Macy’s is a chain of high-end department stores that’s been around for over a hundred years. They currently have over 500 locations, all of which are prime targets for shoplifters looking to steal valuable items. In response, Macy’s has a pretty impressive shoplifting policy.
Macy’s has a shoplifting policy that encourages staff members to go against shoplifters in several different ways. Security guards and loss-prevention workers are to pursue and stop shoplifters, sometimes while working undercover. Meanwhile, other store workers are rewarded with a store credit for reporting shoplifters to security.
Macy’s also consistently reports shoplifters to the police and presses charges against them.
This guide dives deep into Macy’s shoplifting policy to show you what it covers. Besides that, you’ll also learn what other deterrents and tools that Macy’s uses against people who try to steal from them.
What’s Covered In Macy’s Shoplifting Policy?
Macy’s suffers significant losses from shoplifters throughout its hundreds of locations nationwide. As a result, they have a formalized shoplifting policy that deters and punishes people who steal their products.
However, Macy’s shoplifting policy is fascinating because it differs from that of other leading retailers. While many other retailers prefer taking a hands-off approach to handling shoplifters, Macy’s seems to be doing quite the opposite.
For starters, Macy’s employees are encouraged to stop shoplifters and retrieve the stolen items. Not only does that apply to security or loss-prevention workers, but other regular employees are also encouraged to report shoplifters so they can be stopped before leaving the store.
Former employees report that Macy’s rewards its staff with store credit equal to the value of items being stolen. On top of that, the store credit reward is doubled in June, which is when shoplifting cases are at their highest in Macy’s locations nationwide.
Of course, Macy’s employees are only encouraged to stop shoplifters as long as it’s safe to do so. There have been cases of shoplifters getting violent and threatening Macy’s employees, and management certainly wants to avoid those situations as much as possible.
Like most retailers, Macy’s shoplifting policy also uses several deterrents to make it more challenging for shoplifters to get away with their crimes.
Some of the deterrents used include:
- Electronic tagging – Tags are attached to store items which will trigger alarms if carried past the entrances and exits. Only the cashiers can remove these tags, and they’ll only do so after the customer has paid for the items.
- Video surveillance – Security and loss-prevention employees can monitor every inch of their Macy’s location using closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. These cameras are also recording continuously, making it easier to gather evidence on shoplifters to share with police and track repeat offenders.
- Warning signs – Macy’s locations also have various warning signs informing customers that they are being recorded and that shoplifters will be caught and punished.
Aside from these deterrents, Macy’s generally has a culture of reporting shoplifters to the police and pressing charges against them. That’s especially true when the value of stolen goods is exceptionally high.
However, Macy’s is known for being lenient with those who steal less than $100 worth of goods.
Regardless of whether or not Macy’s presses charges against a shoplifter, the individual is given a ‘no trespass’ order, effectively banning them from the affected Macy’s location.
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Does Macy’s Hire Security Guards?
Yes, Macy’s employs their own security guards to protect their stores. These guards have several duties that generally revolve around assisting customers and keeping fellow employees safe.
More importantly, Macy’s also hires loss-prevention employees and undercover store detectives with more focused responsibilities. These workers are primarily responsible for preventing losses, including those caused by shoplifters.
Macy’s security guards work closely with store detectives and loss-prevention employees. Together, they work as a team to monitor the floor to identify and investigate potential theft cases.
Macy’s security guards will detain a shoplifter and take them to the security office. Once there, they’ll take back all stolen items and then decide what to do next.
Macy’s is known to let shoplifters go when they steal less than $100 worth of items. However, they’ll report higher-value thefts to the police and press charges against the people who commit those crimes.
Macy’s security guards are typically unarmed. However, large retailers are known to use armed guards for their high-risk locations to make customers and workers feel safer.
What Happens When A Shoplifter Is Caught In Macy’s?
Macy’s is much more hands-on when it comes to shoplifters. As soon as a person is suspected of shoplifting, store security will stop and question them.
In some cases, the person’s bags are also checked for any stolen items.
As you read earlier, shoplifters are taken to a room. Aside from getting the stolen items back, security will also collect their personal details.
Those details include:
- Names
- Addresses
- Contact numbers
- Photo
These details have two purposes. Firstly, they are information that’s passed on to the police to press charges.
Besides that, store security will also use that information to ban the person from returning. Security will keep a record of everything and use it to identify shoplifters.
Suppose they return in the future anyway. In that case, staff who recognize them will ask them to leave or report them to the police for trespassing.
Can You Go To Jail For Shoplifting From Macy’s?
Yes, you can go to jail for shoplifting at Macy’s. The odds of a shoplifter going to jail are significantly higher if they steal from Macy’s because the company is serious about involving police and pressing charges.
However, the specific charges and punishments that shoplifters face will differ from case to case. Typically, the higher the value of stolen goods, the more serious the legal punishments.
Aside from jail time, shoplifters are known to be given fines and forced to do community service, among other forms of punishments allowed under the law.
The same is also true even if the shoplifter got away with the crime initially. For example, they might have taken items out of the Macy’s without any staff noticing.
However, suppose security has evidence of the shoplifting from the store’s security cameras. In that case, they’ll be reported to the police all the same.
And as you’ve seen repeatedly through this article, Macy’s is serious about reporting shoplifters to the police and pressing charges against them.
That means shoplifters might get away with their crimes for a while, but it won’t be for long.
Does Macy’s Use Facial Recognition Technology To Catch Shoplifters?
Yes, Macy’s is one of many leading retailers in the country that have invested heavily in facial recognition technology.
Their store locations use the technology together with their CCTV security cameras to identify known shoplifters and other people banned from Macy’s.
If the system recognizes people banned from Macy’s, it will alert store security to their location. Then, they’ll be asked to leave or referred to the police for further action.
Final Thoughts
Macy’s has a very hands-on shoplifting policy, and that’s quite different from many other leading retailers. While many other brands tell their staff to step back and let shoplifters go, Macy’s tells theirs the opposite.
Macy’s security and loss-prevention employees will pursue and stop shoplifters before retrieving stolen goods.
On top of that, all staff members are rewarded for stopping shoplifters and reporting them to security. These incentives make Macy’s quite formidable in the fight against shoplifters.
Reference Sources
https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/4746800/macys-employee-report-shoplifters-policy-reward/