I doubt many people will see this as I’m a fairly new blog but I thought I would just talk about my PERSONAL experiences with certain UK shops!!! (Obviously it differs to branch so remember that!!)
I’m very fortunate to be able to move around the UK to different city’s constantly. I live in London, go to university in another main city and my boyfriend lives in another one. So I’m able to cycle these 3 places every month and I’ve come to the conclusion that pretty much every store follows the same procedure in these 3 areas.
The main stores I lift my clothes and shoes from are H&&M and N£w L00k. I find in both these stores the SAs are very sloppy and inattentive so even if the changing rooms aren’t unattended you can more likely get away with double hanging and concealing behind the clothes you’re holding, for example holding a pair of shoes under your arm, then holding the decoy clothes up to cover the shoes, or something I do a lot is hold a couple hangars of clothes normally in your hand, then hook a couple onto my pinky lower down so it’s out of sight to the SA. (If they notice you can play it off as oblivious rather than guilty)
Another MASSIVE reason I hit them up so much is because there’s always loads of untagged clothes, at least one on each rack. (This Is only useful for people who don’t use magnets/hooks… obviously) Other big stores like T0psh0p tag ALL their shit so I rarely lift from there, only the occasional underwear/phone case when the dressing rooms are unattended.
My BEST advice is to always go to these stores (when you can) when it’s busy af. The SAs are stressed and start not care when they feel under pressure. Like today I was in H&&M and they didn’t even look at what I was holding or give me a ticket. Legit went “next” and off I went with my hidden trainers and double hung tops.
Other big shops I regularly go to are Debenh@ms and House of Fr@iser. Other then M@C we don’t really have many shops dedicated to selling high end makeup so I resort to lifting all my high ends from big department stores. My technique is that I scope out what I want, for example today I went in wanting the two faced peach palette, so I scoped out the two faced section, waited for the (very attentive SA) to be busy with another customer, and I sweeped in quick and easy concealing the palette from the cameras behind my purse. I then proceed to go up the escalators, pick up some clothes and head to a dressing room. In the dressing room I check for tags and concealed in my bag. For this you gotta be pretty confident for it to work tho so keep in mind!!
I’m not that confident in other shops like UO and Zara because I mostly lift in these stores only when I have an opportunity to, so if I notice a dressing room is unattended I’ll discreetly (remember just cos there’s no SAs present doesn’t mean no ones watching!!) conceal a bunch of untagged shit and head on over!!
Now for drug stores like superdrug/boots my main method is try and get into a position where it would be hard for the camera to pick you up, maybe right next to a group of people and bending down? And basically I use my jacket sleeve to slip an item I want down it, so for example I would go to pick up “one” of an item but actually pick up two and slip one down my sleeve, then after some thought I act like I decided I didn’t want it anymore and put back the item I am holding.
Now for the love of GOD please don’t fish out what you’ve lifted from your sleeve in front of people, the best way is to reach into your bag pretending to get your phone or something and let the lifted item fall into your bag.
Now my top TIPS to remember!!🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑 (But remember I have only been lifting for like 6 months but this is what I’ve learn from it and also this amazing community)
- walk in PREPARED to buy something. Browse the sale. LOOK AT PRICES DEAR GOD. Just try and look like a normal paying customer that isn’t trying to rob them blind.
- discreetly scope out for blind spots, emphasis on the discreetly!!, pls don’t look cameras in the eye. Yes they can see you looking straight at them!!!
- remember sometimes it’s not worth it. Remember it’s ILLEGAL what you’re doing so if you feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable, you should probably ditch the stuff and leave because there’s normally a valid reason why you’re feeling uneasy.
Also let me know if you’re from the UK as I want to follow all you lovely lifters 💕💕 we need to spread more tips guys!! All I see on my dash is tips for American stores!!
Anyway sorry it’s a long post but hope people enjoyed!!!
Also if you’re from the UK too please add any advice you have!! I need tips too!!
