Have you ever wondered what Ross’s policy for dealing with shoplifters is and how they handle it when somebody tries to take something from one of their stores?
Ross’s policy on shoplifting is not published publicly and this company is known for changing its policies frequently anyway. However, it’s likely that Ross has a policy of watching but not attempting to apprehend shoplifters. They can then follow up with them later, after involving the police.
Let’s find out a little more about how this generally works in everyday life.
Does Ross Have A Shoplifting Policy?
Ross doesn’t have a public shoplifting policy available online, so there’s no way for you to look up what they teach their staff to do if they encounter a shoplifter.
A lot of stores do not publish these policies, as insider knowledge could make it easier for shoplifters to take advantage of the store.
However, Ross will certainly have a policy, and it’s also likely that this policy tells staff members to watch but not necessarily approach shoplifters. They will probably be told to challenge shoplifters who are trying to steal, but not to stop them if they try to run.
Instead, they will be told to do as much as they can to identify the individual, including taking note of clothing, height, and appearance.
This can then be used to either ban the individual from the store, or to file a police report later.
Why Don’t Ross Employees Usually Get Involved Physically?
It is rare for a Ross employee to attempt to physically detain a shoplifter.
There are numerous reasons for this. One is that if the person tries to run and is injured during the pursuit, there’s a risk of a lawsuit, and the store could be found to be at fault for the injury. This is not a risk that most stores want to take.
Passersby could also be injured, which would involve negative publicity and possibly further legal problems.
Additionally, the member of staff could get hurt, especially if the shoplifter is armed. While many people who shoplift don’t carry weapons, there’s still a chance that they could be.
Most ordinary members of staff don’t have the training to deal with this, and should not be put in harm’s way. They may also feel it is above their pay grade, and the store again may not want to risk a lawsuit.
A final consideration in the “do not chase” approach is the publicity and effect on other shoppers. Having a big scene in front of lots of other shoppers can deter them from returning to the store and make it look like an unreliable and chaotic place to shop.
It may attract negative media attention and affect the store’s bottom line.
It’s therefore generally accepted that staff can challenge shoplifters verbally but will rarely get involved physically if the person leaves in spite of being challenged.
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Can Ross Employees Legally Detain A Shoplifter?
This may depend upon your state, but in most cases, it is legal for loss prevention store employees to detain a shoplifter. Regular employees do not usually have this power, although they can ask you to wait.
Despite the legal powers, however, many loss prevention employees will not physically detain a shoplifter for the reasons mentioned above.
Again, they may approach and ask the shoplifter to stop and come to a back room, but they will rarely get physical.
What Happens If You Shoplift From Ross And Don’t Stop?
If you steal something from Ross and don’t respond when the employees challenge you, you probably will not be physically stopped (although be aware that it could happen). Instead, you may be free to go initially.
However, depending on the circumstances, you may then hear from the police. The store may use camera footage or staff descriptions to identify you and may cross-reference data with other nearby stores. They may then follow up with the police, who will get in touch with you.
A store doesn’t have to detain you when you are actually shoplifting in order to prosecute you for doing so. If they can produce evidence of the theft (such as camera footage), they can take you to court after the fact.
This is one of the reasons that stores often don’t bother to detain people while they are in the store. If there’s enough evidence and you have refused to stop, it’s generally less fuss and more straightforward for them to let the police handle the situation, rather than getting directly involved.
Depending on your state and the value of the goods you stole, they could have between 6 months and a year to do this, or even longer if the goods were high-value.
The statute of limitations may be several years if you stole valuables.
You should therefore not assume that you have gotten away with theft just because you have left the store without the police being called. You can still be prosecuted as long as the store is able to prove you stole something.
What Happens If Ross Store Employees Don’t Challenge You?
It’s also important to be aware that you could be prosecuted for shoplifting even if the store employees don’t say a word to you while you are in the store.
Some people mistakenly believe that if nobody speaks to them at the time, they can’t be penalized later, but that isn’t the case.
If you steal something and a member of staff notices but doesn’t feel safe challenging you, they can talk to loss prevention later, identify you, and follow up with the police.
Alternatively, if your theft goes unnoticed at the time but is later spotted on the cameras (possibly following a stock check by the store), the store can contact the police.
“Getting away with it” in the moment doesn’t mean that you have successfully stolen, and the store will usually have a minimum of 6 months to follow up with you.
How Do Ross Stores Usually Handle Shoplifters?
This can vary enormously from store to store and from situation to situation. Ross stores do tend to be chaotic and are known for having high levels of theft, and some managers and store employees are very disinterested and will ignore the theft.
However, you should be cautious about depending upon this too much. Although some stores do not make much effort to deal with shoplifting, others certainly do, and a change in management can quickly see a store becoming very focused on this when it was previously more relaxed.
Shoplifting even small items can result in fines, police records, and jail time, so be aware of this before you take anything.
The consequences are more severe than you might imagine if you are caught, and can have a long-term impact on your life and your ability to get employment in the future.
Conclusion
Ross doesn’t publish its policy for dealing with shoplifters publicly, but staff members have mentioned that it has a “no chase” approach to them.
Instead, staff will watch and attempt to identify shoplifters, and allow the police to follow up with them quietly later. This is often the most effective and safest way for stores to handle theft.
Reference Sources
https://www.businessinsider.com/security-officer-reveals-how-to-get-away-with-shoplifting-2012-4