Owned by Caleres Inc., Famous Footwear is a member of Caleres’s cadre of global brands devoted to providing quality footwear – for over 130 years now!
When businesses are successful to such a high degree, a big part of this is loss prevention, which brings us to our topic today.
What is the essence of the Famous Footwear Shoplifting policy and how is it enforced?
Famous Footwear has a ‘friendly’ shoplifting policy that is designed to be effective, but also less daunting to their customers. Surveillance cameras and security tags are standard, and they also have plans in place to avoid coupon fraud, but overall it’s a very casual approach than most other stores.
In today’s article, we’ll talk about their loss prevention strategy when it comes to shoplifting and combatting other pitfalls of
What kind of Loss Prevention security does famous footwear employ?
Famous Footwear has a loss prevention policy that reflects their attitude… it’s a little more on the ‘casual’ side.
In the sections below we’ll tell you a little about the security measures employed by Famous Footwear, and after that, we’ll talk a little about how this system plays out when shoplifters are caught. Let’s take a look!
Surveillance cams
Surveillance cameras are certainly in place in Famous Footwear locations and while they aren’t using facial recognition, they are monitored at various times or even constantly, depending on the location and loss prevention risk estimates).
The surveillance footage is also saved locally and to a remote server and depending on their data retention policy, it may be kept for as little as 90 days or anywhere from 1 -3 years.
This helps to provide real-time security, but also creates a database where shoplifters that have been seen, but not caught, may be reported to the police and the footage shared, and if other instances are suspected, then past footage may be reviewed.
If further footage of shoplifting that wasn’t reported before is found, this will be submitted to the authorities as well so that the perpetrator may be identified and charged.
Security Tagging
Those thick, plastic security tags are a familiar sight to all of us, especially if your cashier has ever forgotten to remove one when you’ve just purchased a pair of shoes.
That’s because the security arches that you need to pass through to leave the store (or a simple proximity-based security tag measure) will set off an alarm when you go through them or even too far away from them.
When this tech was new, only the most expensive items would be tagged, but these days the technology is cheap enough that just about everything can and probably will be tagged. Once a person sets off that alarm to indicate that a security tag has not been deactivated, then the police may be contacted, and shoplifting charges will likely be pressed by the Famous Footwear manager or a senior employee.
Coupon Fraud Prevention
Loss prevention checks a lot of areas of a business and along with shoplifting, coupon fraud is actually quite prevalent at many stores, and Famous Footwear is no exception.
These days, everyone has a printer, and so many customers will attempt to get free or discounted items with coupons that may or may not be legitimate.
While this could result in charges of fraud, rather than shoplifting, we wanted to share this example to give you an idea of Famous Footwear’s attitude where customers are concerned – they want to keep your business.
An article about Famous Footwear by Loss Prevention Magazine summed it up nicely in stating that their asset management team really views loss prevention as being more than about accusing or catching shoplifters, but rather primarily focused on generating repeat customers and giving the most that it can as a department to the company.
One example cited in the article described Famous Footwear’s electronic systems that were put in place to prevent coupon fraud, but also to identify trends that needed improvement.
One such case involved when a customer survey in the store that promised a 5$ discount on the customer’s NEXT visit and ended up upsetting the customers when they couldn’t use it immediately.
Many employees, in turn, simply let the customers use these in hopes to get them back for another visit, rather than angering them, and Famous Footwear used this example in a positive way.
Rather than punishing the employees who honored it, they made the survey brochure clearer to the customer to avoid the problem. This example really sums up their loss prevention attitude quite nicely.
Famous Footwear isn’t out to get you. While they WILL press charges if you are caught shoplifting, they try to approach loss prevention in a customer-positive way as much as they can.
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A friendlier policy doesn’t mean you won’t get caught
As you can see, Famous Footwear goes out of its way to maintain a friendly shopping experience where the customers don’t feel like they’re being closely watched by an overzealous staff, but that doesn’t mean that shoplifters aren’t getting caught.
Depending on the store, employees other than the managers may not be able to confront someone who is shoplifting, and in some areas footage from the cams may simply be sent to the police as a safety precaution when confrontation might be dangerous.
That said, if you are seen shoplifting on camera and the police or mall security are called, then what this means is that you were seen approaching a particular item, taking it from the shelf, and then concealing it either on your person or somewhere out of view.
While policies will vary from store to store, before this happens an employee may speak to you to inform you of other brands that you might like, ask if you need more assistance, or interface with other friendly conversational gambits as a polite way to let you know that you are being watched.
If, hypothetically, you were a shoplifter and you proceeded to conceal the item, then once you leave the store with it the authorities will be called if someone on staff has not called them already.
At this point, shoplifting charges can be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the value of the items taken.
Don’t assume that Famous Footwear won’t press charges
While Famous Footwear cultivates a friendly atmosphere if you are caught shoplifting there then the police or mall security will become involved and once you’ve been identified, charges will almost always be pressed.
You may also be banned from the store itself and if this happens, returning to the store is considered trespassing.
This is typically charged as a misdemeanor and in most states, you are looking at expensive fines and up 1 year in jail, so if you get banned from Famous Footwear then it is in your best interest NOT to return until the ban has expired or been lifted.
Finally, if you DO get caught shoplifting at Famous Footwear, it is best to get a lawyer immediately so that you will know the exact charges, what to expect, and what you may possibly do to avoid jail time.
In some cases, community service may be an option along with probation, and a judge may even agree to keep the charges from your permanent record upon completion of the program.
Just be sure that if this unfortunate scenario occurs that you will get a lawyer right away to understand the charges and your rights. Famous Footwear is friendly, but they will still prosecute shoplifters to the full extent of the law!
In closing
In this article, we’ve talked about the Famous Footwear shoplifting policy so that you have a better idea of how their loss prevention strategy works.
From the examples included, it’s easy to see that Famous Footwear really puts in the extra mile to make their customers feel comfortable and to encourage a friendly shopping environment.
This doesn’t mean that they don’t catch shoplifters, however, so be on your best behavior. Surveillance cameras are still watching, security tags will also monitor where inventory is going, and if you are spotted shoplifting and leaving the store it doesn’t mean that you’ve gotten away ‘scot-free’.
It just means that Famous Footwear prefers to let the police handle your arrest.
Reference Sources
https://losspreventionmedia.com/changing-behavior-moving-exception-reporting-beyond-loss-prevention/