Transcript SHOPLIFTING- ARE YOU A TRAGET

DISTRACTION THEFT
SHOPLIFTING
ARE YOU A TARGET?
Provided Courtesy of
SHERIFF DONALD F. ESLINGER
Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
100 Bush Blvd.
Sanford Fl 32773
407.665.6650
CHIEF DENNIS PETERSON
Oviedo Police Department
400 Alexandria Blvd.
Oviedo, Fl 32765
407.977.6146
TRAVELING CRIMINALS
Professional Thieves:
Highly Organized
Work In Teams- 2 or more
All Operations Well Choreographed
Specialize in:
Distraction Thefts
Shoplifting- Clothing; Electronics
Till Tapping
Office Safes
ILLUSION, CONFUSION
DISTRACTION
Property & Money
Will hit “Mom & Pop” Convenience Stores
Cookie Cutter Operations
(same floor plan- Home Depot, Lowes, Albertson’s)
Chain Stores
Work in teams of two or more
Team- 2 car loads- males and females, young and old
ALL PLANNED OUT
All know what to do; where to go; know when to leave
BE ALERT IF….
A large group enters the business at once, and the
women are all dressed in long baggy clothing, all
talking in a foreign language; and/or
You notice a customer trying to distract or confuse an
employee(s); and/or
Customers are lurking near “Un-Authorized”areas,
such as the office; and/or
A vehicle is parked, with male driver, very
conveniently located near exit for quick getaway.
Because you may end up asking yourself…
HOW’D THEY DO THAT?
“UPC” tag- One actor will peel bar code tag off an inexpensive item and place it over the bar code of an
expensive item, “mark” the item and leave. Second
actor will pick up the “marked” item and purchase it.
Items are either returned at another store for cash or
shipped overseas to sell on the black-market.
Clothing- Teams of women enter, dressed in loose
fitting baggy clothing and steal items by wearing the
items out of the store under their own clothing.
MORE WAYS
Booster Apron- a large pocketed apron worn under
their baggy clothing that’s filled with stolen items.
“Lined Bag”- Large shopping bag lined with aluminum
foil / duct tape. Bag is filled with items that have an
electronic merchandise tag and the lining defeats the
sensors at exit doors.
Canadian Build Up Scheme- Better known as the
“Quick Change” artist- attempts to confuse clerk by
asking for change and then switching bills.
Smash & Grab- Females enter a jewelry store and will
smash glass display cases and take whatever they can.
“THE FAMILY THAT STEALS TOGETHER…”
MILAN KONSTANTINOV
MARA PAVLOV
Work with 8 other family members- experts
in stealing from the business’s office safe
by distracting employees
Milan Konstantinov
Baba
John
Michael
Jozih
Julie
Mara
Kathy
BUNCHA JUCI
Booster Apron Expertif a family member is
approached by store
security, she has been
known to pull her full
skirt over her head and
run from the store
yelling loudly causing
mass confusion.
WALLENTINA KNAPEK
“TILL TAP” Expert- (1) She will
ask a clerk for
change, then grabs the money from the clerk and using
quick “slight of hand” palms most of the money. The
rest is actually given back to the clerk who does not
suspect anything as the money, now folded up, is given
back to him or her quickly.
(2)- She will reach into an opened register and pull out a
large wad of 20’s and by folding the wad up quickly,
and drawing off the bottom bills, the clerk is fooled into
believing that the she has given all the money back.
Shortages not realized until drawer is counted at shift
change.
Wallentina
Knapek
YOLANDA KARVEY
“TILL TAP BLOCKING” ScamShe is the main “blocker” working with at
least 2 other family members who assist in
the distraction scam by positioning herself in
front of security cameras or another
employee to block their view of the suspect
in the act of removing money from cash
register.
John Knapek
Yolanda Karvey
Mikall Ringborn
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT TRAVELING CRIMINALS
Traveling Criminals will take advantage of busy times
to perpetrate Distraction Thefts. (Holiday Shopping)
So well organized they keep lists of prior targets and
send “teams” back to victimize them again.
Have lists of businesses in counties and cities that do
not prosecute shoplifters
Know what “Day Locks” are and how to get in.
Have been known to distract employees so well that
they can leave with stolen items AND the surveillance
camera’s video player and tapes.
ALL YOU CAN!
CRIME PREVENTION FOR
SHOPLIFTERS
Employee training- Best Help- require all employees
attend an In-Service discussing Shoplifting and
Distraction Thefts.
Surveillance Cameras- Direct cameras at entrances to
not be affected by the sun when doors open. Face
cameras inward to get people leaving store
Surveillance Camera Equipment- Keep recorders and
tapes in locked location.
Post signs- “Shoplifters Will Be Prosecuted”
PROSECUTE!
CIVIL RECOVERY ACT
In Florida a merchant may recover up
to $200.00 for cost of investigation or
up to 3 times the value of the goods.
•Use a portion to reward employees for
alerting security about a shoplifter.
•MONEY TALK$!!