Cigar Shoplifter: Senior Citizen X

I can't put into civilized words how gut wrenching it is to watch people steal cigars from my stores. Every Tobacconist with a walk-in humidor experiences significant theft and it is a f&%^#ing nightmare.

Its a shame that this animal will probably never be caught, but I will do my best nonetheless. What drives me nuts is that he doesn't need it... he just WANTS it... feels like he DESERVES it.... And the worst part is that I am knee deep into rising health insurance costs for four of my employees and I am sick to my stomach about what I am going to do. They are raising our premiums another 20% this year and its brutal... my Tobacconists rely on our health insurance and the next cheapest alternative plan will require a $1,500 annual deductible... which is practically like not having health insurance at all. I'm sick to my stomach trying to provide health care to people that deserve it and este pedaso de mierda me esta robando... me cago en su ma..... Oh, sorry, my anger deviated me into Spanish. Anyway... this sucks.... But I'm onto you grandpa.... coming for ya.... no mercy.... Actually, this is all bluster because the police and prosecutors (in New Hope, PA) barely bother to defend retailers rights.... but that is another blog.

Other videos of senior citizen shoplifters can be found here.

Retail Shoplifters

These animals are real pros. They have the nerve/confidence to steal while a Tobacconist is in the Humidor with them. It does not seem to slow them down one bit. Adding insult to injury, they disheveled cigars, boxes, packaging, and they purchased ONE cigar: most shoplifters purchase at least one inexpensive item, probably thinking that is their 'smoke screen'.

I am posting this video contrary to some very good advice: two days ago Guillermo Leon told me to consult my attorney first. I'm sure he is wiser, smarter and more prudent than me, but I can't resist. Retail Tobacconists deal with this insanity every day and they must be educated and warned. Besides, attorneys are on the wrong side of justice at least 50% of the time, and I can't count on law enforcement helping us at all. The last criminal we prosecuted (we were lucky enough to catch him) merely had to pay back the cost of one cigar, yet he stole dozens. That is a joke since it cost us and the legal system hundreds of hours just to be compensated twenty bucks.

This, and many more videos will become part of the Tobacconist University Service College section on Retail Theft/Shoplifting. It costs us over ten thousand dollars a year per store just to compensate for the losses; as if retail wasn't difficult enough. I hope these images will help us survive. And I hope these animals are not breeding and producing another generation of degenerates.

Shoplifting Scumbags

Retail is Guerrilla Warfare. While most customers are pleasant and wonderful, occasionally retail Tobacconists unwittingly service thieving scumbags with no respect for social order or any sense of morality. The first lesson of retail shoplifting is that you Cannot profile. You can never predict who will steal from you. In this case, these middle aged villains took us for $667 on Labor day in less than two minutes. Just going through the videos to find these pictures to post has made me sick to my stomach. We gave these animals great service, said please and thank you, and welcomed them into our home/humidor with open arms. In return, they stole hundreds of dollars worth of Padron 26's and Ashton VSG's. I imagine these are the kind of people who beat their dogs and children; they are vile humans. While I am not a violent person, I wish I was there to exact some justice. Ironically, our Manager walked into the humidor to see if he could be helpful, and the husband blocked his view while his haggardly wife continued to pillage us: did i mention it was $667!!!

Obviously these (insert expletive here) were very professional. We did almost all we could to prevent their thieving. The major challenge for retail Tobacconists is giving their customers enough space to enjoy their shopping experience, and having a walk-in humidor is a HUGE risk. But I am passionate about providing that space for our customers so that they may be surrounded by our amazing products. It is a catch 22, and I fully understand why many Tobacconists separate and protect their most valuable products. I hope we never have to resort to that, but we live in a crazy mixed up world where anything is possible.

I hope that our customers appreciate how hard we work to keep prices reasonable and to make their shopping experience as pleasurable as possible. Unfortunately there are always rotten people around to spoil the party. This was our biggest one day theft in over twelve years of business, and I desperately hope that it doesn't happen again. If you see these animals on the street, I hope you will feel disgusted and compelled enough to kick them in the shins.

Currently, I have several videos of these (insert another expletive here) and other criminals which will be posted on Tobacconist University Service College. Hopefully these videos and the complimentary content will help retail Tobacconists deal with the problem: it effects our bottom line and makes business extremely difficult. The more you observe animals in the wild, the more you will understand them. So stay tuned for the Shoplifting section in Service College.