Mankind is Basically Good?

We live in a litigious society. Someone always seems to be suing companies, even if they are the ones in the wrong. I am shocked at how many times loss prevention officers must let thieves walk out the door because there was no actual eye witness to the moment the merchandise was taken. It doesn't matter that three or four officers watched for an hour, saw every movement except the actual theft. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth every time.

And now we are in February, the month of Presidents' Day Sales, Valentine's Day Sales and prices are dirt cheap because the stores want the inventory out before March 1st Inventory. Does this motivate people to actually pay for what they buy? Of course not!

Sometimes this job stinks. It's so easy to slip into cynicism and negativity, but I cannot let that happen. Human beings are not all good. My Bible tells me that the heart - the mind, will, and emotions - of man is deceitfully wicked. I know that's not a popular philosophy these days, but it doesn't make it any less true.

If you believe mankind is basically good, work my job for a week. Then we'll talk.

2010 Spy Sally

read more "Mankind is Basically Good?"

Christmas and the Five Finger Discount

I have missed being able to post for this long. My mom was very sick and every spare minute was spent helping her get back to health. Thank God, she is on the road to recovery!

So what have I been up to? Watching the worst of human nature. Blame it on the economy, or the fact that this is the Christmas Season, but I blame it on society's "what's in it for me" mentality. So many are feeling entitled these days, and it does not seem to matter if they have money or not. The old five-finger-discount seems to be a popular choice in every store! Don't these people know that millions of dollars are spent on advanced surveillance in these store? Apparently not.

And am I going to divulge these methods? Of course not. But suffice it to say that many of these methods do not even require human involvement. So how people think they will get by with it is beyond me!

It makes me sad that during the season we celebrate our Savior's birth, the thievery and embezzlement increases (even by the employees) and shows no respect for the Reason for The Season. But then, human nature is why He chose to give up His Glory, and come to earth to die as payment for their sins.

Have a blessed Holy Season!

read more "Christmas and the Five Finger Discount"

Grandmas Gone Wild

It's been a while since I posted. Life has its twists and turns, and we just go with them. I have taken a break from surveillance, and am doing loss prevention. Sure is a different game!

My most memorable day was in an upper-crust store where I spied a very old woman in tennis shoes, armed with her black trash bag at the cosmetic counter. I couldn't believe my eyes as she helped herself to dozens of bottles of well-known fragrance for men. Quick as lightening, she stuffed that trash bag and took a run for the front door where there was a car and driver waiting. It happened so fast our team did not catch her. This woman had to be 80 years old, and yet she ran like Bruce Jenner!

This incident provoked questions for me. What has happened to our grandmas? I cannot imagine my own Christian grandmother ever stealing a stick of gum, much less $800 worth of men's fragrances. Grandmas have gone wild! They have tossed their values out the window and taken their place with hard core criminals. And I'm quite sure that car drove to yet another store straight from where I was standing with my mouth hanging open.

This time, I spied to no avail. What a downer.

read more "Grandmas Gone Wild"

Beginner's Buzz and the Six Hour Interview

Ever heard of 'beginner's buzz'? Someone asked me if I remembered my first 'gig' as a P.I. the other day. Boy, do I ever because I was loaded with 'beginner's buzz' to the max!

Lionel (not his real name) 'interviewed' me by having me go on a surveillance in my own car and him in his car. I was sooo nervous. What if I followed too closely, or wasn't covert enough? What if I accidentally lost the claimant? There would be no hiding from THAT!

Seems rather odd that in this field, an interview is an actual surveillance, at least it did to my mom. But Lionel wanted to see how I reacted in 'real time'. After the six-hour interview, we did end up losing the claimant due to rush hour traffic in the city. You can't do these 'interviews' without a cell phone, and you'd better have a cell plan with lots of minutes!

Once in Subway, he showed me how to fill out the report - a long and tedious part of the job. And I went home one tired puppy, but employed! Being frustrated just zaps the body of strength, you know.

I hope I never have to feel so nervous-but-jazzed again for a long time. I call it 'beginner's buzz'.

2009 Spy Sally

read more "Beginner's Buzz and the Six Hour Interview"

Evicted From McDonalds! - Really!

His house was right across the street of the McDonalds parking lot. Good for me! People coming and going all day provided a good cover. Who would ever pick out my particular vehicle?

After several hours of surveillance, he finally left his house. Naturally, I followed him to various locations. Then he must have been hungry because he chose the very McDonald's - you remember, right across the street from his house - where I had been parked. He went through the drive-thru so I had to park in the parking area.

When he got his order, he left for home. I stayed put and began typing my report. I was in deep concentration when the bang on my window scared me half-witless. Lo and behold, it was an officer who informed me I was to leave McDonalds and never return. Evidently, McDonalds had recently been robbed so the manager, suspicious of me because I had left and then returned, called the cops.

Now if there's anywhere on earth I would have guessed would evict and ban me, it sure wouldn't be friendly old Mac's. Aren't they the ones that want my business? Don't they spend billion$ in advertising just to get my business? Hey, you have to park where you can in this business.

The claimant never suspected he was being followed. So it wasn't that hard to park on his street and resume surveillance. But to tell you the truth, my feelings were a bit damaged knowing I had been evicted from McDonalds!

2009 Spy Sally

read more "Evicted From McDonalds! - Really!"