PLEASE READ THIS POST IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME COMING ACROSS IT!
PLEASE check out dr@gônfrÝ¥t.a¥ , i saw a sticker at a mall in the town over from mine and says they use this, clients including AM3R1C@N 3AGL3, LULU, C@N@DI@N T|R3, AND MORE. Al LP technology is ALREADY HERE in YOUR TOWN.
it says it can predict behavior before you even do anything, and the nature of it means it automatically becomes smarter the longer it runs. this CAN and WILL be your downfall - you need to make sure your sleight of hand is perfect, your area, your posture, your expression, your movement, EVERYTHING.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
check YOUR local stores for any signs of Al being implemented; all i saw was a very obvious sticker on the window by the door advertising dr@g0nfrÝ¥â . YMMV.
re-assess your lifting habits - now more than ever, it is dangerous and feasible to get caught even with great technique. you don't need to lift out of necessity... but please be aware of your habits. are you doing this to self soothe? to avoid an emotion? this can become a real addiction, and you deserve forms of self care that don't threaten yourself. it can feel like fun and games, but this really is serious.
re-assess yourself - i hate to say it, but we know Al will have bias, and this affects some of us more than others, including POC and the disabled. if you are autistic or otherwise neurodivergent especially, your gait, posture and general movement could potentially flag the Al to watch you more. (anyone else remember the post about how LP watch for elbows on the shopping cart...?)
harm reduction - zero judgement if you continue, either for fun or for necessity; my heart seriously bleeds for those of you that rely on this to live. but you need to brush up on skills, REMEMBER YOUR RIGHTS, and try to not take things you know you don't need.
alternatives - obviously 𧏠is unaffected and it's business as usual, consider swapping methods either partially or entirely. for perishables, there's no harm in seeing if your local food pantry can take extra people (is it only near me where you have to sign up for it...!?)
i love each and every one of you and if companies weren't so fucking evil this would be a cool technology... but god we all know how shit the economy is. to tally a total and it's so much higher than it should be. many of us only have a taste of a form of proxy financial freedom though this and that can be invigorating, but if it's overconsumption, it isn't sustainable. i know that was a bunch of buzzwords back to back but it's true
companies also advertise fisheye cameras as "no blind spots" cameras but that's a lie â you can literally create a blind spot by turning your back to them. ad speak â truth. AI companies WANT to sell shit to stores for a $$$$ price tag !! They are going to market the shit out of their products by telling them it's groundbreaking!!!
how bad AI works. 6 fingers? ChatGPT telling you whatever?
what does this track? they give examples of "bending" before a shelf (to conceal), turning your back to the camera, circling a display. non-lyfŧing shoppers do these things all the time. none of this is illegal
they claim they do not have many false alarms, but if it flags "leaving without paying after lengthy browsing" and "placing items in bags" how could it not? again, shoppers do these things all the time. they don't find the thing they're looking for, they put their phone in their bag/pockets, check if they have their wallet... it says it's taught on real shoplifting incidents, so i guess very obvious behavior on-camera (think goofy shoplifting PSA)? so concealing should look as smooth as possible (but you should be doing this anyway! and never on camera)
what it does do: send video clips of your behavior to on-floor staff so that they can review you right then&there, and also the person-detection system allows them to esp. follow YOU from different cameras around the store. this is actually the big thing here imo
in my country an AI tagging me as "suspicious" will not be grounds for anything except getting staff/LP to clock and follow me. And this is basically how you should be operating anyway, that someone is watching you at all times and you need to be as stealthy as possible. so know your rights and know the law
how to not be a shopl!fting đď¸ââď¸ capitalist
(an ethical l!fter guide to intersectionality and privilege)
we do not want to recreate the same systems we want to dismantle
⢠remember that most people who st3al need to do so to survive. not everyone is a white girl on tumblr st3aling for fun. i see so many tips that go like "NEVER st3al if your (insert: anxious/alone/you don't know the store/paranoid/etc.)" which instead should be "here are the ways you can reduce risk if you are (anxious/paranoid/unfamiliar with store layout/paranoid/etc.). "
everytime i see someone on here say "maybe đď¸ââď¸ isn't for you" when someone voices a barrier to đď¸ââď¸ i want to scream.
not. everyone. is. so. lucky. to. have. an. alternative. option.
harm reduction is ALWAYS the way!
⢠basically an expansion of the first point, but acknowledge your privilege. are you white? are you able-bodied? do you have access to resources other people don't (money/food/housing)?
who are you l!fting with? are they a poc? black? Indigenous? disabled? if they get fined/taken to court, do they have less resources than you to help them get through the legal system? do they live in unsafe housing where if they get caught and their family finds out, their safety is at risk? do you understand they will be targeted more than you, and will you use your privilege to help protect them if they get caught? will you say you put that in their bag? are you willing to take the blame? if they aren't physically able to run after getting caught, have you discussed how to both get out safely?
these are examples of what true "allyship" look like. you can't claim to not be racist if you aren't actively and consciously acknowledging and using your privilege to help marginalised peoples.
⢠how do you redistribute your resources?
i personally ask those around me what they need (or even just want). sometimes that looks like groceries/medical supplies from the chemist/clothes for work/or even just mascara! remember that people dont need to be on their last cent in order for you to help them.
if you happen to be surrounded by people who are well off, expand your circle! you see someone on the street experiencing houselessness? ask them if they'd like anything from the store, and go đď¸ââď¸ if for them. ask them for their name, ask how they are going, TREAT THEM LIKE A HUMAN PERSON not a charity case! find mutual aid groups/projects in your area (there will ALWAYS be something) and ask them what they need.
⢠and for fuck sakes, do not sell the shit you đď¸ââď¸. you cannot be an anti-capitalist capitalist. "they get it for cheaper it's a win win / I need money to survive too!" are bs reasons. you cannot dismantle a system by profiting off of other people's labour. you cannot ethically sell things. at the VERY least, introduce a sliding scale that starts at 0.
you cannot make radical change while operating and perpetuating the same system you want to eradicate. you need money to survive? put effort into building a support network, a COMMUNITY around you. build real, supportive, genuine and revolutionary relationships with people. maybe you bring them food sometimes, and maybe they sometimes help you pay your bills, maybe you help them clean and maybe they take you to your doctors appointment.
don't buy the lie that capitalism tries to sell you, that the only way you can survive is by profiting off of people. you can do better than that.
⢠acknowledge when you're participating in consumerism. this is something im currently really struggling with. i feel driven to get more and more and more and it never feels like enough. it's problematic because it does tie in with capitalism. sometimes we don't need to go to the mall, sometimes we need therapy/hang out with a friend/sit with our own heavy emotions!! and that's a tough fucking truth (I feel like a hypocrite rn but ik it's true so whatever i gotta deal with that at some point lol).
finding the balance between the fact that we all deserve nice things and it feels good to have nice things, and the need to have as many things as possible because of whatever internal beliefs we have (like the more things we have = the more we are worth as a person). also hoarding. i feel like hoarding is so prevalent in the đď¸ââď¸ing community because it's so much easier to when you can constantly get new stuff. try to let stuff go! try to use things till they finish! remember how nice it feels to give things to friends/people who also like nice things!
i always try to get a gift for a friend whenever i do a haul. it feels NICE đ
⢠are you on stolen land? ACKNOWLEDGE IT. you are stealing on stolen land, you are living on stolen land, do something about it. ask the Indigenous peoples of the land what they need, donate to Indigenous mutual aid posts, protest for them. you cannot be anti-capitalist if you are not pro land back.
⢠be true, but easy on yourself. you will make mistakes. you will hurt people. you are human and it's how you navigate yourself afterwards, take accountability and change your behaviour that matters. we are all capable of the change we want to see in the world.
⢠đď¸ââď¸ing is not the only way to acquire resources out of the system! dumpster diving is very real and i have much information and resources on that if people would like? but that's a whole thing in itself.
please think about some of these things đ i believe there is a world for us where we don't live under the current oppressive systems at place, and i believe that collectively all the decisions we make play a big role in that happening. we are powerful together. go bake something for your neighbour, send your friend a sick basket, smile at strangers and ask people for help when you need it. you got this â¤ď¸
please tell us the story about you jumping from the mall balcony, PLEASE
I was literally going to do ANYTHING to not get arrested. They followed me out from a mall store once and I was like FUCK NO because I was on the 2nd floor which means itâs only like 10 feet and I fuckin dived and ran to the exit
I work at a B&Ĺ and tonight I saw this in receiving! This basically explains the standards for placing RFID tags in books. As you can see, itâs only certain books that will be tagged, but itâs always good to check!
Also, be aware of the 20% off, 30% off stickers on the front of the books. In my location, these are almost always RFID stickers so remove everything you see! It wonât hurt to take off anything that could possibly make you beep at the door.
These are all of my l1fting/b0rr0wing tips. Iâm making this for me to come back to, and for some friends.
GENERAL TIPS:
- IF YOU SEE A âSHOPL1FTERS WILL BE PROSECUTED SIGNâ, OTHER TYPES OF SECURITY IN THE STORE WILL BE LESS STRICT. For the same reason that stores try to get you to dump instead of arresting you or calling the cops, itâs way cheaper and easier for them to focus on preventative measures instead of proactive ones. Signs like these arenât usually present in higher end stores, because 1. It gives the real customers a bad impression, and 2. Those stores can afford actual LP and monitored cameras.
- IF YOU SEE SOMEONE ELSE CONCEAL, GET OUT. Iâve seen so many LP staff talk about using this tactic to ease suspects into stealing and getting caught. Just finish checking out (if youâre buying) or walk out.
- IF YOU LIFT IN FRONT OF OTHERS, MAKE SURE THEY WONT SNITCH. Just point out someone else, go âi think they just put something in their bagâ and see what they say. If they want to snitch on a random stranger who didnât even steal, theyâll snitch on you too.
- WEAR A SKIRT. Obviously men canât do this because LP are weirdos, but wearing a skirt gives you the opportunity to hold things between your legs and just walk out of the store. No bags required.
- DO NOT LIFT ON MAJOR HOLIDAYS. A crowded store may be nice for taking attention away from you, but stores will bring in more LP on the days leading up to Christmas/Easter/Valentineâs day because these are high shrink times. If you really want to l1ft in a busy store, go on weekends or the afternoon.
- CONCEAL L1FT1NG TOOLS ON YOUR PERSON. If you use a hook or magnets, conceal them on your body so if your bags are searched the police donât have proof of intent.
- DONâT RUN IF THEY CATCH YOU. Unless the items you took are over 100-300 dollars and you concealed in a dressing room/left behind no proof/know that they donât have any evidence to stop you, running will increase your sentence if they snap a picture of your licence plate and call the police. Most LP just want the merchandise back and will let you off with a trespass warning.
- GET OVER DISGUST ABOUT HIDING THINGS IN YOUR BRA. Seriously, any l1fter who has boobs should be using their bra to conceal. Wear a loose shirt and if anyone calls you out for lumps, just tear up a little and say thatâs just how youâre shaped. Iâve done this and it embarrasses people so much they usually just walk away.
- DO NOT IMMEDIATELY CONCEAL. For LP to stop you going out the door, they need to 1. See you take the item, 2. See you conceal, 3. See you walk past all points of sale. Waiting to conceal can give you a bumper for security to move onto other targets if theyâre watching you.
- STOP DOING HUGE HAULS!!! Taking over $300 in a single haul from a single store will put LP on the lookout and make it more likely for someone else to be caught. For nonessentials just try to be conservative in what you borrow.
- NEVER LOOK AROUND BEFORE YOU CONCEAL. This makes LP watch you, and they can use this as proof of intent. Basically this completely destroys the defence of âI didnât realize i put it in my bagâ if you get caught, and can increase your sentence if police get called.
- DONâT SH0PL1FT IMMEDIATELY. If LP is watching you, they will likely continue to until a reasonable amount of time has passed or if someone more suspicious enters the store.
- HAVE A FRIEND ACT SUSPICIOUS. This only works if you go in separately, you enter first and your friend enters secondly. Have them wear baggy clothes, constantly look around, not make eye contact with staff, pick up high value items, etc. this draws LP (and likely staffed cameras) away from you.
- GO WITH SOMEONE ELSE. (preferably 1-2 others) this works best if youâre white and over the age of 20.
- DO NOT GO WITH SOMEONE ELSE. Teens are known for shoplifting in groups. If youâre not white, being in groups WILL make LP target you because of the appearance of an OCR (most of them are pos racists).
- BE NICE TO THE EMPLOYEES! Just be nice guys. Theyâre not paid well enough to risk their legs, and if youâre nice theyâre less likely to keep you in the store for LP.
- SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING YOU. Target with cameras hidden in their shelves, LP, employees, snitches, someone is always watching your every move. Just assume that everyone will see you and it will make you careful, and reconsider risky items.
- DONâT LOITER! A lot of stores are rolling out âAIâ theft prevention, and the system will flag you if you stay in one spot for too long. (or even reach for a bag.)
- PUT TAGS ONTO THE OTHER ITEMS YOU TOOK TO THE CHANGING ROOM. Store employees double tag items all the time, and itâs way less suspicious than a tag taped to the underside of the changing room chair.
- TAKE THE HANGERS WITH YOU. Taking them off and leaving them in the changing rooms is a dead giveaway that youâve taken something, and itâs far easier for store attendants to pin it on you.
- THEYâRE BUILDING A CASE ON YOU. Big box stores DO NOT PLAY. Just assume that theyâre trying to get you on a felony charge and waiting until youâve stolen enough.
- HAVE A PURSE WITH A GOOD LINING? Cut a small hole in the side, tuck small items/tags into it, and if you set off the alarms security wonât know why because everythingâs hidden between the lining and shell of the purse.
- SCOUT OUT THE STORE BEFOREHAND. This obviously wonât work if youâre going out of town to l1ft, but it can help in so many ways. Not having to look up at cameras is so so so handy.
- DONâT IMMEDIATELY PUT THINGS INTO YOUR BAG. Just donât do this, it alerts LP and the loss prevention AI shit.
- LOOK FOR TOWERS. These are the things that beep, and they can be hidden very well (underneath carpets, on the doorframe, etc)
- IF THE TOWERS BEEP, KEEP WALKING. Just pretend you didnât hear anything, and if store LP are watching you, it gives you a little bit of time to walk away as most stores wonât chase. Innocent people beep all the time too, for phones and forgotten tags and whatever.
Slight of hand/Blind Spots:
- SCARVES! I love scarves. Scarves scarves scarves. Since I live in a colder place itâs all cool to âadjustâ the scarf and tuck items into it.
- GLOVES/TIGHT SLEEVES. Iâm talking about the ones with holes cut out for your thumbs, that cover half of your palm. Super easy to tuck small things in while youâre messing around with the displays.
- CONCEAL IN A DRINK CUP! If youâre going to a mall, buy a drink from a chain fast food place that has a store in the mall. Drink it, wash it out, and cut an X shape into the bottom of the cup. This lets you tuck small things like makeup and jewelry into the cup without opening the lid, ever.
- BLIND SPOTS ARE ONLY BLIND FOR A BIT. Keep moving. Assume LP are watching you.
- IF YOU NEED A BLIND SPOT KNOCK SOMETHING OFF THE SHELVES. When you bend down to pick it up, use the space between your body and the floor as a blind spot.
- BLIND SPOTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN AISLES WITH LOW SHRINK. Things that arenât stolen often, yarn/utensils/cheap shit thatâs bulky. Avoid concealing in aisles with high shrink rates, makeup/batteries/razors/electronics.
- SPECIFIC AISLES ARE LOW RISK. What I mean by this is that aisles like greeting cards, chips, yarn, etc like the ones listed above, are unlikely to have cameras. If you havenât had a chance to scope out the store/youâre travelling, try to conceal in these aisles.
Clothes:
- NO BAGGY CLOTHES OR HUGE BAGS. itâs suspicious. Bring a purse if you have to, preferable use shopping bags from other stores, and wear clothing appropriate for the weather. Tighter clothing is less suspicious.
- NAME BRANDS. Name brands make you look like someone who has money or wants to look like they have money. LP, and the average snitch, are less suspicious.
- DO NOT CARRY YOUR COAT OVER YOUR ARM UNLESS YOU HAVE TO. LP are aware of this tactic and will watch you for it.
- AVOID BAGS. If youâre going out to get makeup/small items that you can body conceal, donât bring a purse. LP and store clerks are told to watch anyone carrying their own bags, so if you can body conceal ditch the bag.
- WEAR LOOSE PANTS/FLOOR LENGTH SKIRT AND LONG SOCKS. Long, tight, stretchy socks. Itâs so easy to squat down, tie the shoelace that you untied before you entered the store, and tuck the merchandise into the socks. Or just pretend to look at the shelves closer to the floor. Walk out with the merchandise safely secured and hidden. Iâve done this with things as big as cds, just use a good pair of socks.
- WEAR LOOSE SLEEVES AND ARM WARMERS. Same premise as above, but remember to only use this one or the other, never both at once unless itâs very weather appropriate (cold if youâre using sweatshirt/pants, warm if youâre wearing linen/flowy fabric).
- LEARN TO SOW! You donât need neat stitches or even a machine, but knowing how to sow lets you repair instead of throwing away (and hidden pockets, magic bags, and so many other handmade l1fting equipment is available)
- HIDDEN POCKETS. Thereâs many different ways to do this, but the main idea stays the same. Put some in your clothes, in your bags, in literally everything.
don't be fooled by the aesthetic of small businesses
lyfting from small businesses is pretty damn unethical, and companies are aware of this, so they will try to make their environment SEEM like a family owned independent anti-corporate space, but that's just bullshit.
by extension this applies to shops like hot topic - punk rock is thrifting and dni, hot topic coopts that aesthetic but it is a corporation. hot topic is not punk rock.
now to the actual meat here - stores like East Meets West are a great example of this. you'll find them in a mall looking like an independent lovely little pagan shop but they are a chain.
they purposely decorate the place with hippie tapestries and pagan stuff but they are a corporation nonetheless. BUYING your religious items from a soulless corporation is soulless in and of itself. it's okay to lyft from these kinds of stores.
how to tell if it's really an indie shop or not? look up locations for it, if there's more than just one, even if it's just a couple in the same state, it's a chain. try and find where they get their inventory, check if they have a website, look for any parent companies on the site, check if they have their own domain rather then selling off of ebay or sm.
if it's a corporate product, you can borrow. if it's actually an independent business, don't. the aesthetic if the product means nothing.
for every hanger clothing you want to take, bring a tshirt that is folded to take the place of the hanger. This way you arenât leaving the dressing room with 4 empty hangers in it.Â
Guys!!! Idk if this is already common knowledge on here, but Im just discovering this and really want to share. So Iâve been scowering liftblr for tips on specific stores, but have come up empty handed on a lot of my regional stores that arenât everywhere. And I needed to know the LP situation but donât know anyone that currently works there. So! I went on their websites and looked at their job listings for loss prevention and every one so far has listed DETAILED AF duties. Now I know exactly if cameras are actively monitored, if they have plainclothes LP, if they call police, what shifts they are shorthanded on , and when multiple locations share LP. MUAHAHAHAHAHAH
when i was lĂŻftÄŻng a ton i found myself getting really materialistic and borderline wasteful. like, i would always think, why use what i have when i could get more for free? i don't need this, but since i get can it so easily, why not? etc etc etc. i ended up with a lot of stuff i didn't really want or use. that's no good because it clutters ur space and it's just wasteful!
that being said, if you are a compulsive lįftèr (like me!!) or just have a tendency to lįft things you later realize you don't want/need, here are some tips to lįft while also making ur community better:
1. donate donate donate!! books can go to libraries, schools (if appropriate), book exchanges, etc. clothes and household items can go to thrift stores, charity stores, and the like. i'm not sure if this works for makeup and personal care products though since a lot of donation places don't accept those, but maybe if they're sealed?
2. on the same idea as the first tip, when you have the urge to go lįftïng but don't need anything, it can be fun to lįft specific items with the intention of donating them. this especially helps if ur a compulsive lįftèr or klèptø. basically just have an idea of what ur community needs: is there any clothing drives going on? canned food drives? toy drives for kids during holidays? for example, my town has a gloves/hats/scarves drive for people who can't afford to keep warm during winter. last year i stølè a bunch of gloves and hats and stuff to donate. it felt really great because i got to lįft and it was for a good cause, it's a win win. also shoutout to that video of the ppl who stølè loaves of bread and jars of jam and packaged snacks and handed out meals to the homeless (literally goals).
3. if you have the means, use some of the spare spending money you racked up by lÄŻftĂŻng to buy things at local small businesses or thrift/charity shops. this of course applies more to people who lÄŻft as a hobby or because of compulsions, not out of necessity. basically just use what resources you have on your community, not corporations
4. gifts! this is a really obvious one that goes for anything, not just lįftèd stuff. gift your loved ones things you think they'd use more than you do. capitalism has made us believe that gifts must be brand new bought things but honestly that's just dumb and wasteful, gift people things you have around if you think they'd want them, gift people things you've loved so they can love them too, it's really quite cute once you think about it. and of course, gifts need no occasion.
5. think before you ĹÄŻft. easier said than done but at least try!! consider: do i have something similar to this already, or something that serves the same purpose? will i actually use this item or be happy i have it? is there any way i can make or repurpose something instead of getting something new? lÄŻftèrs should practice minimalism and mindful consumption too! just because you're not giving corporations money, doesn't mean you aren't using resources by lÄŻftĂŻng in excess.
And above all, LÄŽFT FROM CHAIN STORES AND CORPORATIONS. PERIOD. This is like the lifters' golden rule. LÄŻftĂŻng is partly about getting free stuff, but mostly about going against corporate capitalism and the fucked up governments/economies fueled by corporate greed. If you lÄŻft from local and small businesses you are directly hurting people who are just trying to make a living---karma will come for you, and Karma Does Not Play Nice.
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