āØ10+ years and iāve never been caught - TIPSāØ
okay, not saying these tips are foolproof but i really think that they are what has helped keep me from being caught even though iāve been lifting on and off for quite a while. theyāre nothing new but IMO these are the most useful things to keep in mind, especially if youāre wanting to start doing it more seriously for boosting, holiday season, etc.Ā
disguises are your best friend. once youāve perfected your disguises, there are so many more opportunities such asĀ
visit multiple times close togetherĀ
scope out the store on multiple days to see what the vibe is like when itās busy/slow, check for cams, etc without them recognizing you!Ā
shake off LP if you think youāve been sussedĀ
i know there are several posts going around with disguise tips so i wonāt bother typing mine out but lmk if you want advice on this
donāt wear perfume/cologne; it can draw more suspicion. LP is looking for you; they walk by you in disguise but recognize your perfume, do a double-take and realize youāre wearing a wig, took off your glasses, etc.Ā
lifting with others can be a double-edged sword. i prefer to go solo, or have one consistent partner, becauseā¦.
LIFTING IN A GROUP IS EXTREMELY RISKY!Ā if youāre all caught, the charges can be much more serious since they may frame it as a ācrime ringā, but if you do decide you want to do it:Ā
pretend not to know each other until you are safely away from the store. donāt come in the same cars, donāt park near each other, donāt all go to each store all at once.Ā
donāt even ride the same public transport together since most buses/trains have cameras (at least where i live) and if they suspect you at all, the police can pull the bus footage easily.Ā
a couple people can act as decoys by being extremely sus (staring directly into camera, shifty glances, double-hanging items, etc) while the most skilled lifter of the group is the one actually doing the work.
ALSO, lifting with someone who youāve never lifted with before can be a disaster. obviously every pair has to pull off their first lift, but itās so important to practice your concealing techniques with your partner firsthand so that you know what works for both of your skills. my best friend also lifts but we just donāt work well with each other and the risk isnāt worth it when weāre both proficient lifters on our own.
i avoid using tools that arenāt everyday objects.Ā
iāve never used magnets bc of magnet detectors, potentially sticking to clothing racks, and severely increased consequences if i were to be caught.Ā
i use a hook occasionally because itās easy to conceal on-body, but if possible i just leave it in the car.Ā
try to get comfortable in crowds. if youāre lifting in a crowded store there isĀ a higher ratio of shoppers to LP = more people that 1-2 LP are having to try to watch at any given time. i know for some people anxiety or other issues mean that this isnāt possible, but if you think you can overcome it, crowds can be another great tool.Ā
that being said, other shoppers will fucking snitch on you in a heartbeat, so you need to stay on your toes.Ā
shoppers are not there to look at other shoppers; theyāre there to look at the products.Ā
donāt smile at other shoppers, donāt pick up the same item as them at the same time, donāt use crouching methods when theyāre nearby since you canāt tell if theyāre looking over your shoulder without seeming sus.Ā
if another shopper accuses you of stealing or you think youāve been sussed by them, GET THE FUCK OUT. itās just as serious as if LP has sussed you.
some stores will take the side of the customer over the SA since the SA is a representative of the company and they want to cover their ass, but if another customer goes to the counter and says,Ā āthat woman there is shopliftingā theyāre more likely to follow through, start trailing you, etc. just leave.Ā
even if you donāt want to risk lifting in a crowd, spend time people watchingĀ when youāre not lifting. this can help you gain a sense overall of when people are looking at you or how to predict their next movements etc. this is something that i do as part of my regular job so i think that experience has really helped me.Ā
if you have to ditch, ditch off camera. even if they canāt stop you after youāve ditched, they can look out for you when you come back and they may catch you on your next trip.
thatās it for now! i might do a part 2 if enough people find this post helpful :-)
