So, recently I've started to steal various things simply because of a lack of money. Throughout my life I have been pretty honest, more honest then most I would say, but recently I have had a need to steal.

Maybe not so much a need, but a combination of a couple factors. First being I need the items I am stealing, and secondly because I have never done anything like it before and it gives me a sense of adventure/rush. It's just like any new experience I suppose.

ONWARDS! -

I've got a few questions though, obviously I haven't been doing this for a while. When I steal something it is an item that doesn't have an ink tag on it, and I just toss it into my bag when no one is looking. It's worked well so far. Now, as my thirst for that rush is no longer quenched by stealing a simple product, I have decided to move on to something where I can actually profit from it.

For instance, how would I go about stealing electronics from any major retail stores such as Walmart or Target? Let's say I want to swipe an iPod and sell it on eBay. I would go to the electronics department, ask for an iPod, the assistent would give one to me and ask,

"Would you like to check out here or up front?"
With a smile I would say,
"I've got a little more shopping to do, I'll check out up front. Thanks though!"

After a confrontation similar to that, I would head over to the dressing rooms or bathroom to remove the sensor. Once I've got the sensor off, simply walk out the store. Is this a good way to go about it? Any ideas/improvements? Being a little paranoid, I'm wondering if you tell the clerk that you wish to check out later that he/she notifies security as you now have a high priced item in your possession. I know that Walmart has someone watching the cameras at all times, or at least so I was told by a 16 year old Walmart employee.

ALSO! -

My friend is interested in stealing items that have ink tags on them. Has anyone had experience removing these before? This method looks efficient, but to buy one of those hooks is ~40 euro. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsuQ-lzQ9_Y I thought of using a coat hanger as it would be easily bent, but it looks like that would be too thick.

You could also share stories of your thievery!

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I worked in Wal-Mart and was subsequently fired for stealing (oh, the irony). I learned a thing or two.

First, there is someone always watchnig the screens. I knew this, but I also knew his break times. But the feeds are digitally recorded and they can pinpoint and zoom, even if it's already happened.

Secondly, you cannot leave the electronics department without paying for your higher-priced item. That's just Wal-Mart's rule (Zellers does it too, here in Canada).

The best way to make money at Wal-Mart: bring a Wal-Mart bag with you in your pocket. Go grab some clothes or a toaster or something (under $50) and walk right up to the courtesy desk. Obviously, try to be as stealthy as possible. Return items, and profit. Seriously though, it's so easy. The reason I say under $50 is anything over $50 and they give you a Wal-Mart gift card. If you don't care, go nuts. Wal-Mart does not need receipts and as long as the item is not on sale you'll get full price.

Good luck and try not to get caught. It really sucked for me, even though I hated my job with a passion, and I had the charges dropped, it was still really shitty.

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Thanks for your reply!

So, what if I grabbed the iPod and said I was going to browse the games a little before checking out, then slip away in a few minutes when he/she is busy? Would the assistant ask to hold onto the item while I browse?

And how were you caught, may I ask?

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You could probably do that, but you would most likely need to take the alarm tag (the white one with the barcode on it, it's thick and plastic) off while in the Electronics department, some stores, though not all, have alarms so when you leave with stuff they go off.

I was caught in the STUPIDEST way. I was stealing pretty much daily for over a year, and one day I was taking my smock home to wash it and I had some make-up in the pocket, along with a shoetag (an alarm we clipped onto the workboots so people didn't trade their shoes in and leave old ones behind- this is smart too, wear an old pair of flip flops and trade up for a better pair; make sure you don't grab workboots with tags though!) and the alarm went off at the end of my shift. The guy working the door was new or else the other guy would have let me go no problem. When they emptied my pockets they found make-up and went back over and saw me stealing a shitload of stuff.

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Or you could, you know, not steal, and pay for things the right way. Sorry to ruin your parade of 16 year old "fucking the system", but you're raising the price for everyone else, jackass.

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Yeah, I really don't think I'd have a problem walking away from the electronics department, and I don't think there's an alarm for electronics at the store I will be at. I mean, there aren't any doors to walk past or anything like that.

Thanks for your reply!

Any other AT'ers out there with ideas?

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@66,922

If I steal from a giant cooperation such as Target, I'm not raising the price for everyone else. Yeah, sticking it it to the man is what this is all about. I'm totally going to fuck the system, steal a few items, HELL YEAH! DOWN WITH THE MAN.

You're the jackass, if you would have read my post you would realize that I'm not about fucking the system, I'm just selfish.

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@66,926

Oh right, because that's SO much better.

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@66,927

Perhaps not but at least it's honest.

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@66,947

Everyone has their flaws. I, unlike many, possess the ability to admit those imperfections.

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During the right time of year, and the right time of day, the walmart near me keeps the gates to the outdoor portion of the store open. Grab whatever you want, and just stroll out of the open gates. DO NOT take the shit out of your bag/pocket/whatever while you're still on their property. I've seen a lot of people steal shit and the second they get out the door they want to confirm their 'awesomeness' and see the sweet shit they just stole. Wait 5 fucking minutes and get home before you do that, because walmarts faggot 'undercover security' will bust you if they see you do that.

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@66,989

Do you mean like the garden area? Do they have sensors at those doors?

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Yeah, the garden area is a fine name for it. Obviously you would have to check for yourself if there are sensors, but locally they don't monitor that exit.

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A couple years ago my local Best Buy had a faulty anti-theft system. It would go off on about 80% of the people leaving the store, whether they had purchased it or not. As long as you didn't start running when the alarm went off, they'd nod at you and let you keep going. A few friends and I abused the fuck out of this system by stealing just about everything we could inconspicuously carry, then buying a CD or something. The alarm would go off, as predicted, and we'd hold up the item we legitimately purchased and play dumb as if we were surprised. The employee watching the door would, predictably, nod at us and let us go. We must have made off with thousands and thousands of dollars in small electronics, CDs, small hard drives, anything and everything that wasn't secured or locked up.

As far as stealing electronics and things that they keep in cases at Wal-Mart, the product stays in their hands until it's sold. You can't say "hey, can I hold on to this iPod and go look at some games? I promise I'll be right back". It raises a serious red flag, and it's against their policy. Find a weakness and exploit it. It's the most lucrative and safe way.

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@67,052

Thanks for your input.

However, it won't go like
> "Hey, can I hold on to this iPod and go look at some games? I promise I'll be right back."

I obviously will be more crafty then that.

Hopefully it will be busy there as well.

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Yeah, I used to have fun as a teenager in malls. I got pretty good at staying under the radar - I'd go to one of several malls, sometimes a few times a week, and make off with hundreds of dollars in goods. Never once got caught… I stopped after a while though. I don't so much regret it, but I wouldn't do it again. Too much security now anyways.

The only advice I have is to listen to your gut. Don't ever feel like you 'have' to steal something. There is another another day. If you can't walk out with complete confidence, don't do it. If you can't get to a changing room, always assume you are being watched. hell, some places have cameras in the rooms now. Don't try to hide from cameras. Pick up other items, put things back, rummage around until anyone watching you would lose track, and then buy something small on the way out. And if you do get caught, don't try to deny it unless you have a really fucking good excuse.

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as an old pro, always pickup two of what you are taking. One to put in your pocket and one to put back on the shelf. that way they'll see you putting the item back.

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