Kroger Shoplifting Policy (Warning: Must Read)
Every year, incidents of shoplifting cause so much financial loss to retailers across the country that they have to implement comprehensive shoplifting policies to prevent and combat it.
So how does Kroger, one of the largest retail chains in the United States, prevent shoplifting and minimize the damage it causes? Here’s everything I’ve found about Kroger’s shoplifting policy!
Kroger Shoplifting Policy
Kroger’s shoplifting policy includes measures to prevent and combat incidents of shoplifting. Suspected shoplifters are constantly tracked by the Loss Prevention (LP) team, and a network of cameras records evidence for later use. While employees follow a no-chase policy, caught shoplifters can be fined or even arrested by the police.
If you want to learn more about Kroger’s “no-touch” policy against shoplifters, whether Kroger has any loss prevention measures in place, and more, keep reading!
What happens if the thief gets caught at Kroger?
If a shoplifter is caught at Kroger, not only will the item be retrieved, but the individual will be fined a certain amount as compensation.
In other cases, shoplifters may be considered offenders and placed on a “no trespassing list” because the store is determined to be private property.
Does Kroger have a contact policy?
All Kroger stores follow a “No Touching” policy, also known as a “No Chase” policy.
Under this rule, store employees are prohibited from chasing suspected shoplifters to avoid any form of bodily injury should the shoplifter try to fight back.
Instead, Kroger employees take down the identities and license plate numbers of shoplifters who walk out of the store and report that information to police.
Police will then be tasked with catching these shoplifters and arresting or fineing them for their violations.
However, some Kroger stores will actually arrest confirmed shoplifters and turn them over to police, according to online reports.
Does Kroger have a loss prevention policy?
Kroger has Loss Prevention (LP) professionals who can help prevent and deter shoplifting in our stores.
As part of LP policy, employees go around and are constantly assisting customers, especially those suspected of shoplifting.
This gives would-be shoplifters the impression that employees are constantly watching them, preventing them from stealing any items.
In some cases, if a customer is confirmed to be shoplifting, store associates may politely ask the shoplifter to return the item to the shelf.
How does Kroger track down thieves?
Kroger has been known to conduct case studies of identified shoplifters through its network of CCTV cameras installed throughout its stores to monitor activity.
Meanwhile, Kroger has also begun implementing test cameras, starting with its stores in Cincinnati and Seattle.
Embedded in price signs, the cameras capture buyer data, such as photos, predicted gender and age, and mood, to help Kroger track shoplifters.
What are the fines, fees or penalties for shoplifting at Kroger?
At a minimum, Kroger will ban a caught shoplifter from entering its stores and will pursue criminal charges if the person violates this ban and attempts to re-enter a Kroger store.
Beyond that, the type of fee you are charged will depend on state law and the value of your stolen item.
Most states set a limit below which incidents of shoplifting are classified as Class C minor misdemeanors and dealt with with fines.
However, if the value of the goods exceeds the limit set by the state, the thief may be persecuted by the court and sentenced to imprisonment and a fine.
For more information, you may also be interested in reading CVS’ Shoplifting Policy, Best Buy’s Shoplifting Policy, and Dollar General’s Shoplifting Policy.
Conclusion: Kroger Shoplifting Policy
Kroger has a Loss Prevention (LP) team in each store to monitor and deter potential shoplifting. In most cases, employees are not allowed to run after a shoplifter to avoid any kind of injury, but instead report the person’s license plate number and other details to the police.
In addition, the camera network allows Kroger to collect evidence of shoplifting incidents and issue fines to shoplifters, possibly jail time if the value of the stolen items is significant.
