Security!

What happens when someone steals from a store? I'd like to think they get caught, but these days, I'm not so sure.

Recently, we were in a local mall visiting HMV, Sears, and RW & Co., among many others. In each of the named stores, the merchandise security alarm at the front doors went off and no one paid any attention to it. No one checked, no one even looked over. And in only one case did the 'alarm-setter-off'erer come back in to reassure store owners that she had not in fact stolen anything. And who cared about that? Well, no one actually; everyone simply ignored her.

Begs the question - if they don't care, why should we?

Shoes stores have the right idea - they only have one shoe on display and you have to get the other one by (a) rummaging through their stock in the 'no go for the public' area at the very back of the store, or (b) asking the store assistant to get it for you. Either way, (a) likely to and (b) definitely will attract some attention and guard against an easy escape.

HMV and other retail entertainment stores, however, have a big challenge, given that most of their stock is small, immediately accessible and easily concealable. Indeed, the stores are usually so busy that half the stock could disappear before anyone even noticed - unless they have working and monitored security gates and/or security personnel in place. However, even when we were there, the alarm sounded twice and no one paid the slightest bit of attention.

Of course, it doesn't help when the equipment doesn't seem to work at all. A few weeks back, I purchased - yes, purchased - a trendy blue jacket from Sears. When I got home, I saw the security tag. Why hadn't it gone off when I left the store, I wondered. Took it straight back - alarm didn't go off when we walked back in either - and the sales assistant calmly removed it from the coat without being the tiniest bit concerned that none of their security measures seemed to work.

Sure, most stores probably have a percentage quotient built in to their budgets to account for lost or stolen stock. Perhaps they sell so much that a few stolen items doesn't actually impact their bottom line. But wouldn't it make more sense to use the available equipment properly and deter the criminal deed at the source?

I have no problem with checking bags, showing receipts, and passing through functioning security gates, and I welcome security personnel stationed here and there. All of these measures serve as reminders that (a) stealing is a crime, and (b) some stores will employ everything possible to stop you getting away with it - literally.

However, what would be even better is if those with a penchant for taking what is not theirs opted instead to turn on their own internal security alarm before entering any store and not take the damned stuff in the first place!

Naive that may be, but we all end up paying for theft, in one way or another. And that is something we should all care about!