Spending decades in the retail industry offered many opportunities to learn, experience and teach retailers how to prevent crime and deception in business and in stores.

Jack Dennis, a former private investigator (Texas Protective Assignments), retail executive (HEB Food-Drugs) and president of a major retail store management organization (now CONNEX) taught classes and gave presentations throughout the United States on crime prevention.

Here are proven tips on how to catch shoplifters:

Look For Atypical Customers

The first red flag is someone entering the store who is not your typical or regular customer. If you own or run a women’s clothing store, for instance, the typical customer might be a middle-aged, professional female looking to level-up her career wardrobe. If a group of four to five teenagers came in, this would not be your typical customer. That’s the red flag.

Look for the Big Bags

Another red flag is anyone carrying a big bag, whether it’s a backpack or a large purse or a reusable grocery bag.

Typically, shoplifters want to shovel in as much merchandise as they can. It doesn’t matter if it’s a larger or small item or even how many. I have caught a grandma with her small grandchilden stuffing hams, not only in a large bag, but also in her pantyhose under her dress.

Most of the time, there is absolutely no finesse at all. Most shoplifters literally shove in as much as they can. Not all walk around browsing, but often, it is a very fast process. They get in and out very quickly.

Look for Groups

Another alarming indicator involves the presence of groups. Shoplifters often operate in pairs or teams, with one designated as the lifter and the others serving as distractors.

Typically, one individual will divert the attention of the manager or staff by posing inquiries about specific sizes, directions, or other time-consuming matters, while the lifter discreetly engages in the act of theft. Once the lifter has completed the act, both individuals swiftly exit the premises.

This was particularly the issue of an organized group stealing baby formula in Texas grocery stores. When we solved the case we tracked 18-wheeler trucks with the stolen goods being shipped into Kentucky.

Other Signs

Other tell-tale signs of shoplifters include:

• Wearing large coats or baggy clothes
• Avoiding eye contact
• Watching the staff, not the merchandise
• Seeking shelter in dressing rooms to stash smuggled merchandise
• Lurking in corners
• Taking advantage of stores during peak hours
• Walking with short or unnatural steps (a tip-off that customers may be hiding merchandise between their legs)
• Carrying an arsenal of professional tools, bulky packages, pocket books, baby carriages, knitting bags, etc.
• Lingering in one area, especially if it is near a store’s exit

Notice Their Eyes for the ‘Exit Scan’

Shoplifters don’t shop—they scout. Here’s how to catch their telltale eye flicks and shut them down:

1. Watch the First Glance: Note where their eyes dart when they walk in—straight to exits or staff?
2. Track What They Scan: Count how often they scan exits or cameras instead of products. A study from Justice Quarterly found 70% of lifters eyeball escape routes over goods.
3. Spot the Fake Browse: If they linger but their gaze skips price tags for blind spots, flag it.
4. Test with a Move: Step into their sightline—if they freeze or shift fast, they’re clocking you. I tested this often in grocery stores.

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