Ⓐnarcho Queer

A Guide On Shoplifting:

Disclaimer: Take responsibility for your own actions. If you are caught stealing, I am no way responsible for your decision to shoplift.

And to those who disapprove of shoplifting, save your angry words for someone who gives a fuck.

To those who plan to shoplift, please be considerate of your comrades. Try to avoid bodega’s and other small businesses that will hurt working class people. Supermarkets and corporate stores are fair game.

This guide focuses on shoplifting clothes and food only.

Useful Tips:

Take what you need and try to avoid stealing luxury items that won’t benefit you.
Know what you plan to steal in advance to minimize your time inside the store.
Try to avoid stealing at the same store repeatedly.
Do not steal from a store you frequently shop at.
Avoid stores with security camera’s and guards.
If you plan to steal food, try taking non perishable foods (crackers, peanut butter, nuts, granola/protein bars, power drinks), bread and bottled water.
Dress casually and do not wear hoodies inside a store (hats are fine).
Bring a bookbag or purse to store the items you steal. If you plan to steal clothes, having a shopping bag with personal clothes helps enormously.
Take little each time. Keep in mind that large items are harder to get away with. If you need to leave something behind, make sure it’s less of a priority than the other items.
Do not steal around other shoppers.
If someone is following you, put the item away (it doesn’t matter were) and casually leave the store.
If you have any, keep some money on you just in case someone accuses you of trying to shoplift.
Act casual. If you’re nervous, don’t let it show.

Methods:

Keep in mind that methods differ depending on what and where you plan to shoplift.

Food: A bookbag works best and provides more space but purses look less suspicious.

Have your book bag slightly unzipped at one side. This will allow you to quickly put any items that you need inside your bag without taking it off. Make sure no one is around to see and that you are in a store without camera’s or in a blind spot*. Try not to walk around with an item in hand too long. This makes you look suspicious. Put heavy items in first and light items after.

Clothing: Stealing clothes is a lot more riskier than stealing food. Clothing stores have surveillance more often than not. For this reason it is necessary to take precautionary measures:

DO NOT steal from malls, consider it the devil’s lair.
If you’re a beginner, do not steal from stores with a guard.
Don’t take unnecessary risks.
Do not steal from a store in clear view.
Make sure the clothing does not have security tags (this is essential).

Back to methods; a great way to steal clothes is to have a shopping bag with a shirt in it. It helps to blend in. When you are in a blind spot quickly put your item under the shirt after checking and removing tags.

Another method is to bring several clothing items with you to the dressing room. Bring clothes you know you won’t take as decoys. When you’re in the dressing room, either put the clothes on under a layer of clothing (high collar shirts are great for concealment), tie a shirt (or other clothing) to your leg (tight) and put your pants on, or ball it up and put it in your underwear. This will only work if the store clerks do not count how many items you have.

If you need to make a profit, steal things you can sell to friends or a flea market. Cigarettes, blunt wraps, advils, clothes, cologne/perfume, and beauty supplies in general can turn a profit. The Health and Beauty isles are usually heavily guarded/surveilled so keep an eye out.

Remember to trust your gut feeling. You may not have noticed that person following you but subconscious has.

Blind Spots - An area in a store where a camera, sales person or guard cannot see you. If the store has surveillance, keep in mind that whoever is watching the footage may notice that the item in your hand mysteriously disappeared while you were out of sight.

Source: anarcho-queer