Thieves in the store: how to not break the sticks and not bring misfortune You are standing at the cash register, and suddenly you notice a familiar face. A regular customer, the one who always greets and smiles, is hiding a piece of chocolate in his pocket. Or not chocolate, but something more expensive. Or just not scanning the item at self-service. What to do? Call the police? Try to talk to him yourself? Ignore? Each of these options has its own pitfalls. A mistake can cost you not only your job but also your nerves, and in some cases, even your safety. Let's analyze the situation without panic but with a cool head. First reaction: do not succumb to emotions The most difficult thing in such a situation is not to let emotions take over. The first desire is to catch him by the hand, start a scandal, or shame him. This is understandable: you feel deceived, and maybe even insulted. But this is the worst thing you can do. In the moment of conflict, you risk not only hearing rudeness in return but also provoking aggression. A thief, especially if he is a regular customer, can be unpredictable. He may be scared and run away, he may start to deny or, worse, become aggressive. Your task is to maintain control over the situation, not over your emotions. Therefore, the first step is a deep breath and mental detachment. It is important to understand: you are not a policeman or a detective. Your job is to serve customers and maintain order in the hall, not to catch criminals. Therefore, do not take on the functions of law enforcement agencies if this is not provided for by your job description and if you do not have special training. Collecting information: facts, not assumptions Before acting, make sure you really saw a theft and not just thought so. Remember or, if possible, review the recording from the camera. Fix in your mind or on paper what exactly the person took, where he hid it, how it looked. It is important to understand whether this is a minor theft (a few cand ... Read more