Conrad DeBaillon had never shoplifted before. But as the international business/finance sophomore stuffed merchandise in his pant pockets and behind his waistband, he said he felt like an old pro.
He surveyed the store’s security and made his move for the door. He knew that what he was doing was not for mere theft, but for the good of the establishment, however strange it might seem.
In fact, as a member of good standing in Loyola’s Students in Free Enterprise, DeBaillon was only doing what any person in his situation might do: shoplift.
SIFE has embraced a unique and original plan to help local businesses expose security faults. It’s called the Mystery Shoplifter Program.
Members of the organization walk into selected and agreeable retailers to take as much as they can. If not caught in the act, SIFE issues a report on measures to increase security to make sure shoplifting doesn’t happen by an actual thief.
“We brought the idea to a few businesses to see how it was received, and then we started to give them some dates that we could go in and steal from them and educate them on how to prevent shoplifting in the future,” said SIFE president Mary Ensor, management/marketing sophomore.
Ensor has a successful track record with the program in her hometown of St. Louis. Ensor and SIFE then went to businesses around New Orleans about the operation. A team of students usually approaches a retailer about the program to get consent, Ensor said.
“I usually give the manager about a two or three hour time frame that we’re going to be coming in, so they have an idea to be watching us.”
The goal of the program is not to expose faulty security devices, but look at the people who allow shoplifting to occur.
“[It’s] not so much the security but to make sure that employees are doing their job,” Ensor said.
So far seven members, including the president, have grabbed goods from consenting retailers, including jewelry, rings, shoelaces and even a memory card valued at $85.
According to Emily Burdick, marketing senior and SIFE member, the team is honest about what they have taken and return stolen merchandise to vendors.
Aside from the two stores already involved in the area, one more is on the way and more programs are in the works. There are plans to team up with the Mystery Shoplifters at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during Thanksgiving break and to gather some more attention for the project.
“This isn’t just some little project we put together. It’s something that takes a lot of research and a lot of dedication,” DeBaillon said. “We’re taking numerous reports and various studies and implementing those into our shoplifting.”
As a disclaimer, any potential purloiners inspired by this story should be wary before swiping. Unless you’re a member of SIFE, shoplifting is slightly less than academic and the only reports involved are from the police.
Pat McDermott can be reached at [email protected].
