Background: This is the 4th year this site has been up and running. The site exists to showcase the Target AP Directives and they are here in full later in the blog.
The original source of these 'Directives' is Mr. Scott Hundt, a former asset protection specialist at a Target store in Wisconsin. He kept a copy of the Directives when he was 'terminated' in June 2006 and subsequently posted them on the internet and forwarded me a copy in July 2006 and I also posted them on my blog.
Shortly after this, it came to the attention of Tarbutt, that their AP Directives were online and they leaned on Hundt who caved in immediately and removed them from the site he had posted them on. My blog has kept them posted since I first received them.
I also placed information of the availability of the Directives on various 'message boards', sometimes with the below summary.
Tarbutt sent threatening letters and emails to these sites demanding the information be deleted. I found that the sites universally caved in to the demands and removed the information and in most cases both deleted my screen name and banned me from their sites. I had at one time a blog titled: TargetSucks and that blog host was also contacted and deleted the blog. see letter at:
http://www.retail-worker.com/documents/20060727.target_cease_and_desist.pdf
This blog site was the subject of 23 months of litigation wherein Tarbutt whinned about it and insisted damages be paid and the information removed, but on July 16, 2008 the case was tossed out by Judge Cooper in Atlanta Federal Court. So for the moment anyway, the 1st Ammendment remains in effect.
I estimate that the total cost to Tarbutt was 250k and to me it was $0. Although I don't like Tarbutt, I would really suggest that they find better legal representation than Faegre & Benson (http://www.faegre.com/) for their outsourced legal work, they really did a crappy job.
Just FYI here is a brief glimpse of what is contained in those 39 or so pages, which you will find in full, later in this blog:
From: Target AP Directives
C. Five Steps for Apprehension
Certified AP team members must observe all five steps prior to making a shoplifter apprehension.
NOTE: If local law enforcement takes independent action and makes an apprehension before all five steps are met, the details must be documented in the CIRS report.
1. Initiation of Observation - The subject must enter the store/area without possession of Target merchandise.
2. Selection - The subject must be observed selecting Target merchandise from the display location.
3. Concealment - The subject must be observed concealing the merchandise, or the AP team member must have NO reasonable doubt based on observations that the merchandise has been concealed by the subject.
NOTE: If the merchandise is not actually concealed, it must be exposed as the subject exits or attempts to exit the store.
4. Maintain Observation - The AP team member must maintain sufficient surveillance of the subject in order to know the location of the merchandise and ensure the subject does not discard the merchandise.
NOTE: A Productive Merchandise Recovery (PMR) shall be attempted if surveillance is broken for any reason, or the AP team member can not maintain sufficient surveillance. (See PMR Directive)
5. Failure to Pay for Merchandise/Exiting the Store -AP team member(s) must observe the subject attempt to exit the store without paying for the merchandise.
NOTE: Some jurisdictions allow variances from the exiting requirement to allow apprehensions of concealed merchandise before an individual reaches the building’s exit. In these cases, the requirements must be documented and approved by the Director or Vice President of Assets Protection using the “Variance from Exiting Form” (found on the AP Zone).
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D. Restroom / Fitting Room
Apprehensions AP team members are not allowed to conduct surveillance or make apprehensions in restroom and/or fitting rooms.
1. AP team members are not allowed to follow subject’s into a restroom or fitting room to conduct surveillance.
2. AP team members shall not ask another team member to enter a fitting room or restroom to conduct surveillance.
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B. Searches of Private Residence or Motor Vehicles
1. AP team members will NOT participate in a search of a private residence or motor vehicle.
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1. Fleeing Shoplifter
a. If a shoplifter attempts to flee after being confronted, do not give chase in any manner (running, driving, etc.).
b. Store based AP team members shall not use any vehicle to follow or pursue a subject for any reason.
c. AP team members shall not encourage, condone, suggest or ask another Target team member or anyone else to chase a fleeing shoplifter.
2. AP shall refer for prosecution all individuals apprehended for retail theft when the value of the merchandise is $20.00 or greater and the case meets local prosecution requirements.
NOTE: If a case meets/exceeds the $20.00 referral guideline, but is NOT referred, the reason for non-referral must be included in the CIRS narrative. (Example: Local jurisdiction limits require merchandise in excess of $75.00 in order for prosecution.)
3. A team member witness, of the same gender of the suspected shoplifter , must be present in the room at all times during the detention.
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A. Photographing Shoplifters
1. Adult shoplifters - AP shall photograph all adult shoplifters unless prohibited by local statutes or ordinances.
2. Team Member Shoplifters - AP will not photograph any team member apprehended for shoplifting during working or non-working hours.
3. Juvenile Shoplifters - AP will not photograph any juveniles apprehended for shoplifting, unless required by local statutes or ordinances.
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