UK Shoplifting/Theft Database

[BazzaS]

Further to my post on facial recognition and shoplifting databases, a little 'Googling' indicates that the technology exists for the type of supermarket CCTV system that detects and alerts to the presence of known shoplifters. For example the following extract from: http://www.clearview-communications.com/cctv/facial-recognition-video-analytics

 

"Facial Recognition - Biometric facial recognition systems compare images of individuals from incoming CCTV video against specific databases and send alerts when a positive match occurs.

 

The key steps in facial recognition are:

 

Face detection

Recording detected faces

Match recorded faces with those stored in a database

Automatic process to find the closest match

 

Applications include:

 

VIP lists – make staff aware of important individuals (VIPs) and respond in an appropriate manner

Black lists – identify known offenders or to register suspects to aid public safety

Banking transactions – verification of the persons attempting a financial transaction

Access Control verification – confirming identity visually, manually or automatically

Mustering – keep a tally of who is in and who is out"

 

A relatively reputable CCTV supplier (Avigilon - who supply the large city CCTV systems) states: http://avigilon.com/products/video-analytics/

 

"With a high degree of accuracy and the industry's lowest false alarm rates, within seconds of a suspect triggering user defined analytics rules, instant notifications can be sent directly to your security personnel - delivering instantly actionable information when it matters most, helping to minimize the impact on your organization."

 

*Sigh*

 

The technology undoubtedly exists.

That wasn't your (paranoid?) point on your previous thread:

You claimed that there was a "Super-database" shared by ALL the major supermarkets that meant you were identified and followed every time you went into any of the large chains, anywhere in the country.

 

The technical feasibility of such doesn't mean

a) that it does exist,

b) that if it existed someone wouldn't report its existence to the ICO or the press.

 

I thought you had accepted that on your previous thread.

Why open a new one?. Do you have shares in Alcan?

 

Edited to add : site team appear to have merged the threads, thanks .

[garabaldi]

please keep to one thread

 

Sorry. Need to improve forum etiquette.

[garabaldi]

I thought you had accepted that on your previous thread.

Why open a new one?. Do you have shares in Alcan?

 

Ha ha. Ultimately…..I'm trying to convince myself that it's not true. I'm still paranoid about the whole thing because I got myself into such a state about it and can't let it go. And I'm recalling incidents where it seemed so clear that I was being watched and followed and wondering how I could possibly have created the situation through my own paranoid actions as opposed to being on a shoplifting database. Which one is more likely?

 

I'm self aware enough to know it could possibly all be in my head and I'm almost in a state of mild psychosis……however…..well?…..I don't know. I need some hard facts or someone in authority to tell me it's really not true. A Police Office maybe? I'm almost like a bloody child or something.

[SabreSheep]

I Used to work in retail management for one of the big 3

 

First sign ALL staff were taught to look out for was someone walking in and looking like they are working out where all the staff were.

I used to catch many shop lifters that way.

 

Other times we would be by the door as a deterrent.

 

If you are going into a store and appear to be sizing up where the staff and security are, your painting a target on yourself.

 

The company I worked for BANNED photos of suspected shoplifters. Reason. They got sued. They had a wall of mugshots and a candidate came in for interview and spotted their mother who was not best pleased.

[Ganymede]

I Used to work in retail management for one of the big 3

 

First sign ALL staff were taught to look out for was someone walking in and looking like they are working out where all the staff were.

I used to catch many shop lifters that way.

 

Other times we would be by the door as a deterrent.

 

If you are going into a store and appear to be sizing up where the staff and security are, your painting a target on yourself.

 

The company I worked for BANNED photos of suspected shoplifters. Reason. They got sued. They had a wall of mugshots and a candidate came in for interview and spotted their mother who was not best pleased.

Exaclty.

 

The OP is acting paranoid and looking around at shop staff and security thereby making them look suspicious.

 

It's catch 22.

[civilcitizen]

Funnily enough, call me paranoid as well, but I have had similar experiences.

 

 

My daughter and I were overtly treated like shoplifters in London, so much so, it was one of the reasons we moved to Hove.

 

 

It was such a relief not to feel like we were under suspicion.

 

 

Unfortunately, it started again.

 

 

We were blatantly followed and glared at by the security, and staff pretending to tidy shelves etc.

During this time I started work at a very large supermarket.

 

 

On my first day I walked through the main entrance in my staff uniform and was told to go to the security guard who was to issue me with photo id.

That was embarrassing for the security guard and me as who was on every single giant tv monitor in the room ? Me!

Photo's were taken as soon as I passed through the security barriers.

It has been wearing and demoralising.

 

 

We moved to south Wales, where it felt much more relaxed at first, but the peace only lasted a few months at most unfortunately.

 

 

The problems started in a large supermarket, but soon permeated the whole of the city centre and beyond.

The local crime prevention programme has obviously passed our details to all the businesses in the area.

We don't imagine these things, we aren't looking out for problems.

Staff aren't at all discreet and are indeed extremely rude.

 

 

The worst thing is , we are both scrupulously honest.

No one has actually approached us to allow us to clear our names.

 

 

Any insights would be deeply appreciated.

I had an incident of scattiness in the late 1990s, when I was in Woolworths busily trying to figure out

what screws to buy in their messy display. and accidentally walked out of the shop with some picture hooks,

I can explain in detail if needed.

[SabreSheep]

until you make a formal complaint to the ceos office of the supermarkets concerned then you will never get to the bottom of it.

 

I suspect it is down to unconcious body language making you appear suspicious

[ericsbrother]

I think that you believe that it is just you but the reality is that this is the level of intrusion into the lives of everyone when they step out into the street.

However, I can assure you that any incident in Woolies in the 1990's will not attract any attention now, Woolies didnt have recording monitoring back then and they dont exist now so there is no possibility that they have passed on any details about you or anyone else.

If a database existed it would have names and addresses but as you have moved several times since there would be no method of updating that database so it owuld be worthless and dangerous for anyone using it. Facial recognition software cannot see images of a person smiling and yawning as the same facea nd the number of measurements used to characterise someones features is so vague you will get a false positive about once every 20 people. OK if you are watching for a single known shoplifter in a village but rubbish in a supermarket where hundreds of customers a day would be falsely identified.

Even the software doing passport check only look at the stored data on the central computer with the picture on the passport, not the person standing in front of the immigration officer.

I always got stopped coming into the country because I looked like a terrorist/drug smuggler/Lord Lucan. If only they knew the truth, my real purpose was to act as the decoy for cheese smugglers (yes, cheese made with unpasteurised milk is contraband).

[porrohman65]

garibaldi, I assume you weren't charged by the shop or details taken, so I would think the shop would be treading on dangerous grounds, if they send your picture round other shops, claiming you were shop lifting

 

 

As for being followed round the shop, I get this my self, its all down to my face and appearance, not wanting to catch someone eye for one thing, and the funny thing is because I work in retail I can spot these guys a mile of, and to show you how stupid they are

 

 

July 2011, went away on holiday for 3 weeks, holiday abroad in Italy, so when I returned from holiday, a little bit exhausted walked in to my work place, only to be followed round by the NEW SECURITY GUARD, who thought I was up to no good, and wanted to remove me from the shop

 

 

I made my way to the security room to speak to my manager, before I could knock on the door, he grabbed me....a big mistake on his part, he lost his job

 

 

so from the security manager; I just have one of these faces, and it looks like I have done something so draw the attention of security

[kcalco]

Hi you are exactly right, I am treated the same way in all big stores.

 

Get a CRB search done, it will show all your unspent conviction. Disclosure Scotland

 

Keep it in your wallet and a cope or two in your back pocket

 

Even genuine shoplifters should not be treated this way.

 

Lets face it 90% of goods go missing before it gets on the shelf.

Where would security be if nothing went missing?

 

For someone to shoplift in a supermarket have to have IDIOT burned in his forehead.

And the guys that say you are paranoid probably have.

 

Best wishes Ken

[ericsbrother]

thread now 3 years old

[porrohman65]

Hello Everyone.

 

I was recently accused of shoplifting in Sainsbury's, by an off-duty employee, who just happened to be shopping in the store, incorrectly claimed she saw me trying to steal some items and she reported me to the store security.

 

The security guard (accompanied by several 'burly' male members of staff) asked me to leave and escorted me off the premises, I attempted to remonstrate with them but they weren't interested and feeling completely surprised and intimidated I left

 

As someone who works in retail, and has to deal with possible shoplifters, who go at lengths to not pay for things. Sometimes it isnt clear cut if a customer is up to no good, now I dont know what your intentions were, so lets look at what, why this off-duty employee claimed you were trying to steal.

 

So I take it you went round the shop with either a basket or trolley.

 

Did you place all the items into the basket or trolley

 

Did you at anytime decide you didnt want that item, and place it someplace else in the shop, possibly high value item

 

If you havnt done anything wrong, in my eyes you have been acused by an employee, who possibly has got it wrong, and if this was my self being accused, I would be writting to the store manager, or even the regional manager, telling them you have been accused of trying to steal something from one of there stores. Ask them to clarify and check there cctv, and at any time does the person being accused act out of the ordinary way. Now have you tried to go back to this store, and what was there reaction, and if they repeat there claim, I would think that would be slander, and open to be challenged

 

From that day on, I always get followed by security in almost all major shopping chains up and down the country from London to Aberdeen. It's very easy to spot and I'm certainly not being paranoid.

 

I wouldnt say your being parnoid, even my self I pick up on this when I go to other shops, I get followed alot, and even now I find it funny. Now I even asked my security manager, on why this was happening, and he gave me an honest repsonse, he said I have a shifty looking face, and I always keep my eye slooking down, rarely do I make eye contact

 

And this is where I find it funny: Was away on holiday for 2 weeks came back to work, and there a new secuirty guard on the door, he thinks Im up to no good and follows me round the store, and have to tell another colleague,

want to tell him, I work here

 

 

Am I an some sort of UK National Shoplifting Database?

 

Does the database have a name and someone I could contact?

 

Can I get removed from it?

 

The shops local to me have a database, but is only used to identify shoplifters, who have been caught, and is used more as a warning system, and once on it we dont remove you

[dx100uk]

thread is +3yrs old

 

 

now closed

 

 

dx