I can't tell you my name, since I work undercover for Intelligarde.
I joined in 2002, and shortly after I got trained and Dual-Licensed,
I took a job in the Loss Prevention Department.
A Retail Investigator’s job is straightforward: Prevent
theft in stores. But being a Plainclothes Agent is hard work. Be prepared to stand for hours. Also, you have to blend-in
and look like ‘a shopper’. If you look like
you’re
doing ‘security’ you’re sunk. You also
have to have a good eye. People who steal are very discreet –
after all, they don’t want to be caught. As a Retail
Investigator, you learn the subtle science of body language.
Shoplifters don’t realize it, but their body language
usually betrays them. Sometimes the shoplifter is obvious…Imagine
a guy in a store with an empty gym bag. You then see this guy discreetly unzipping the bag.
He quickly LOADS the bag with hundreds of dollars worth
of shrink. You get the idea. So, here is a typical day-in-the-life of a Retail Investigator... 12:50
Arrive onsite at Retail Location and book on with dispatch. 13:00
Commence plain-clothes patrol of Store. Heavy lunch-time traffic.
No suspicious activity. 13:30
I note 3 loud Males, approx. 17 years of age selecting multiple
CDs. All Males return CDs. 13:42
I note a Male, approx. 19 years of age, Red baseball cap and
a large empty gym bag. This Male is looking at CDs in the
rap section. No occurrences. 14:00
Store traffic dropping off. I follow a Female for a few minutes
as she appeared to be opening a DVD wrapper with her fingernail.
Female walked around Store once and then returned DVD.
14:05
Male with gym bag now at listening post. He selects a CD and
hangs on to it. This Male has been in Store for over 20 minutes
and for the first time he is holding on to a CD for extended
period of time. I continue watching him. 14:09
Male with gym bag looks around and leans close to CD stand,
holds CD low and opens the wrapper. I inform an associate about
Male’s activity and advise them to call Mall Security.
I exit store and watch Male’s activities from outside
Store. 14:11
Male with gym bag opens CD case and puts the CD in his gym bag.
Male discards CD case under other CDs. Male begins browsing.
Outside Store, I maintain visual continuity through store window.
Mall Security arrives and waits out of view in Mall. 14:16
Male with gym bag exits Store without paying for the concealed
CD. I quickly approach him, inform him that I’m Store
Security, and grab his coat to make sure he doesn’t run.
I inform him that he’s under arrest for theft. I expect
Male to resist but he’s compliant and admits he’s
stolen a CD. Male’s eyes appear bloodshot and he smells
of narcotics. Just to be on safe side I handcuff Male, while
Mall Security looks on. 14:18 Along
with Mall Security, I escort Male to Security holding area.
There I read Male Suspect his rights. I call Intelligarde Dispatch
to notify them of situation and to have them call for Toronto
Police Services. While waiting for TPS, I do my paperwork. First,
I ban Male from Store. I write up an Apprehension Report that
includes exactly what I saw and all the particulars about the
Male in question. 15:05 TPS
arrives. I brief Police Constable about the incident. TPS
takes custody of Male Suspect. I give the Police Constable
a copy of my completed paperwork, thank him, buy a Starbucks
coffee and resume my undercover duties…
