Whole Foods maintains a very hands-off shoplifting policy that doesn’t allow staff to go after shoplifters, even for security guards and loss prevention employees.
In most cases, Whole Foods shoplifters can leave the store without any repercussions. Some employees have even been fired in the past for trying to stop them. However, workers at some locations still try their best to stop shoplifters.
They gather the person’s details and hand them over to police to face fines and potential conviction for their crimes.
This guide will show you everything you need to know about Whole Foods and their shoplifting policy.
What’s Covered In Whole Foods’ Shoplifting Policy?
Retailers take very different approaches when it comes to handling shoplifters. Simply put, stores have either hands-on or hands-off shoplifting policies.
Whole Foods has an incredibly hands-off shoplifting policy. Firstly, regular staff members in the store are told not to do anything when someone tries stealing from the store. That’s true even if the shoplifter is stealing items right in front of the worker’s eyes.
In fact, Whole Foods employees have been fired from their jobs because they tried to stop people from stealing.
These kinds of hands-off shoplifting policies are that way for several reasons, including:
- To maintain the workers’ and customers’ safety because shoplifters might turn violent if someone tries to stop them.
- To prevent lawsuits by shoplifters who might claim they were falsely accused or unlawfully detained, among other reasons.
- To minimize costs, as stores are insured and going after shoplifters could cost a lot more than the value of the stolen items.
The interesting thing about Whole Foods is that they hire security guards and loss prevention employees who patrol stores in uniform and in plain clothes (i.e. undercover). Unlike at some other retailers, these security guards are not armed.
However, those workers are subject to the same shoplifting policy and cannot stop or pursue a shoplifter, even if they witness the crime happening with their own eyes.
At most, Whole Foods employees can only react to shoplifters by:
- Observing them from afar to gather as much information as possible. That information might be useful when reporting the crime to the police later.
- Calling the police to the store immediately. Naturally, the shoplifter might be gone by then, but the store can file a police report instead.
Despite the hands-off policy at Whole Foods, there are plenty of cases when staff will try their best to stop shoplifters.
They are rarely successful, as thieves understand the store’s policies and know they will unlikely get charged even after leaving the store.
That’s especially true in locations where local laws are lenient towards theft. Lenient laws combined with a hands-off store policy mean shoplifters are incredibly brave when stealing from Whole Foods stores.
What Happens To Shoplifters At Whole Foods?
At this point in the article, it might seem like shoplifters get away scot-free when they steal from Whole Foods. That is certainly true in many cases,
While that might be true in some cases, there are situations when shoplifters are caught and punished.
As you read earlier, some Whole Foods locations are more proactive against shoplifters than others. Unsurprisingly, those locations are more likely to stop shoplifters and do the following:
- Gather the shoplifter’s personal details, including their name, address, and contact details.
- Take a photo of the shoplifter to keep in the store’s records.
- Ban the shoplifter from the store, either permanently or for a fixed period.
- Call the police to arrest the shoplifter. This step is more likely if the shoplifter threatened staff or other customers, was violent, or stole a high amount of items.
After that, the store’s management might decide to go after the shoplifter even further. They might file a police report or get lawyers to issue a letter demanding the thief pays back the value of the stolen goods and other costs as well.
Does Whole Foods Have Security, And Do They Stop Shoplifters?
Yes, Whole Foods generally does hire security guards and loss prevention teams. However, a lot of things can differ between Whole Foods locations.
Firstly, some locations hire these employees in-house. On the other hand, some other locations are known to outsource their security and loss prevention to third-party security companies.
Besides that, the guards at some stores won’t even try to stop a shoplifter, even if they’re stealing in plain sight. Others, however, will stop the shoplifter and take them to the security room to return the stolen goods.
Overall, these differences show that there’s a disconnect between Whole Foods’ shoplifting policy and what actually happens in their stores. Some stores follow the policy and choose to do nothing, while others still pursue shoplifters despite what they’ve been told to do.
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Does Whole Foods Have Security Cameras?
Yes, Whole Foods has closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras around its stores. These cameras monitor all areas of the store, including public areas and staff-only areas.
However, they tend to be concentrated more around areas that face a high risk of theft. Those include areas where expensive items are kept or areas that have a history of shoplifting.
Footage from those cameras is useful for catching shoplifters in action. On top of that, management can also use it as evidence to file police reports against shoplifters that weren’t caught in-store.
In other words, a shoplifter who gets away with stealing can still be caught later based on video evidence caught by security cameras.
Still, whether or not the thief gets charged will depend on local laws.
Does Whole Foods Press Charges Against Shoplifters?
Whole Foods has over 500 locations across the country, and there seems to be an inconsistency in whether or not they press charges against shoplifters.
As you read earlier, the store’s handling of thieves will depend largely on their location.
In some states, shoplifting is considered petty theft, and will not be charged in court, even if the store stops them from doing so.
However, other locations are more proactive and hands-on. Stores will report shoplifters and press charges against them with the goal of punishing them to the fullest extent of the law.
What Do People Usually Steal From Whole Foods?
Whole Foods is a supermarket chain which primarily stocks high-quality food items and other consumer goods. According to the current and former staff, shoplifters tend to target expensive food items and other household goods.
However, there’s also a pattern of thieves going after staple food items like peanut butter, bread, and tuna.
That might be a reflection of how hard times are, as it suggests that people are stealing because they’re hungry, and not necessarily for financial gain.
Final Thoughts
Whole Foods is an excellent example that shows a company’s shoplifting policy isn’t always followed perfectly across all its locations.
At a policy level, staff are not allowed to approach or stop a shoplifter who is stealing from their store. That also applies to security guards and loss prevention team members.
However, the policy isn’t always followed perfectly. There are plenty of stores where workers will go after and stop shoplifters, despite the risk of losing their jobs. Shoplifters are then banned, fined, and potentially jailed.