In light of recent shoplifting at Walmart, the Oxford Police Department has posted pictures to identify suspects on their Facebook page.
Walmart employees are not allowed to stop shoplifters from walking out the door, according to Jim Snyder, a stocking coach who has been at the Oxford location for 11 years. This is a company policy to protect store staff.
“We can ask them to stop, but if they continue to walk out the door, we can’t make them stop,” Snyder said. “Once they hit the sidewalk outside of the store, employees must let them go.”
In his 18 years with the company, Snyder was able to physically stop thieves in the past. Starting two years ago, the most workers can do is ask to see their receipt, he said.
“Most honest people will stop and show you their receipt, ” Snyder said. “Those that are the true thieves, they’ll just act like they didn’t hear you and keep on walking.”
OPD’s weekly media reports over the past four months have included nine incidents of shoplifting from Walmart. Most of the time, the suspect has fled before police arrival; two incidents had an immediate arrest and charge for theft. Since Jan. 1 there have been three total charges of shoplifting.
If the theft amounts to $1,000 or less, it is considered a first-degree misdemeanor. Walmart has a loss prevention program that puts together a case against a suspect and informs the OPD.
In these cases, the Walmart loss prevention team frequently looks at camera footage for tag numbers on cars. According to Police Chief John Jones, officers and Walmart employees sometimes know who the individual is by the picture. If it’s not one of the town’s “frequent flyers,” the OPD resorts to posting their image on social media.
Jones said that social media “kind of helps humanize police, and it also helps us solve these crimes.” He says that posting pictures online has resulted in three tips which have led to suspects.
Nationwide, Walmart has a common issue with shoplifting, according to a representative reached by phone at Walmart’s headquarters.
When someone is caught shoplifting from the store, they are banned from re-entering for one year. Then they can apply to re-enter the store, she said.
