⚠️ Blog disclaimer: my priorities are to improve my skills (as a role player of course), to be safe, and to exchange knowledge with others along the way.
Some things that will get yourself blocked by myself and others in the community include: non-l!ft1ng content, little to no recent activity, p0rn, ED/thinspo, using hashtags, public likes & follows, and reblogging posts that are outdated or have too many notes. DM me if you are following me on a side blog.
This can be tricky and takes some practice, but don’t be discouraged! Spotting cameras is a whole other tangent I could get into so I’ll just focus on blind spots specifically. Lower traffic areas in stores are going to be your best bet for lack of cameras (such as home decor, bathroom items, etc. Basically boring places the company’s not going to be as worried about people stealing from- so the opposite of makeup, electronics, etc). Don’t rush to these areas, naturally “shop” your way into them so it’s not obvious. Keep in mind if you don’t see cameras in a place that seems too good to be true, there might be hidden cams (specifically in the electronics section). Personally, I find it less stressful to create blind spots by holding items behind shelves or displays that block the camera’s view of your hands. For smaller items, sometimes I like to reach into the back of shelves and “dig around” as I shove something up my sleeve away from camera view. This applies to lifting in general, but the quicker and more efficient you can be the harder it will be to catch. Sorry if this is a lot of info, I like to be thorough! The more we help each other improve our ~skills~, the less we all get caught! Learn together, thrive together hehe. Hope that helps!!
The fact that I’m a fiddler and always had to have something in my hands to play with has helped me immensely with shôplifting. It taught me how to safely, swiftly, and quietly grab and conceal items.
This is a very reliable method of lífting, but it takes a lot of practice. It makes the act harder for cameras to detect, and the only problem you might face (if all plays out well) is detagging the concealed item.
Here’s how to perfect grabbing and concealing…
Practice
You may not have fiddled with trinkets all your life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do a quick grab and conceal. Just wear what you’re going to go lífting in and grab and conceal random objects around your home. You can also spend your spare time playing around with rubber bands, bouncy balls etc. I twist knives in the kitchen, but I’ve done knife throwing before, so I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone.
Preparation
Take the clothes, bags, whatever you’re going lifting with, and lay them all out. Take the ones in which you’re going to conceal the stôlen items. Roughly measure them out e.g. the inner pocket of my jacket can fit a plastic CD case just right, and you’re good to go.
This is the most fundamental method of shôplifting, and it pains me to see that baby lífters go try harder ones without perfecting the basics. Always conceal on the move (if possible), and never get sloppy. Use your sticky fingers properly!
hi guys i havent been able to l!ft much lately because of school and i was bored so i made these pictures to help new people learn about disguises.
why wear disguises?
well, if you want to l!ft often, and for a long time, without being caught, then disguises are kind of necessary. eventually after some months the workers will recognize you, and build a case against you. disguises prevent this, disguises are very important!
i know disguises can be expensive, i recommend to 🧬 your disguises from àmâzôn so you arent spending much money. also, your purses / clothing does NOT have to be name brand to look nice! most rich people don’t wear name brand stuff anyways.
THE FOUR MAIN WAYS WORKERS RECOGNIZE YOU :
- your hair
- your purse
- any tattoos
- your style (if you have unique style)
seriously, changing your purse and putting on a wig can completely change a person! (from LP / employees perspective)
informational photos i made!!
the last photo is my personal preference for my disguise style, but not really necessary. you can also wear business casual clothing for the same effect. i kind of just made this for fun :)
remember, just because you are wearing a disguise doesn’t mean you still cant be caught, stay careful and safe! good luck
they are a company who pays disabled people less then minimun wage so they don’t have to pay fucking taxes.there job training program, is training disable people to work at goodwill so they don’t have to fucking pay them. they suck balls, it’s good for the earth, and vintage is in.
things to know about taking shit from g00dwill
nothing is tagged
because everything is used and random, it’s basiclly impossible to tell if something is yours or not if you rip the sales tag off. use this to your advanage.
some stores have cameras, some don’t. make a blind spot by kneeling buy a clothing rack, going to a dressing room or bathroom, or leaning over something. cameras are never watched from what I’m aware of.
it’s not odd to take non-clothing items into bathrooms/dressing rooms. this is because if someone takes it there isn’t another one
walkouts are super easy because stores are understaffed and emplyeees don’t care. you can total wear stuff out of the store.
my fav rn is crouching down in an aisle and slipping it up my sleeve or shoving it in my waistband or pocket; there are my favourite blind spot bcuz they’re almost always guaranteed to be safe. that way if someone confronts you, you can be like “well i left it on the bottom shelf 🙄” and they can’t prove you’re lying.
for bigger items that have to be concealed in a bag, i recommend friends body blocking for you or draping a coat or jacket over your arm and hiding it under there <3
Disguises are SO IMPORTANT! Whether you’re hitting the same store/mall multiple times a day or you want to go back to a store you’ve been caught in, disguises will help you. In this post I’ll cover the most important parts of disguises, some styles that I’ve found work better in some places than others, and how to go to the same store or mall multiple times a week or day with disguises! I’m putting in 8 disguises for u to look at !
PARTS OF A DISGUISE •┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈
A disguise that you would use for lifting includes wigs, different bags, and different clothing.
I’d say the most important part of a disguise are your clothing, your bag, and hair. But when people think about disguises they often forget the details, which fully change you. Your shoes will look out of place in some disguises. Your mannerisms will give you away. Your body will look the same. Your phone (which you would take out!) will look the same. So those are the parts you should also pay attention to. Change your shoes and use a corset. Try picking up things with your opposite hand and change your phone/phone case. The goal is to look not like your past appearances.
It’s always easier to add to yourself: add some height by wearing heels, pack layers to appear larger on your waist or thighs, add thicker eyebrows or even use hair extensions. I recommend taking off these layers as the day goes on.
CHANGING DISGUISES ＊┈┈┈┈＊┈┈┈┈
Speaking of which, the best strategy for lifting multiple times throughout a day is to gradually build up sus. Start with wearing the most innocent looking disguise and lift a little. This is a great time for super sneaky concealments and going to the risky stores. Then gradually you build more risk (not too much). This is to ensure when you return to the store, their guard isn’t up. You could also do the opposite by hiding in plain sight, but only if you feel like you’re skilled enough for that. If you’re going to a big mall, make sure you park your car AWAY from the mall parking lot. Park a block or 2 away and move your car when you change. Take a while to get into character. Don’t rush, because you don’t have to use all the disguises you brought at once!
LETS GET INTO THE DISGUISES!★•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•
This look is the least sus looking in my opinion. The look you’re going for is “comfortably rich” and chic. The wig/hairstyle you use should be short and tidy. For ppl with textured hair, try going for a wavy wig or a neat curly style to your shoulders. You should wear warm tones of beige and brown, with whites. For makeup wear a bit of eyeliner and mascara, but go light on the shadow. Use natural colours. Bring your fancy bag, act professionally. This is best for makeup stores, luxury brands, department stores,, etc. This style is modest so you can body pack to make yourself look larger and replace the stuff u packed with merch 👀
This is pretty much the opposite of the last disguise. It’s inspired by “kid core” styles. Wear a short wig again, or tie up your hair. Add colourful accessories. Wear denim and colourful clothes, and any makeup works. Use a tote bag or a messenger shoulder bag. This is good for cheaper beauty stores and most clothing stores for teens. Avoid high end stores and athletic wear stores.
One of my favs, the cute style!! Wear longer wigs, any hairstyle is fine as long as it’s tidy and long. Your makeup should be stylish but not overdone. Wear pinks and whites. Use a white or nude handbag or tote. Try wearing platforms or heels that u can comfortably run in to boost your height with this disguise. Best stores to go to are teen clothing stores, beauty stores, bookstores, lingerie stores, etc. Again, avoid high end stores and athletic stores.
Any longer “teen” hairstyle works for this one, with any makeup. Usually you’d wear baggier clothes but avoid super baggy pants. Use a purse or tote bag. Wear AirPods and GOOD NIKE SNEAKERS/SNEAKER REPS!!! This disguise is mainly for athletic wear stores like Nike and Adidas, etc. If u wear heavy makeup this could also be okay for makeup stores.
A lil more sus, but common where I live. Hoodies with skirts (long or short) : basically an alt style. Makeup should be edgy and dark. Even tho messier hair matches this disguise don’t !! Mess up ur wig bc it will make it obvious ur wearing one. Natural hair. Bring a tote or a small messenger crossbody bag. You can go into teen clothing stores and most music or bookstores. Avoid “preppy” stores.
Any long wig/hairstyle will work for this one. Beige-brown colours, and a tote/messenger bag. Going into any store (other than athletic stores) would be fine with this one, especially bookstores, stationery stores, and most clothing stores. Depending on your makeup you could go into makeup stores as well.
A slight variation from the streetwear athletic disguise, this is more “lulu lemon” and “aritzia” vibes. Yoga pants, windbreakers, hoodies? Any “upscale” casual gym clothes are good for this. Tie up ur hair/wig. Bring any purse/tote bag. This is minimally sus if you do it right!! I love this disguise but it doesn’t leave much room for concealing so keep that in mind.
Lastly! If you have a short wig try this disguise to throw off any store you think knows you. Just wear tees/sweater with blouse combo. Idrk how to describe this so just try to go as androgynous as possible.
—————
OKAYYY that took me way too long. I hope you all take notes bc disguises are so important!!
This took me like 2 months to finish bc I procrastinated on finishing writing this lol.
everyone naturally has their own gait and it can be very recognizable. make sure you're switching it up when you're in disguise so that you're harder to identify.
the easiest way to do this is by changing your posture. observe where you normally like to keep your shoulders - do you hunch forward a bit, or do you put your shoulders back? now do the opposite and take a few steps. it will change your rhythm. you can also get a posture garment to try to force yourself into different postures but it's not really necessary if you just practice a bit.
another thing to pay attention to are your strides - do you put your heel down before your toe? or do you shuffle/drag your feet a bit so that your whole sole is hitting the ground at the same time. do you take long slow strides or short fast ones? changing shoes may automatically change your stride but again, it's not necessary to use anything special to change it up
last main things are your knees and hips - what movement do you naturally fall into at these joints? how can you change that? personally i am a bit stiff in the knee but I move my hips more (kind of walk like I'm wearing heels even if I'm not lol), so i've practiced ways to avoid this when I'm l_fting in disguise
when i'm trying to perfect a new walk, i like to film myself, first walking regularly, then doing the disguise walk. once you think you've got it, ignore the recording for a couple days then look at it again and you may see more areas for improvement.
Ayo, here's some tips from someone with experience on how to change your gait:
Put a rock in your shoe! You might subconsciously forget to change your gait, but you absolutely will not subconsciously forget a rock in your shoe.
Wrap a leg with bandages/something tight underneath your pants. It'll subtly change the way you walk, and it'll remind you to keep your gait changed.
Borrow shoes from someone else! You won't be used to how they feel, and plus, it gives you the advantage of not having clothing that can be traced back to you.
Wear shoes with platforms. You don't have to do big ones- even an inch will be fine. You won't be used to the height difference and it'll change how you balance yourself.
Wear those shoes you bought a few years ago but have never actually worn out!
You can also wear heavier clothes to weigh down on your shoulders and force a hunch.
If you're ballsy enough, think about taking a trip to Goodwill and getting some crutches or maybe even a wheelchair. I can tell you as a disabled person that I do not give two shits ab you faking a disability if you're doing it to protest capitalism (we're like, the worst victims of capitalism). Plus, it can get you some sympathy from workers and make you less likely to be profiled. It also doesn't hurt to have more places to stash stuff (you could find LOADS of places to hide things in a wheelchair).
Also: try looking at some videos online of how to subtly change your appearance. There's some really great videos by ex-CIA members who share how they disguise themselves, I've picked up a lot from there.
💇🏻♀️👩🏻🦰disguises & that time i lifted from the same place 3 times in 1 day lol 👩🏻👱🏻♀️
this happened a while ago in 2021 but i wanted to post about it now that i'm back. it was probably the most fun i've ever had lifting
so disguises / switching up my appearance has always been a part of my lifting strategy but up until this point i didn't really change it up in my day-to-day life. i (used to) have long brown hair so i would wear short wigs with a knit hat, bucket hat, or baseball cap on top for my disguises, changing up the style of outfit along with the hair changes. the hats were essential, not only to hide that it's a wig but also to hide where my real hair was getting bunched up under the wig cap, it was really long and thick and no matter how tight I laid it down, there was always some area that would've looked unnatural if i didn't wear the hat over it.
switching up wig + hat + glasses/sunglasses or any combination of those (and different masks), I could easily look like 2 different people over the course of a day and hit a store twice. but I never risked lifting from the same store 3 times in 1 day just because i was worried if they noticed me in a wig the first time, they might start to get suspicious and really be on the lookout for anyone else in a wig for the rest of the day.
well, unrelated to lifting i was getting really bored with my hair and wanted to change it up so i booked an appointment to get quite a bit cut off and colored to a strawberry blonde. this was right after lockdowns started easing up and salons were finally open again, I think being confined that whole time and seeing the same look in the mirror every day, i'd just had enough and needed a complete reset
i was honestly really nervous leading up to the hair appointment because i'd never colored it before or had a drastic cut (i was at like waist length before and i wanted to get a collarbone length lob). i got so anxious i almost canceled but as i was lying awake one night i realized it could be the perfect opportunity to lift from the same store 3 times in one day. once i started planning it out i got really excited for the hair appointment AND for all the lifting i would be able to do.
a week before the hair appointment, i wore a short black wig to go check out the mall and see what items i wanted to lift, also it was the first time i'd been to the mall since the pandemic so i wanted to see how busy it would be. there were more people than i expected since everyone was wanting to enjoy the lifted restrictions and that gave me more peace of mind that i'd be able to pull it off.
my appointment was late in the afternoon, so i went to the mall as "myself" in the morning with my long mousy brown hair in its natural wavy texture. i was wearing business casual type of clothing, blazer, slacks, low heels, press on french tips, fake engagement ring, trying to look rich yet unassuming and not stand out in any way. I was able to lift 3 dresses, some bras and underwear, and a necklace. that took about half the morning.
there were other items i still wanted but I left them for my next "character" to grab. i went out to my car and drove out to a residential area about 10min away just to make sure no cameras caught me changing. I put on a red bob wig and a bucket hat, crop top, and shorts, changed to platform sandals, and switched from a tote bag to a crossbody. Also took off my glasses, ripped off the press-ons/ring, put on heavy eye makeup, and changed from a disposable mask to a cloth mask. then i drove back to the mall and parked in a completely different area. this time i was able to get the earrings and bracelet to match the necklace from earlier, a few makeup products, and 2 eyeshadow palettes. i think there were some other things that i'm forgetting from this trip but those are the main ones.
it was early afternoon by that point so i went back home and took a quick shower and ate lunch before the appointment. i was still a bit worried about how it was going to turn out but i knew now that i absolutely had to go through with it, not just because of my lifting plan but also bc i would've been a huge asshole to cancel on my stylist last minute.
the appointment itself went really really well! ngl i did cry when she did the big chop just form the release of it, i felt like she was cutting off all the stress of quarantine and it felt a little overwhelming but also refreshing. the bleaching and coloring took longer than i expected but it turned out exactly how i wanted it to. at the end i asked her to straighten it, bc i'd started off with the wavy hair in the morning and wanted to look as different as possible to not be recognized. i barely recognized myself afterwards so it would have been pretty amazing if someone did at the mall but i absolutely didn't want to take any chances.
i went back home and ate dinner before going to the mall for the last time, i was so energized at that point, i was almost high on the rush of the big transformation as well as already pulling off 2 lifts in a day. I was probably too overconfident that i wouldn't get caught just because i felt so different with my new hair, i literally felt like a completely different person than the one i woke up as so it was super easy to play a new character. I redid my makeup and changed into a maxi dress + denim jacket + sneakers, red press-ons, just trying to go for a different vibe than my previous two that day. on my last trip i got a wallet, a bunch of body lotion/wash/mist, 2 candles, a silk robe, a few blouses, and I did my first-ever shoe AND handbag walkout to finish it all off. I don't think i would've even attempted that before. From what i could tell, no one sussed me at all, i did see a some of the same employees throughout the day but none of them seemed to realize I was the same person. in the weeks following, some of my friends and family even did a double take at how different i looked so overall it was a massive success even though i got a little riskier than i normally would've! wouldn't get so cocky again but no regrets now.
on the drive home from the last trip i just remember feeling so thrilled that i'd actually done it, not only did i finally work up the nerve to do something fun with my hair, i'd also gotten a ton of good stuff and no one was the wiser that they saw me 3 times. maybe that sounds crazy to say but that was the moment when i really decided to start lifting regularly again. i didn't add my total for the day but i would guess it was around 2000-2500.
since then i've changed up my hair more, i got a blonde moneypiece and layers and then i went full platinum blonde and chin length (also bleached my brows). it's kind of addicting to change the cut and color every time instead of one or the other, I finally get what people meant when they said thy change their personality when they change their hair. it's actually helped me getting better into character when I'm in the wigs too.
Some people I haven't seen since before lockdown still fail to recognize me at times, it's kind of funny. i love taking advantage of the opportunity w each hair appointment to lift as two different people before and after w/o having to worry about what if i get caught in a wig or having to go through the trouble to put the wig cap etc. I don't go to the same mall every time, i try to switch it up so they never remember what i look like and I still wear wigs too, I actually got some longer wigs now just to give that contrast in appearance, incl a long brown one that looks like my old hair. idk what i want to do with it next, I'm thinking bangs and dye it darker or a fun color (or maybe go straight for a pixie cut bc it's honestly kind of damaged), then i could wear my short and long wigs and still feel like it's different enough.
but yeah, moral of the story, don't underestimate disguises, they can be a lot of fun and a great tool to have. Getting recognized is the precursor to getting caught so do whatever you can to absolutely not be recognized, especially if you're lifting from stores that build cases. your hair is the feature that makes you the most recognizable esp with a mask on!
i don't think i'd ever attempt 3 lifts in one day from the same mall again but it will definitely go down as my most memorable lifting day ever! and if you're planning to change up your hair a lot soon, you can use it to your advantage, i really wish i did it sooner! The difference between how i was treated with my long natural hair before vs. now with a really sleek and polished style is night and day. not just by ppl in stores but acquaintances, ppl at work, etc. I look more mature and get taken more seriously. i dont think i'll ever go back to long natural hair, just because of how i get treated so much better now.
unfortunately people are going to make judgements on us based on appearance and the best way we can fight back is to use it to our advantage.
everyone naturally has their own gait and it can be very recognizable. make sure you're switching it up when you're in disguise so that you're harder to identify.
the easiest way to do this is by changing your posture. observe where you normally like to keep your shoulders - do you hunch forward a bit, or do you put your shoulders back? now do the opposite and take a few steps. it will change your rhythm. you can also get a posture garment to try to force yourself into different postures but it's not really necessary if you just practice a bit.
another thing to pay attention to are your strides - do you put your heel down before your toe? or do you shuffle/drag your feet a bit so that your whole sole is hitting the ground at the same time. do you take long slow strides or short fast ones? changing shoes may automatically change your stride but again, it's not necessary to use anything special to change it up
last main things are your knees and hips - what movement do you naturally fall into at these joints? how can you change that? personally i am a bit stiff in the knee but I move my hips more (kind of walk like I'm wearing heels even if I'm not lol), so i've practiced ways to avoid this when I'm l_fting in disguise
when i'm trying to perfect a new walk, i like to film myself, first walking regularly, then doing the disguise walk. once you think you've got it, ignore the recording for a couple days then look at it again and you may see more areas for improvement.
I have never used actual lifting tools before! I dont own any but this doesnt stop me so if you are a baby lifter, unable to afford tools, someone who doesnt want to risk being caught with actual tools etc.. heres some of my favourites.
Two Forks
Two metal forks can be used to remove tags from clothing. Not my favourite method, its lengthy and honestly takes a bit of strength to do. Useful for clothing tags with a pin.
Elastic Bands, hairties, shoelaces
Who doesnt have any of these on them? Completely normal. These can be used to remove tags on clothing with a pin.
Nail Clippers
Keep a little pair in your makeup bag! Can be used to cut throw certain lanyard tags (ones you know wont play sounds) and can also be used a seam ripper for sewn in rfids.
Jewlery Wire Cutters
Smaller than normal wire cutters but also looks a bit odd. Might want to toss in some loose beads and what not to really sell the act. Can be used to open clothing tags with a pin, lanyard tags, and as a seam ripper for sewn in rfid tags.
This is the most basic method. Discreetly conceal the objects in your pockets. The bigger the pocket the better. Try not to do this with loose pockets because the items can slip away and reveal you on the spot.
Sleeving
Very similar to pocketing. Just push your targeted items down (or up) your sleeve. This can only be done with smaller items. Sleeving is a bit trickier than pocketing because you always have to concentrate on the items in your sleeves so you do not turn them vertically and make them fall out. Especially be careful with glass/fragile goods!
Dropping
Simply hold the object above your bag and drop it in when no one is watching. You will want to use a bag, a tote, or a purse beause backpacks generally cause more suspicion.
The phone check
If you feel a bit nervous about just pocketing/dropping an item, put your phone in the place you are about to conceal it in and switch them inside. Pretend you were looking at the time or texting someone.
The fitting room
These are a lífter’s heaven. You can just rearrange/conceal your lifted goods here since you have absolute privacy (unless the fitting rooms are supervised or there are a lot of SAs near by which means you have to stay as quiet as possible). Sometimes the SAs will count the items you bring in (and out) but there are methods like floor concealment or double hanging to trick them. If you are going to be removing tags do not leave them in the rooms or on the items you are going to return to the SAs! Dispose of them somewhere else in the store (preferably hide them on other items).
The cup
Take an empty soda cup (the kind you would get in a fast food restaurant), cut an x at the bottom of it, and simply slide in smaller objects inside. You can also do this with a full cup if the drink will not damage the items. Just slip them from above and make sure you do not cause any spillage or that you do not drink too much (that can reveal the items).
Armpitting
Grab an item and quickly conceal it under your armpit. Only do this with a bulky jacket or a small enough product that will not be noticeable (but still cover yourself) . I lífted everything from socks to notebooks like this. Please keep in mind that it is very risky going to the registers with something under your armpit. Only use this method if you do not intend on paying for anything at all.
Walking away
Walking away is not really about concealment… quite the opposite I would say. This method advises you to simply walk out of the store with the items as if you already own them. If somebody apprehends you just say you forgot to pay or that you changed your mind and do not want them after all (but forgot to return them). I do not reccomend this method since it is highly unreliable and if somebody sees you walking away with an unpaíd item once they will probably confront you the next time you are around!
Waistband concealment
Wear stretchy or tight fitting clothes (things may get uncomfortable with these) and conceal the items between your waistband and your underwear (make sure you have a t-shirt or something else to cover them). You can also do this with fishnets or by wrapping some elastic tape around your waist, stomach, or any body part, really.
Capping
Discreetly conceal items under your headwear. Beanies are the most reliable, though other hats will do.
Down the bra
As a guy I do not really know exactly how uncomfortable this is but my friends regularly hide stuff in their bras, even when not shôplifting. Some place a whole pack of cigârettes in there. Just be discreet while doing this inside a store.
The baby cart
Conceal the items inside a baby cart. People generally have more symapthy for customers with strollers or children around.
Footwear concealment
Conceal items in your long boots, long sneaker, long socks etc.
Remember to always be as unconspicuous as you can and to conceal on the move whenever possible (movement makes it harder for the cameras) !
