Cutting down on shoplifting

Shoplifting got out of control at one downtown Wilmington gas station, but instead of turning the suspects into the police, one manager decided embarrassment is punishment enough.

“I do a lot of peeking and sneaking,” said Louse Tarlton, manager at the Shell station.

After shoppers with sticky fingers came into her store, Tarlton decided to do something about it. “If I see something suspicious, I just get up from my chair and go check it out.”

If she doesn’t confront the suspect right then and there, she’ll freeze a photo of them from her high tech surveillance system. However, instead of turning it into police, she pins it right up where everyone can see it.

“Nothing like them being embarrassed, when they come in here all the time and get caught. That is very embarrassing to them,” Tarlton explained.

Policing your own business isn’t a new concept in our area. Party Suppliers in Wilmington wanted everyone to know who stole from them, too. They had posted still photos of suspected shoplifters on their front door; since then, the number of shoplifters has significantly decreased. In fact, the party supply store only has one photo left; the other shoplifters were identified by the public.

Tarlton says posting pictures at her store has already made a difference to her bottom line. “We haven’t had any shoplifting since. We still have one of two here and or there, but nothing like we did, cause I’m still doing my sneaking and peeking.”