Are you wondering how Neiman Marcus deals with shoplifters and what happens if you steal from one of these luxury stores?
Neiman Marcus is often a target for shoplifters because it sells high-end goods. The store does not have a specific policy relating to shoplifters that’s available to the public, but like all stores, it has the right to pursue and prosecute people who shoplift, and it may press charges for the theft of items from its store.
What Does Neiman Marcus Do About Shoplifting?
Neiman Marcus doesn’t have a public policy that relates to shoplifting, but it’s important to note that some sources state that the loss prevention staff are allowed to physically prevent shoplifters from leaving and may even tackle and handcuff thieves.
Staff members who have had the correct training are allowed to restrain customers, including preventing them from leaving and putting them in handcuffs if they are deemed a danger to other customers or staff members, or if it’s thought that the shoplifter might escape.
Of course, most shops try to avoid doing this if they can. It comes with quite a few risks, such as the risk of being sued, or of causing an injury to a member of staff, the person being detained, or other bystanders.
On the whole, therefore, stores avoid using these strategies when they can, but it’s important to bear in mind that this could happen.
It’s most likely to happen if a shoplifter is violent, aggressive, lashing out, or trying to run. Shoplifters who comply with the requests of security guards will generally be simply asked to sit in a back room while the police are called.
What Is The “Trojan Horse”?
You may have heard about Neiman Marcus’s “Trojan horse.” This is an 8-foot pillar that is covered in two-way glass.
The glass is covered in shelves of merchandise, and the glass allows security guards to sit and observe customers without being seen themselves.
Can You Be Arrested For Shoplifting From Neiman Marcus Stores?
Yes, you can be arrested for shoplifting, regardless of where you steal from. Although penalties vary depending on where you live, shoplifting could be punished by a prison sentence even if you take low-value items and it’s your first offense.
You might face as much as a year in prison for shoplifting even a small item. It could be worth almost nothing; you can still get into pretty major trouble for taking it.
Many retailers won’t actually pursue shoplifters for low value and one-off offenses, but it is legal for them to do so.
Because many Neiman Marcus products are high-end, there’s a greater chance that pursuing shoplifters will be worth their while.
If you take multiple items from a Neiman Marcus store, you could easily be looking at several hundred dollars’ worth of merchandise.
That means Neiman Marcus does have an incentive to pursue shoplifters, whereas stores retailing low-value goods may not.
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Will Neiman Marcus Stop You If You Try To Walk Out With Unpaid Merchandise?
If you try to walk out of the store without paying for goods, you may be stopped by security or loss prevention. This is particularly likely if you set off one of the door alarms when you’re walking out.
The staff member may ask to see your receipt and might ask you to empty your pockets or show them what’s in your bag.
Note that you aren’t obliged to comply with these requests, but failure to do so will often lead to them trying to prevent you from leaving – and because the staff at this store often do have the right to do so, you might be physically restrained.
This will usually only happen if you are dealing with the loss prevention members of staff, rather than the ordinary store workers.
Staff members need proper training on how to restrain somebody safely, and this is usually only supplied to loss prevention staff.
Ordinary members of staff might request that you stop walking and come into a back room instead, but this is generally all that they will do. It’s not considered safe for them to physically stop shoppers, so it’s very rare for one of them to try to do so, and it may even be against company policy.
How Much Can You Steal Before It’s Worth The Store’s Time Pursuing You?
There’s no fixed amount that you can steal before Neiman Marcus stores will think it is worth their while pursuing you. However, sometimes stores won’t bother to chase shoplifters who take small items and only do it once. In general, it’s returning to the store or taking large items that will cause problems.
However, bear in mind that you can be stopped regardless of the item’s value, and the consequences will still be serious.
If you take a lot of items or some expensive items, you may be stopped at the door, or the store may use camera footage (or things like credit card information if you also purchased an item) to identify you.
They can then pass your details on to the police, and you may receive letters requiring you to appear in court or pay damages to the store.
These can be considerably higher than the value of the item you stole, so be aware of this before you consider taking anything.
It’s important not to assume that the store will not bother to pursue you because it is a high-end store. Neiman Marcus can and does prosecute shoplifters, and staff is trained to spot suspicious behavior among customers as they shop.
What Happens If The Alarms Don’t Go Off?
If you have walked out of a Neiman Marcus store without triggering any alarms and without anybody approaching you, you might think that you have got away with it. However, you should bear in mind that these stores generally have a good network of cameras.
When stock checks are taken, management and loss prevention will often review the camera footage if they have discovered items are missing. They will check to see whether they can spot any shoppers taking things. If they can identify you from this, they may report you to the police, who will follow up with you.
If they can’t identify you from the footage but they do have a description, they may circulate this among the security and members of staff.
If you later return to the store, you may be stopped and questioned, even if you didn’t intend to steal anything this time.
It’s important to be aware that you haven’t necessarily got away with shoplifting if you’ve left the shop without being questioned.
In most states, stores have at least 6 months to pursue shoplifters, and if the store you went to can provide evidence of your theft, they will be able to prosecute you until the statute of limitations has passed.
It’s worth noting that although many stores don’t bother to follow up on small thefts after the individual has left the store if you come back, you’re likely to get stopped.
Large thefts are much more likely to result in a police report, fines, and even jail time.
Conclusion
Like many high-end stores, Neiman Marcus goes to great efforts to deter shoplifting and catch thieves.
From trained loss prevention personnel to their “Trojan horse” shelving, they’ve got a lot that makes it hard for shoplifters to get away with taking items from their stores.
Reference Sources
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-18-fi-24562-story.html