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Shoplifters- - - - - On the Rise?

Posted by Kathleen J. Clausen on September 14, 2011 at 11:42pm in Art Show Information and Discussions

We have had at least 3 instances of shoplifting jewelry from our booth this year as opposed to twice in the preceding 7 years.  Anyone else having an increase?  I was at the Art Fair on Mellwood last weekend.  A couple of women hit our aisle.  They were well-dressed, women.  Looked just I look when I go to an art fair, only younger.  They hit our neighbor across the aisle first and they were alerted by one of the other women in the booth that one woman had taken a bracelet from them.  Thankfully our neighbor watched the pair come across to our booth where they hung around the rings in the case, but my husband was paying too close attention.  Our booth was busy and I was helping some customers. When one woman distracted my husband, the other lifted a necklace from the display.  As soon as she left our booth, our neighbor confronted her and told her to return the stolen items.  She unobtrusively put the necklace on the table and went across to the other booth and returned the bracelet.  Then they hightailed it out of there.  I was so dumbfounded I was absolutely useless.  But the whole situation really bothered me and cast a cloud over the weekend.

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  • Bonnie Cichosz September 19, 2011 at 7:44pm
    I too had my first experience losing more than an occasional pair of earrings within the last month. We were doing one of our favorite local shows in Brentwood, CA the annual Art, Wine & Jazz festival, which we had done every year for the last 7 years and an hour and a half before the show was over on the last day I made a startling  discovery of a bracelet missing from the front of one of my tables. My eyes didn't have to search much further when it became apparent that we had been hit and hit hard by some "professionals" The loses totaled over $1,000! which makes the crime a felony. The police officer said they generally work in teams of 4 to 6 and while you are busy or distracted they rob you blind. We were very busy and sold a great deal on both days, which was good, but to end a weekend show by having such an occurrence happen was simply mind numbing and unbelievable. What was good about it was that all the vendors were so supportive and caring but what sticks out in my mind the most was a young man of about 7 years old witnessed my making the "discovery" and my reaction of horror and some tears, he asked me if there was anything that he could do and was I going to be alright. I offered him some water or candy which he declined and we simply shared a hug. I doubt this young man will ever take something that does not belong to him as he was very cognizant of my reaction and the toll it took on me. I have since invested in $400 worth of acrylic locking cases which I placed all of my fine silver rings and expensive items in and I had my next show just this past Saturday and I did more in sales than I did the previous year at the same show and I did not have anything stolen from me.
    • Kathleen J. Clausen > Bonnie Cichosz September 20, 2011 at 4:15pm
      Ah, Bonnie, what a shame!  I can identify with the shock and the sick feeling a person gets in such circumstances.  What a sweet young fellow you ran into!  Congrats on the success of the next show.  Where did you get your acrylic cases?
      • Bonnie Cichosz > Kathleen J. Clausen September 20, 2011 at 6:30pm

        Hi Kathleen,

           I got the display cases from DisplayWarehouse.com They were very good and prompt in response when the first case arrived damaged. They asked that I email pictures of the damaged case and box then told me to keep it and shipped me another free of charge. The other two arrived in pristine condition. I will be making myself bubble wrap "envelopes" to store and transport them in. I did have people buying items from the case first show I used them at too, which was comforting. I felt I had little or no choice in protecting my smaller and more expensive items from theft. 

  • Christine Hauber September 19, 2011 at 2:34pm

    I had a neighbor who at a small show with only about 40 booths swears that one of her pieces was stolen after the show closed while security was on duty.  They actually knew exactly what piece they wanted as it was packed at the bottom of a box and the person had to get to the bottom of at least 5 other pieces to get to it. They repacked it all nicely. (2-d glass art in frames (size about 11x14..so could hide in jacket as they left)

     

    Christine Hauber

    Workshops and Webinars

    http://www.meetup.com/matt-suess-photography-workshops/

    • Kathleen J. Clausen > Christine Hauber September 19, 2011 at 6:31pm
      Thanks, guys for the encouragement.  It bothered me that it happened at all, but especially in the Louisville area.  We've never worried about it much before this year.  Because of the 2 prior instances, we thought that we were being especially observant, so that hurts, too.  We have always had our items "touchable" so that people can handle and try on our pieces.  Although I certainly understand the need for glass cases, I don't like to HAVE TO  utilize them. After these experiences, I'll have to rethink, but  I don't want my rosy view of human nature to be disturbed!   :) . 
  • Sheila Evans September 19, 2011 at 11:55am
    In Bellevue, WA this year there was a string of thefts from artists, but not merchandise. The thieve(s) would wait until the artists were distracted then actually slip into their back storage areas, find the artist's purse (usually buried under wrappings and such) and steal cash. The purses were left, and I don't believe any credit cards were stolen. It was amazing that the thief managed to take the time to do all of that, but it is a pretty high-traffic show.
    • Jacki Bilsborrow > Sheila Evans September 19, 2011 at 1:04pm
      What a shame.  If there is a way, someone will try it.  I am glad people are posting these experiences so that others can learn from it.
  • Robert Wallis September 19, 2011 at 9:56am
    This sounds like the Mellwood Avenue venue in Louisville. I've not done that one, but have done Cherokee Triangle, and had my first pieces shoplifted in 20 years there this past year. It was a group of women, the oldest in her late twenties and a couple that were late teens /early 20's. I didn't see them, but the jeweler next to me had them come in and saw what they were attempting and ordered them out. They nabbed 3 large pieces out of my flip bin. The arrangement of the booth had to be changed due to lack of room behind the booth, and I didn't have a direct sight line to the flip bin. That won't happen again. I would expect something like that in Chicago, but I didn't expect it in Louisville. The group hit several other artists that day.
  • Jacki Bilsborrow September 18, 2011 at 11:32pm

    Kathleen,

    That is so sad to hear.  I am glad you and your neighbor got your jewelry back.  Nice work to both of you for catching them at their game.  Now you will be on the look out for it.  Watch the hands!

    The shoplifters and the Nigerian scammers don't take breaks!

    I was helping an artists a few years back and suddenly we noticed that someone stole the business card holder.  That was really the only small thing in our booth but it had been made by an artist.  We were dumbfounded!  What in the world were they going to do with that?  Some people just have to steal.

    Sam, I am going to have to look at your work because I can't believe you are making crap!  Times are just hard.

     

    Jacki B

  • Martha Giberson September 15, 2011 at 3:26pm

    sounds like professional shoplifters, "When one woman distracted my husband, the other lifted a necklace from the display" is a classic shoplifting technique.  Professionals usually work in pairs, always dressed nicely after all they can afford to it.  It's sad that they've found our venue.  We are very easy marks for them since we don't expect them at all.

     

    martha

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