City of Fargo implements new “Delayed call” shoplifting policy for Loss Prevention Officers in retail stores

 

The City of Fargo has adopted a new policy intended to strengthen criminal prosecution of those who shoplift from retail stores in Fargo.  The policy is directed toward retail stores in the city of Fargo who have store security officers (also known as loss prevention officers) and use multiple cameras to monitor the sales floor in their stores.  Retail stores filing shoplifting reports must include the name of a witness or witnesses who can identify the suspect in a court of law and must provide any video evidence in a format that is compatible with the system used in the courtroom. 

The new policy also identifies the challenges to prosecution of suspects using solely video-recordings without appropriate follow up investigation and a positive identification of the suspect. Retail store security officers are being informed that certain after-the-fact investigations relying solely on one or more video-recordings without more investigation, referred to as “delayed calls,” will not be prosecuted and the police department will not retrieve such video-recorded reports.  The new policy is applicable only to commercial, retail stores and only to theft of items of $500 or less.  The new policy is not applicable to shoplifters who are caught in the act, nor does the policy apply to residential or motor vehicle thefts or to business thefts.

One of the purposes of the policy is to inform retail stores that while video evidence can be a powerful tool in making a shoplifting case, it usually does not constitute the entirety of proof needed. Police officers will not take retail theft reports unless the suspect is identified by loss prevention agents prior to the arrival of the initial responding officer. This is to prevent resources from being utilized in cases with little evidence determining who a shoplifter is.  For example, if shoplifting occurs at a retail location and the only evidence is a still image or video of an unidentified person, police will not file a report.  The City’s former policy required police officers to file reports for delayed calls which lacked substantive evidence and were often unsuccessful in identifying shoplifters.

“Those calls frequently tied up police resources without leading to favorable outcomes,” said Jessica Schindeldecker, Crime Prevention and Public Information Officer for the Fargo Police Department.

The new policy applies to delayed reports of retail theft only.  Shoplifters caught in the act of theft will still face legal responsibility. Fargo Police will still file reports for delayed calls regarding motor vehicle, residential and other thefts. This policy change does not pertain to personal property theft. Residents are encouraged to continue reporting suspected thefts to police who will record and investigate reported non-retail thefts in the same manner as before.