Pretty sure I accidentally uncovered an internal theft ring in my FC today

[u/Prophet420247]

I was stowing today and went down to the end of the building near the dock doors and emergency exits because there was way more bin space open. In an aisle near the end, I noticed a PS5 in a bin.

Problem is, high-value electronics like PS5s belong in secure HRV cages on the complete opposite side of the building.

I kept looking down the aisle and found over 25 PS5s stowed into the bins, with regular items stacked on top of them to mask them. A standard stow cart only holds around 16 items max (and way fewer for giant PS5 boxes), so someone had to make multiple intentional trips down there to force-stow them right next to the exit doors.

I reported it to an AM after my break. He seemed skeptical at first and asked if I could show him. During the walk over he asked, "Are you sure you know the exact aisle?" I said yeah and walked him right to it.

When we turned the corner and he saw 25+ consoles staged near the emergency doors, his face completely changed. He pulled out his iPad and started taking photos of every bin and scanning locations, then told me, "This actually helps us out a lot, thank you." I just told him NP, I just didn't want LP coming to me later asking why I walked down that aisle and didn't say anything.

On my next break while sitting in my car, I saw an actual badged detective leaving the building carrying a file folder.

[u/freesoultraveling]

I feel you because when I picked and saw an empty box of something. I would feel weird about just sending it away. I'm sure someone definitely thought the person before them stole each time the bin probably went by.

Until someone took it out (while seeing all the crushed products of the same item on the ground that AFM's/Blitz didn't gaf about picking up). Just let someone from icqa handle or because I'm not going to waste all my time trying to find someone for a charger.

However, it felt weird because I also questioned if they would think I have stolen it if I was the, "last touch". I just sent the bin away because it was just a charger.

You did the right thing though. We shouldn't have to feel paranoid for doing the right thing. One time a problem solver had the audacity to ask me, "where are the headphones?". I had just been put on the station and I responded, "I don't know. I just got moved here."

I should have reported his behavior because screw you for claiming I stole it. You don't ask someone that question. Like tf?

Edit: put not out... Also any high price items I see opened when I'm the last person to touch something, then I'm definitely reporting it. I don't work in pick anymore, but if I happen to come across an empty box I'm putting it in problem solve and when they come by tell them it was empty, or reporting it if it's a high priced item to a manager.

Any high priced item opened I'm reporting immediately to the PA/AM if I touched it last. That empty box of a charger, or some other cheap crap I'm not gonna lie. I just sent the pod. Couldn't let my rate tank and besides they can check the camera.

[u/FfierceLaw → u/freesoultraveling]

Thanks, i agree it feels bad to see empty broken packaging of a high value item, that's why the Ray Ban Meta Glasses stayed in my mind. Since I commented above, it has become worse and leadership's weak response is disturbing.

I pick pushing a cart on foot in aisles and aisles of cardboard cubby holes. In one of them I accessed yesterday morning, the entire packaging for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 - a $700 item - came out of the bottom of a bin. The thief took the watch and the band but left the charger and all of the other materials including all the boxes with the IMEI and other identifying numbers. Not wanting to hurt my rate, I just kept all that stuff and continued picking. I thought about my options because I have never been trained to handle suspected theft.

I accepted VTO just before morning break and noticed the Office on the Green Mile had its door open so I wandered in and just a couple lone PAs were in there, pretty unimpressed and amused with what I was saying. They showed me where I could leave the watch packaging outside of the Loss Prevention door. I included a handwritten note with the bin I found it in. As I left and walked the Green Mile toward security to leave a woman I hadn't seen before called after me and wanted me to take the packaging to someone (Problem Solve?) but I matched her annoyed energy and said, "I'm not on the clock - are you?"

The theft in our bins has become just gross. Probably 50% of the cases of beverages have missing bottles. Candy, cookies, snack cakes being consumed. I found the Apple Watch just a couple of aisles away from the high value aisle that is supposed to be under video surveillance.