This is a new lifting blog, but Iâve been lifting for a while, and I was caught when I was still pretty new to it. (This was years ago, way before I even knew what tumblr was).
I had just turned 13 when I was caught, and I was doing a lot of lifting at a ΀@rgΔt that was connected to a pretty big mall. I worked in the mall, and when I got off my shift and was waiting for someone to pick me up, I would go in to the T@rgÎ”Ï and lift from the jewelry section (I know, terrible.)
Hereâs everything that I was doing wrong, off the top of my head
I was incredibly new to lifting, I was just lifting to be rebellious and had no clue what I was doing
I was lifting from a massive T@rgΔÏ, and I would go a few times a week and not ever take a break to let suspicion blow over (so they probably built a huge case)
I would conceal on floor right out in the open in a very obvious way, I was probably right under a camera every time. I was also in view of a few checkout lanes in the jewelry section.
I would act soooo sus! I would touch merchandise a ton and pick it up, then go put it back down, wander around the store, then go back and grab the same exact thing and probably do it again.
When I finally got the courage to lift, I would leave the packaging out in the open. I would leave it on top of a shelf, or maybe hang it back up.
After I lifted, I would probably act super sus. I probably avoided SAâs and such.
I wouldnât leave when I lifted something, I would stick around until I got a text from my parents, then go out and get right into their car, which would be waiting for me by the door.
So yeah, I was really bad and Iâm embarrassed just writing it out now, years later. The day I was caught, I had just gotten off of work and I was walking around the störĂ«. My oldest sister was picking me up, but she told me she was gonna be about an hour and a half late, since she was at the library studying for school. I went straight to the jewelry section and probably did sus shit. I know for a fact I ripped a ring straight off the packaging right out in the open, then stuffed it in my lil purse without trying to be low key or anything. Then, a lady about mid forties came into the section and started looking at necklaces, so I went to the other side of the jewelry section and started looking at necklaces that were on a lil spinny rack. I definitely tried to lift one, I just donât remember if I actually did conceal it or if I got scared and gave up. I then went straight to the bathrooms at the front of the store. I actually did have to use the bathroom, and I remember clear as day I had to go number 2. So I was definitely in the bathroom for a while. When I came out, I went back to the jewelry section and tried to lift some more. After a few minutes of looking at merch, I stood up and went on my phone. I then heard someone say, âHow are you?â. I didnât even know he was there, so I jumped and kinda laughed and said âYou scared me, hahaâ. He kinda laughed to, and I think he made a joke about me being startled. Then, he said âHow much stolen stuff is in your bag?â. I froze. Up until now, I didnât even think he was LP or someone I should be worried about. He wasnât in plainclothes, he wasnât disguised at all. He was wearing a uniform that clearly said âT@rgΔÏSecurityâ or whatever. Since I was so scared, and also since this was years ago, I canât go into detail about the next few minutes. It was a blur, so Iâll put what I remember in bullet points.
He took my lil purse and put it on the display counter, and went through it. He found a ring I had stolen that day, and took it. He also found some other stuff, but I donât remember what it was or if I had lifted it from his store or somewhere else.
He then had me follow him, and he called another LP officer and said âYeah, I got her, Iâm taking her to the back of the store, to the mall entranceâ (this ÏαrgÎ”Ï was attached to the mall, so there was a huge gate in the back that went directly into the mall).
The other LP officer said something, and the officer that had me (Iâm just gonna call him Officer W.) ended up taking me to the front of his store, and outside. Waiting for us was another LP officer and two police officers.
I donât remember much, but I remember they asked me how old I was, my name, where I went to school, why I was at the mall (I told them I worked there, but I didnât tell them where), where I lived, who was getting me, etc etc. I made up some bogus story about how some friends peer pressured me into stealing, and they seemed to accept it. (I later learned that a lot of young teens and such lift to feel rebellious, to fit in with friends, or because of peer pressure, so they believed me)
One of the police officers called my sister who was supposed to pick me up, and told her everything. Then, they asked me which parent I would rather call. One of the officers called my mom, and left a voicemail.
While the police officer was calling my mom and sister, the other police officer and Officer W. (the other LP went back inside the store), went through my purse again, they went through my wallet (I didnât have any cash in there). Officer W. asked me why I would steal if I could afford to buy everything. I said I couldnât afford anything, and he held up a VĂŻsa gift card I had gotten for my birthday. I told him that I had spent all the money on it with the âfriends that had pressured me into stealingâ.
My ride eventually came, and the officers didnât really talk to her. They told her that I was âbanned for lifeâ and that I was very respectful, and that they were letting me off easy.
And thatâs it! Thinking back on it, there were a ton of things I did wrong, a ton of things I learned, and also a ton of things that LP and the officers did that were total BS that I picked up on as the years passed. Examples of all of the above
Donât lift from T@rgÎ”Ï as a beginner! And donât do all the things I did, at all!
Donât let LP build a case
Donât be so sus, and donât go back often. Give it a few weeks before going back to a store.
Donât conceal on camera, donât be as clumsy as me, donât leave packaging out in the open
LP at that store had definitely knew who I was. Iâm not sure if they were looking for me from previous visits, or if they just caught on to me at that one time and saw me. The officers didnât bring up the past times Iâve lifted from that store, so I think this was the first time they caught me.
Scout a store, or at least have an idea of cameras. Also, make sure youâre alone when youâre lifting or concealing.
When I was told I was banned for life, I wasnât too concerned. I hardly ever went to that mall, other than for work, and my last day at that job was the next day. I steered clear of that place for a while, but now I know that they donât remember or care.
(Also, I was talking to a friend a few months later, and somehow something related to my story came up. I didnât tell her, but I told her that I saw a LP arresting someone else at the target by ________ Mall. She said âReally? My uncle works as LP at that Target at that mall.â And I kinda explained his appearance, and lo and behold, her uncle had caught me.)
I know this is super long, and Iâm almost positive that nobody is going to see this or care. But anyways, thatâs my caught story.
jbbartram-illu
areudirty
snowghoul
stormborns
blakekathryn
andulkaphoto
ellievsbear
vaporwave
