The short answer is yes – Walmart aggressively builds cases against repeat shoplifters by compiling evidence over time to prosecute felony charges rather than misdemeanors. Keep reading to learn more.
Shoplifting costs retailers like Walmart billions every year. With nearly 5,000 stores across America, Walmart is especially vulnerable to theft. To fight back, Walmart uses cutting-edge technology and trained security staff to catch thieves.
But what happens after a shoplifter is caught red-handed? Does Walmart pursue charges and build cases against repeat offenders? Or do they let them off with a warning?
Walmart‘s Tough Stance Against Shoplifting
Walmart takes shoplifting very seriously and has a strict prosecution policy in place. Their official shoplifting policy states:
-
For thefts under $25 – The shoplifter will be encouraged to return the merchandise and leave the store.
-
For thefts over $25 – Law enforcement will be involved and charges pressed.
However, this doesn‘t tell the whole story. Even for thefts under $25, Walmart keeps detailed records and has the technology to identify repeat offenders. This allows them to build cases over time and pursue more serious felony charges.
How Walmart Builds Cases Against Repeat Shoplifters
Let‘s look at exactly how Walmart builds cases against shoplifters who persistently steal:
-
Walmart stores keep records of all shoplifting incidents – This includes high-definition security footage and transaction records. This evidence is maintained indefinitely and never deleted.
-
Loss prevention associates profile repeat offenders – Walmart‘s loss prevention personnel are trained to identify, monitor, and apprehend shoplifters, especially those who frequently target Walmart.
-
Cross-referencing previous offenses – When a shoplifter is caught, Walmart can check their databases for any prior shoplifting charges at thousands of Walmart locations across the country.
-
Compiling evidence over time – By aggregating evidence from multiple minor thefts over an extended period, Walmart can demonstrate a pattern of repeat offending and build a felony case.
-
Pushing for felony charges – Walmart works with prosecutors to charge repeat shoplifters with felonies based on the total value of items stolen over time, rather than misdemeanors for each isolated incident.
This approach allows Walmart to come down hard on shoplifters who persistently steal, even in small amounts that would usually only warrant a warning.
Shocking Statistics on Shoplifting at Walmart
The sheer scale of shoplifting at Walmart is astonishing:
-
Walmart loses $3 billion annually to theft – Shoplifting accounts for over 30% of Walmart‘s shrinkage losses.
-
1 million shoplifting offenses per year – Walmart apprehends over a million shoplifters at its US stores annually.
-
27,000 incidents per day – That‘s over 27,000 shoplifting cases per day across Walmart‘s 4,740 US store locations.
-
1 in 11 Americans shoplift – Studies suggest around 9% of Americans shoplift regularly.
| Year | Shoplifting Apprehensions | Est. Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.5 million | $3.5 billion |
| 2020 | 1.3 million | $3.1 billion |
| 2019 | 1.2 million | $2.8 billion |
With losses this massive, it‘s clear why Walmart is getting tough on shoplifting.
The Push for Harsher Penalties
Previously, most shoplifting offenses were charged as misdemeanors. But prosecuting attorneys are now more willing to aggregate total theft values from evidence compiled by retailers like Walmart. This allows them to charge repeat shoplifters with felonies.
For example, if a shoplifter steals $100 worth of goods from Walmart 12 times over one year, they can be charged with a Class 6 felony for stealing over $1,000 total, rather than a misdemeanor.
Felony shoplifting charges can result in:
- 1-5 years in prison
- Fines up to $2,500
- 12 months in jail
These harsher penalties act as a serious deterrent against persistent shoplifters.
Inside Walmart‘s Anti-Theft Technology Arsenal
Walmart deploys an array of cutting-edge anti-theft technology to catch shoplifters in the act and provide evidence for prosecutions, including:
- Thousands of high-resolution, megapixel surveillance cameras with digital video recorders
- Electronic article surveillance tags that trigger alarms if not removed at checkout
- "Spider wrap" devices that sound loud alarms if removed from high-theft items
- Radio frequency ID (RFID) tags that activate alarms at exit doorways
- AI-powered computer vision cameras at self-checkouts that use object recognition to detect unscanned items
- Inventory management systems that track merchandise in real-time and identify losses
- Sophisticated point-of-sale systems that monitor all transactions
Walmart also employs over 7,000 loss prevention associates nationwide who are specially trained to spot and apprehend shoplifters.
This extensive infrastructure allows Walmart to meticulously document shoplifting incidents and provides solid evidence for building cases against repeat offenders.
Real-Life Examples of Repeat Offenders
To understand how Walmart builds cases in practice, let‘s look at some real-life examples of serial shoplifters prosecuted for felony charges:
Case 1: Woman Faces Felony for Stealing 123 Items
In December 2022, a Florida woman was charged with a felony after Walmart‘s loss prevention team compiled evidence of 123 items she had stolen over the course of a year, totaling $1,800. She now faces up to 5 years in prison. Walmart‘s detailed records made this felony prosecution possible.
Case 2: Man Steals $5,544 of Goods
A man in Oklahoma was charged with a felony after Walmart evidence showed he had stolen $5,544 worth of merchandise in just six months. He stole small, inexpensive items each time, but video footage and transaction logs allowed Walmart to aggregate the thefts into a major felony case.
Case 3: Couple Steals Hundreds of Dollars of Goods
A husband and wife duo were prosecuted for stealing $645 of goods from a Walmart in Elkhart, Indiana. The couple thought they had gotten away with the petty thefts over several months. However, Walmart used security footage to identify them as repeat shoplifters and pursued felony charges.
The Bottom Line
Walmart does aggressively build cases against shoplifters who repeatedly steal from their stores through compiling long-term evidence and pushing for harsher penalties.
While a single minor shoplifting incident may go unpunished with only a warning, those who persistently steal even small items are very likely to face prosecution for felony charges and prison time.
So be warned – Walmart is fighting back hard against shoplifting using every tool at its disposal. Think twice before stealing from your local Walmart, or you may end up a felony statistic!
