Does Walmart Build Cases on Shoplifters? What You Need To Know in 2024
Shoplifting costs Walmart over $3 billion every year, leading the retailer to implement aggressive security measures and build legal cases against repeat shoplifters. This article provides an in-depth look at Walmart‘s anti-theft practices and the consequences of getting caught.
Walmart‘s War on Shoplifting
Walmart loses over $3 billion annually to theft, with shoplifting accounting for over $300 million in losses each year. Shrinkage from theft leads to higher prices for consumers to protect profits.
To combat this, Walmart employs a sophisticated tech-driven loss prevention program. They use:
- Over 700,000 high-resolution security cameras
- AI-powered video analytics to detect shoplifting
- Facial recognition to identify known shoplifters
- Electronic tags on high-risk merchandise
- Plainclothes and uniformed loss prevention staff
In 2019, Walmart apprehended over 1.5 million shoplifters and recovered over $282 million in stolen merchandise. They aggressively push for prosecution, especially for repeat offenders.
Building Cases Against Shoplifters
Walmart builds thorough cases documenting evidence of repeated shoplifting activity.
They consider factors like:
- Number of previous offenses
- Value of merchandise stolen over time
- Effort to conceal items or disable security tags
- Use of tools or disguises to shoplift
According to retail crime analysts, Walmart typically compiles at least 3-5 incidents to have sufficient evidence for felony charges. For low-value shoplifting under $25, they still maintain records to establish patterns.
The process usually takes 2-6 months. Walmart Loss Prevention will gather surveillance footage, purchase records, and eyewitness statements to corroborate each incident.
Penalties for Shoplifting at Walmart
| Shoplifting Charge | Potential Penalties |
|---|---|
| Misdemeanor < $1000 value | – Up to 1 year in jail – Maximum $2500 fine – Permanent Walmart ban |
| Felony $1000-$2000 value | – 1-5 years prison – Maximum $2500 fine |
| Felony > $2000 value | – Up to 10 years prison |
Walmart pushes prosecutors to seek maximum penalties allowed by law, especially for repeat offenders with multiple incidents documented. They almost never drop charges or divert cases from prosecution.
How Consumers Can Protect Themselves
If wrongly accused, politely decline to provide a statement and contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately. Do not try to resolve it directly with Walmart.
For first-time low-value cases, consult a lawyer to explore options like restitution payments or diversion programs to potentially avoid conviction.
Avoid any shoplifting at Walmart. Their extensive security makes getting caught highly likely, even for episodes below felony thresholds. A petty theft record can still impact your life significantly.
The bottom line is Walmart takes shoplifting very seriously and will prosecute offenders aggressively. A momentary lack of judgment can lead to handcuffs, court dates, and lasting legal consequences. Think carefully before attempting to steal anything from Walmart.
Data sources: National Retail Federation, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Appriss Retail
