TL;DR: When theft feels “too smooth” — the tag alarms don’t chirp, the right door is already open, and the crew moves like they’ve rehearsed — you may not be dealing with random shoplifting. You may be dealing with inside help.

What I’m seeing & hearing more of in Memphis

Along the Poplar retail corridor, we’ve got high-traffic stores, busy shifts, and constant distractions — which makes it easier for small control failures to turn into big losses.

And down the Lamar Ave warehouse / industrial corridor, the risk often looks different: higher volume movement, more doors, more access points, more vendor activity, and more opportunity for someone to share “helpful” information that becomes a vulnerability.

Different environments… same reality: organized crews look for predictable gaps.

Collusion doesn’t always look like “stealing”

Here’s the tricky part: the insider doesn’t have to physically walk out with merchandise.

Sometimes it’s subtle: • EAS tags get disabled or removed right before a hit • A door is left unsecured “by accident” • Fitting rooms or key zones are unattended at the wrong time • Inventory gets “smoothed over” with bad counts or convenient adjustments • Schedules, camera blind spots, shipment timing, or access routines get shared

That’s why managers sometimes feel like they’re losing a chess match. Because they are — and the opponent is playing the whole board.

One practical Memphis takeaway

If you’re seeing repeat incidents that cluster around the same: • shift • door • employee group • predictable staffing gap

…don’t just add another policy memo. Treat it like a signal that the operation may be learning your routine — or has someone feeding it.

Reach out if this is you & you'd like some insight into proven ways to address this issue & mitigate it's return.

(Source: Loss Prevention Media — “Beyond the Theft: Investigative Interviewing in Collusion and Organized Retail Crime Cases,” Dave Thompson, CFI, Feb. 20, 2026)