Growing Retail Theft: "Dick's Shrinkage"

[Tiger]

My question on this is, with all the gates put up in superstore (for example). And the rails with 6 feet of plexiglass blocking the exit... at what point is their theft control a risk for blocking evacuation routes for fires etc?

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by Tiger

My question on this is, with all the gates put up in superstore (for example). And the rails with 6 feet of plexiglass blocking the exit... at what point is their theft control a risk for blocking evacuation routes for fires etc?

I would just assume that Loblaws values property over human life and their setup would reflect those priorities.

[White Out 403]

It's incredible that theft is so bad they have to take these dangerous steps that put people's lives in danger yet, despite all the stuff they're still record profits to be made. That should fully inform people about how much of this inflation is completely made up to line the pockets of already wealthy people

[timun]

Originally Posted by Tiger

My question on this is, with all the gates put up in superstore (for example). And the rails with 6 feet of plexiglass blocking the exit... at what point is their theft control a risk for blocking evacuation routes for fires etc?

Typically the gates would default to open in the event of a fire alarm.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

It's incredible that theft is so bad they have to take these dangerous steps that put people's lives in danger yet, despite all the stuff they're still record profits to be made. That should fully inform people about how much of this inflation is completely made up to line the pockets of already wealthy people

Greedflation is a myth. Companies are always charging the most for products that they can get away with. It’s how markets work. And grocery stores didn’t suddenly become more greedy than they were four years ago.

https://financialpost.com/opinion/co...counts.”

Inflation sucks. But it’s not a conspiracy.

[ResAlien]

An opinion piece from Karl Littler the SVP of public affairs for the Retail Council of Canada? I’m sold if he says so.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Vancouver shop owner frustrated by repeat violent thefts, including ‘full-on fist fight’
https://www.google.com/amp/s/globaln...fts-brawl/amp/

[81MC]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

update.
It's not as easy to steal at a self checkout as one would think.

They have sensors that note if an item goes into your bag that wasn't scanned, then the
check out freezes and flashes for an employee.
A video is then shown on the screen so they can determine the issue at hand.

If social media videos have taught me anything, it’s that it’s far easier to just grab the item from the shelf and walk straight out. F this trying to hide petty theft nonsense, apparently you can just waltz in, grab whatever the #### you want and waltz out; no one at all will try to stop you.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Vancouver shop owner frustrated by repeat violent thefts, including ‘full-on fist fight’
https://www.google.com/amp/s/globaln...fts-brawl/amp/

As expected I guess.


In less than a month, Anthony Sullivan said his team on Robson Street has endured “dramatic” thefts and theft attempts, “brawls with groups of youth,” and threats with weapons.

On Aug. 17, Sullivan’s manager was hit multiple times in the head by a group of youth, some of whom had tried to make off with ice cream — an incident caught on the grocery store’s cameras.

The crime is “systemic” in downtown Vancouver, he added, and there doesn’t appear to be much accountability for it.

On Aug. 31, Sullivan said his staff confronted someone trying to steal a basket of meat — an oft-targeted item — and the suspect drew a seven or eight-inch knife and threatened the staff.

A 27-year-old man was arrested in that case, charged with theft and assault with a weapon, and released from custody by the courts the next day.

[81MC]

How disheartening to everyone from victims to citizens to police officers. Pretty sick and tired of learning how little punishment there is for crimes.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by timun

Typically the gates would default to open in the event of a fire alarm.

Same with Safeway's labyrinth of gross-flavoured Bubly at the exits.

[Locke]

Pretty soon going to the grocery store is going to be like going through Airport Security.

[Tiger]

Originally Posted by timun

Typically the gates would default to open in the event of a fire alarm.

but they're a pinch point, and people panic in those situations

[timun]

Every egress door is a "pinch point" anyway; as long as the travel path is wide enough, it's not considered an issue.

[GordonBlue]

last year the parkade at my work got rid of humans scanning license plates and instead have a car with sensors slowly drive through, scanning plates.

So everyone now just backs into the stalls and that car isn't scanning jack ####.
I know at least 20 people who gave up their parking passes and now park for free.
Not one person has gotten a ticket yet. I've done it a few times and no issues.

Theft, but I don't hear of anyone feeling bad about it.

[timun]

Out of curiosity, what company manages the parkade? I'm surprised the private companies don't use technology similar to Calgary Parking Authority: they just put cameras up at the entrance and exit. No meter maids, nor camera cars: the whole thing just automated.

[PepsiFree]

Having to pay for parking to park at your job is basically stealing from you, so I see no moral issue with finding a way to park for free.

[timun]

My employer used to pay for people's transit passes, but would charge the cost of a transit pass for monthly parking in our lot and another across the street. In effect those of us who drove to work were subsidizing the people who took transit. I thought it was a very fair system.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by timun

Out of curiosity, what company manages the parkade? I'm surprised the private companies don't use technology similar to Calgary Parking Authority: they just put cameras up at the entrance and exit. No meter maids, nor camera cars: the whole thing just automated.

I'll take a look next chance I get.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Having to pay for parking to park at your job is basically stealing from you, so I see no moral issue with finding a way to park for free.

I think this depends on who owns the parking / gets the revenue though.