(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 🏋️♀️ isn't for you" when someone voices a barrier to 🏋️♀️ 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 🏋️♀️ 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 🏋️♀️. 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 🏋️♀️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 💗
• 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.
• 🏋️♀️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 💗 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 ❤️
I borrowed like 6 tops and 2 shorts from the mall and I know I could do more. just have to go in with a bigger tote purse bcus my coach one doesn't fit too much 💔💔 haven't hit sephora in 2 months too I would usually body concealing but since its hotter now ill have to be discrete and put them in my bag/cup
It felt incredibly good to go by my grandma’s house today before hauling and giving her a fancy make up bag filled with designer skin care and make up and bags of food.
My grandma used to save up to get Walmart moisturizer and now she’s using her brand of choice . She fucking loved it. Giving her nice name brand eyeshadow palletes and her Elizabeth arden and Clinique. If I could just lift perfume then she’d be set. And giving her pureology for her hair so she doesn’t have to use suave. Or fucking dish soap since they cut her social security again. And I caught her using dawn dish soap last month and cried and said never again. Never ever afuckingain. And she now has everything she’s ever drooled over from s@llys &ult@. She could open her own damn salon. And she’s started doing her hair again. I’m not going to go into personal details but my grandma has suffered 3 horrible deaths all in the last year and lives alone now.
So no, I don’t fucking feel bad for what I do. I don’t fucking care what you think. She’s at the end of her life and deserves the best stuff out there. And watching her excitedly change out of her dollar general sleep pants into Ugg pj’s was amazing. So fuck your hateful messages. Fuck your judgements. We don’t do this for fun. We understand the risks. And it’s scary af. But I was so proud to have my grandma call me and say she felt good enough to leave the house today with her new outfit on and her smashbox makeup and Tarte eyeshadow pallete. I’m happy that she made a nutritious lunch and got to eat legit oreos instead of store brand. So take your hate else where. I don’t have fuckin time for it. I understand money doesn’t buy happiness….which is why I fucking lift it instead. You think we’re all dumb teenagers who lift fancy make up etc for fun. Well fuck that. My blog is small and this will be the last time I address this issue because I want to spread love&tips to my gals&gents who have to lift. Most of us do it because we HAVE to. And the ones who do it just because, well that’s their business and I’m glad they found a way to get happiness. Even if it’s only temporary and fleeting. Sorry for the long post but seriously, I love you all. Stay safe.
aw this made me happy, im glad you lift for your grandma and that she’s happy w all the stuff you get her, it’s not fair that the wealthy only get to get the nicer things, i think everybody should be able to get and use whatever they want, and fuck the haters bc all they do is spread hate 💖
DISCLAIMER: This is a post I created for my own personal use that I'm now sharing to help others. This means that you may recognize some of this information from other posts (or your own!), because I like to compile and rephrase any information I find helpful. I don't list sources for everyone's safety, but that is in no way because I want to pass off some of this information as my own. Feel free to comment or message me if you think someone should be credited and I will gladly do so <3 Any additional info is always appreciated!
General Tips & Tricks:
Remember, no ID, no case. Avoid using your credit/debit card whenever possible, as they can ID you this way and case build. You can either pay with cash, load up a V1sa credit card, or don’t pay at all ;)
Park away from camera view in the parking lot. Better yet, park down the street or around the corner and walk to your car so they can’t identify you with your car (this is if you can walk a ways with reusable bags, bc it’s obv harder with a cart)
Act like a normal shopper. Browse, look at prices, and don’t look around at other people.
Avoid looking at the doors if there is beeping, most normal people wouldn’t notice or pay attention.
Always do your research before hitting a store. Scope out the location ahead of time, check out the cameras in the parking lot and in the store, get an idea of how vigilant they are about checking receipts, find out when they’re the busiest, check for LP and security.
On weekdays when it’s slower some stores won’t have security, but will bring them in on the weekends. This is true for stores like Tom Finger and Kroh-ger.
Self Checkout:
Use reusable bags. Place the less expensive items/the ones you plan on actually paying for at the top of the bags. Scan those and “forget” the items at the bottom.
Bring a new looking receipt, or create a fake receipt of the items you’re taking (buy a receipt printer and print your shopping list using the store's template/format for receipts)
Create fake label stickers at home. Take a picture on your phone for barcodes and get a label sticker. Make your code for whatever dollar amount you want (like $1 each).
Scan things quickly and cover the barcode with your hand on “accident” when scanning. This is riskier because sometimes the camera or machine will catch this and stop your checkout process to replay video of you skipping an item (which is so embarrassing lmao).
Get a packet of dressing or gravy (which runs .30 to .50 cents) and hold it under the item you're scanning. This is also a little more on the riskier side just because an employee or cameras can physically see the price of the item scanned versus the item you’re holding.
If you’re satisfied with a nice self-given discount, it’s lower risk to tear the tag off a cheaper item similar to the one you’re getting. For example you can hold the barcode for a cheaper pillow against the actual tag for a more expensive pillow.
A good rule of thumb for self checkout is to act as quickly as possible. Your actions will be much harder to catch if you’re hard to keep up with. Don’t come off as frantic or worried though, just look like you’re busy and have someplace to be.
Place smaller items underneath cheaper bigger items or underneath the cart and “forget” to scan them at self checkout. This creates very realistic plausible deniability. One good example is placing a pack of toilet paper on top of a dozen sheets of pimple patches or face masks. It’s not going to occur to anyone to look underneath such a big item.
Likewise, you can place smaller items into bigger items and buy that one bigger item. For example, buying a large plastic bin or laundry hamper and placing items inside. This is higher risk though, because you will have to conceal the smaller items on the floor. Finding blindspots can be difficult, and hidden cameras are a thing. If you are seen doing this, it will be obvious what you are attempting to do so be sure you are being tactful. This may also draw attention because this is a common and well known thing that people do, even if they are not experienced lifters.
To create more plausible deniability, wear earbuds/headphones and play music. If you're caught you can pretend you didn't hear that the scanner didn't beep on the item.
Pretend you’re shopping for 2 people and need to do 2 different orders. If you're caught trying to leave without paying for something, just say the rest of the items are for someone else. Scan them, take the L, and move on.
Buy bulk. If you have multiples of items, it's easier to make it less obvious you stole something. So if you have 5 bottles of the same soda and only scanned 3, it looks less suspicious than if you only had 1 and it never left your cart.
Body Concealing:
Go to the freezer section, as you are “looking for ice cream” have your bag of choice situated on the side of your body where the door is blocking you; the condensation should block your actions. The items you want to conceal should be in your hand, so then just drop it in. Make sure no one’s on your other side.
Get two meat packs and have them facing each other for easy concealment.
The makeup aisle is highly monitored, for the love of god don’t try to conceal until you’re in another section. Don’t get too much makeup at one time either, try to grab moderate amounts like someone spending their own money would.
Carside Pickup:
Tell them that you have store credit, most will never check and as long as it’s less than like $50 they’ll probably give it to you. It might be more believable if you say “last time I picked up you guys forgot to give me my “xyz”, and I didn’t want to come back to pick it up so you said you’d take the $10.99 (or whatever amount) off this order”.
You most likely will not get ID'd at carside.
Walkouts:
Find a store with a Stardollars inside. Have a drink and have your bag already filled and leave after you’re finished. This works for smaller hauls, don’t attempt with a whole cart, it will be more obvious. To my knowledge, this is a well known method by employees so in some situations this might be higher risk.
Don’t stop if they ask you to. Wave them off (as if you couldn’t be bothered and you find them an inconvenience), pretend not to hear, quickly flash a receipt, etc. If they are not cops, you are not legally obligated to stop.
Be patient and find your window of opportunity. Don’t rush out, wait and see when no one is paying attention to the doors. Your biggest tool will be confidence, if no one notices you because you are not acting out of the ordinary you can get away with a lot.
You can have someone watch your back as you leave. Meaning, they can stay back to see if anyone notices and follow you out after or if it’s a high risk situation, they can block the exit with a shopping cart and tell you to run.
The best approach is to do walkouts when no one will notice. This means going when it’s busiest (the weekends, specifically Sunday afternoon) and at higher income areas where they will not be on high alert. This will not always be possible, so in times it’s not just make sure there is no security to stop you.
Do not double dip too often at the same stores, rotate the stores you hit unless you are going in disguise. The same logic applies with lifting anywhere, dress nice and blend in. Face masks are preferable.
Some stores have shopping carts with wheels that will lock up for one of these two reasons:
1. You attempt to leave without paying (meaning the wheels will lock at the store doors). This is meant to prevent theft known as “pushout” or “walkout” theft.You can get around this by either walking out with a basket or reusable bags instead, or by going through the point of sale areas to deactivate the locking mechanism. Either walk through an empty cashier aisle so it appears you paid, or through self checkout.
2. You attempt to leave the premises. This is meant to prevent shopping carts from being taken off the lot, so unless you’re trying to steal the cart too or you parked far from the store it shouldn’t be an issue.
Personally I like to fill up reusable bags as I make my through the store, and not all at once since that to me looks more sketch. Have some items at your cart until the end then bag the rest before you’re getting ready to leave, but bag a majority of it as you go.
Usually there will be signs throughout the store notifying shoppers of this, or you can tell by looking at the carts’ wheels. There will be two out of the four wheels either on the front or the back that look different from the others, like there is some sort of clunky shield on them.
You can learn more about how this works at:
How Do Anti-Theft Wheel Locks on Shopping Carts Know to Trip at the Edge of the Parking Lot?
Local Fred Meyer stores are rolling out a new device to hopefully keep shoplifters from leaving with merchandise.
RETAILERS like Walmart and Target have used anti-theft shopping carts with rollercoaster-style wheels that are small but stay strong for 35,
***This is a new idea I have not tested yet, but I will edit this portion of the post when I do. Wear a F@/vor or insta-nt-cart shirt/cap and bring the company bags to fill up (you can l find these items online). Routinely check your phone as you shop like you are collecting an order for a customer that already paid online. Walking out will raise less questions when you seem like a mere worker carrying out someone else’s order. That way you can also claim the items have already been paid for online if you are stopped. You could go as far as to have a fake item pulled up on the app or create a fake picture/screenshot.
Best places to go grocery shopping:
Trade Joey's (best for body concealing as there are few, if any, cameras)
Sproots
Worst places to go grocery shopping:
Fuckin’ T@/rget. I’d only attempt low risk methods if there’s something you REALLY want.
W@/m@/rt, unless you’re only occasionally skipping items at self checkout.
Kroh-ger. They’re known to case build.
Stores that have locking carts (this will not apply to every location):
Use multiple methods, it’s good to have experience in what works and doesn’t work for you.
Having other people with you is less suspicious (make sure they’re ok with it though)
Scout out everything; where do the employees go most frequently, what things are in easy packaging, where are the security cameras, etc.
Start small, something you know is in a low security area with low security packaging. Example; pens from Pop-shelf, pins from Hot Topic, etc.
You don’t have to take barcodes off things! Remember to check for sensors though, this is why methods that involve going somewhere without cameras (dressing rooms, bathrooms etc) and taking the packaging off are safest.
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