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Q: Is shoplifting really bad in China?
Yesterday, my GF and me decided to spend the afternoon window shopping at a local Mall. We entered Watson ( a drugstore) looking for calcium vitamin supplements, and while she was looking for them, I allowed my eyes to wonder around. I saw this real tall (over 6 ft) Chinese Lady, dressed in black leather outfit (she looked wealthy besides sexy) hanging around the cosmetics counter. She will pick up items, look at them and put them back on the shelf. Since I had nothing better to do, I kept my eyes on her. To my surprised, all of a sudden she started picking tubes, bottles, etc and placing them inside her handbag. That I counted, she took 7 of them. Some facial creams (280 and 180 Rmb each), some skin cleanser and humidifier ( 123 Rmb), and some facial masks (60 Rmb). And she just walked out the door. I was really surprised.
Anyway, we went to Walmart afterwards to get some smoked cashew kennels, and there (and maybe because I was really looking for it) I saw another Lady with a local guy taking a thermos bottle (183 Rmb), removing the tag from it and placing it again inside her big purse. The darn thing must had been at least 24 inches long by 6 inches wide. and at the candy counter, many were eating the cookies and chocolates in plain view, and those are not for sample, but for sale. And at the condiment area a man just took a bottle from the shelf and placed it inside his shoulder bag.
Now, do not get me wrong, shoplifting goes on in every country, it is not only in China. But I either did not pay attention before, or was not aware of it. I am really surprised at how carelessly some of these thieves were, and how poor store security really is.
I just wonder it this is a serious occurence here in China, or is it just an isolated instance I witnessed.
Apparently it is really bad in China. If you've ever gone to a department store or clothing store like GAP or ZARA they have security guards at the entrances and exits standing there watching out for shoplifters. That's not how it is in the States so I would assume it is really bad.
where is security guard in Zara??
xinyuren:
In Shanghai, just like he said, right next to the entrance/exit. I even caught one helping to fold clothes one time when I was shopping.
I've never really looked before in a general merchandise area, but now that you have mentioned it, I may start to look around a bit more, just to see if this goes on in my city.
However, I have seen a lot of people in the candy and cookie section at Wal-Mart grazing on the products, and then just walk away without buying anything. Theft by ingestion, I suppose.
