sweating PURFOUSLY! he then bought two tiny candles (probably to throw me off)
He knew i was watching him by the bags so gave up and left.

What do i do next time he comes in??????

I'm a little timid girl! I dont do well in these situations. And I'm there all by myself....

Please give me adivce what to do/say!

TIA

even if i dont have proof???

i mean, i can always tell him he cant come back, but im not very good ya know...

This is going to sound funny but in my store when someone is acting funny we pretend we are calling someone in the back and say yes camera 1 and they think we are watching them
it has worked a lot of the times..

Do you have SEcurity Cameras in Place?

If he comes back, do not allow him to come into your store.

thats a good idea! i dont know if he'd buy it... its a teeny tiny boutique.... but maybe ill give it a try.

no juju, no cameras.

kristin. lol i dont have any guy friends! hehe

yeah i guess ill just have to say to him. look im sorry, but you cant coem in here anymnore...


OR,,,,,,,,,,,, maybe i should offer to hold him bag behind the counter for him?!? maybe thats dumb

Come on Jess what about ure hubby? Im like you id be nervous to.

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Posted by lolita4life



OR,,,,,,,,,,,, maybe i should offer to hold him bag behind the counter for him?!? maybe thats dumb

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THAT is not DUMB!!! Maybe if you talk to the boss they can hang up a sign that says all bags must be check at the counter.

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Posted by june262004

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Posted by lolita4life



OR,,,,,,,,,,,, maybe i should offer to hold him bag behind the counter for him?!? maybe thats dumb

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THAT is not DUMB!!! Maybe if you talk to the boss they can hang up a sign that says all bags must be check at the counter.

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That's a good idea. I've gone to stores where they have that policy. Just get some little coat check-type tags. What an awful situation for you though!

You need to talk with security ASAP and find out exactly the right way of going about handling these situations.

Believe it or not .. YOU can end up being sued if you make a 'mistake.' There are proper ways of approaching suspects, and there are ways .. that if you're wrong at the moment you accuse them .. you're opening yourself for trouble .. (from my understanding when in retail years ago). Apparently, if I recall correctly, you're never supposed to openly accuse them .. especially in front of people.

Anyway ..

This guy you're suspicious of thinks you're store is an easy target .. and if you're watching the whole place by yourself ... no matter how small it is .. you can not see everything going on at once .. and he knows that!

And you never know if this guy may be bringing people to make sure you are distracted so he can make his move.

If you were suspicious of this guy .. you should have asked the girl to stay with you until he leaves .. she should have been understanding.

Be an 'annoying' salesperson with people you find suspicious .. the last thing they want is someone watching over them .. ask those open ended questions so he can't just blow you off.

In the case of 'purse-snatcher' .. you've noticed him carrying the Happy Birthday bag .. ask:
who's birthday are you shopping for??? (Not only is this a question deserving an answer .. but it makes him aware that you have noticed that bag)
what type of gift do you have in mind???
how much are you looking to spend

You see he's hanging around the bags .. ask:
what color bag are you looking for???

You need to protect yourself .. and right now .. this guy knows you are an easy target .. you need to find a way to shut him down!

Maybe casually mention something like 'welcome back' .. which makes him aware that you're noticing him coming around.

But again, please talk with security .. to alert them to your suspicions .. and to ask proper protocol .. you might even consider calling the police and asking their advice. Maybe security could put you in touch with the person at the local precinct who deals with such things???

When I worked at a major clothing retailer .. being a solid salesperson was important .. but it was also very important to be keen to the shoplifters .. we'd have morning meetings just to go over key points on how to handle situations .. signs to watch for .. etc.

One morning we had a meeting, and that very afternoon I caught someone! But it wasn't that simple.

I noticed a pile of shirts 'disappear' in a split second I turned my eyes .. next thing I know .. suspect's asking me for a job application .. when I go to get the application, I quietly alert the store manager .. give the details .. (I think manager then called security) .. and then manager confronted the suspect .. saying manager thinks some shirts may have fallen into suspect's bag by mistake. Suspect is stunned .. denies any wrong doing .. gets taken away by security .. meanwhile asking if this is going to hurt the chances at getting the job!!

Please protect yourself!

And Good Luck!!



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As for the 'bag-check' .. think seriously about that .. do you really want to be responsible for other people's property????? Yeah, I know you can put up a sign saying the store is not responsible .. but is that really good customer service??? and would that really hold up in court???

This happened to me once, I was alone too and got totally robbed- except they didn't try and hide it, there was a group of them and they just kind of laughed at me and then threatened me when I went to pick up the phone.

It is scary. To be honest, I was just a manager and my thought was 'I am not getting killed, it is not even my money'.

I would try calling the police or asking whoever owns the store how they want you to handle it. Godd luck.

good points

kel... we dont have security... thers only like 5 of us that even work there, but you have very solid points. thanks!

sunny... oh gosh that is so scary! good thing nothiung happened to you!

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Posted by lolita4life

... we dont have security...

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then absolutely speak with someone at the local precinct to get advice and proper guidelines.