RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Shoplifting comes with a large price tag at Joint Base San Antonio Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations.
Shoplifters who live off-base and do not have a Department of Defense affiliation are now being banned from all the bases within JBSA - Randolph Air Force Base, Lackland AFBase and Fort Sam Houston - for two years, while those with a DoD affiliation or who live on base are banned from all AAFES facilities for one year.
In 2010, a total of 290 shoplifting incidents occurred throughout JBSA. This year, a total of 137 incidents have already occurred.
At Randolph, cameras provide around-the-clock surveillance, while AAFES loss prevention and 902nd Security Forces Squadron personnel are on the lookout whenever the stores are open.
The AAFES facilities employ an arsenal of cameras. Each facility has between eight and 100 cameras, depending on the size of the store.
"As long as the stores are open, someone is in there keeping an eye out," Master Sgt. Charles Minyard, 902nd SFS law enforcement superintendent, said. "The cameras are recording 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so anything that happened can be replayed."
Video evidence provides law enforcement officers with probable cause, allowing them to detain suspects at the scene and take them to the 902nd SFS for processing, Minyard said.
Minyard said security forces patrol the new BX, the BXtra and the commissary at various times to look for - and deter - shoplifting.
Suspects who are found guilty face a minimum fine of $250, Minyard said. They must also reimburse AAFES for merchandise that has to be replaced.
"Most of the incidents occur from mid- to late afternoon," Tom Tudela, AAFES loss prevention manager, said. "A majority of the time, teenage dependents are responsible and there are more females at fault than males."
Tudela said females target jewelry and makeup, while males prefer electronic items such as video games.
"The main hot spot at Randolph is the new BX, probably due to that store having more of a variety of merchandise than our other facilities on Randolph AFB," he said.
Minyard said the amount of shoplifting at Randolph fluctuates from month to month, but it tends to pick up during the summer when students are out of school.
Minyard said posted signs uniformed personnel who patrol the facilities help deter would-be shoplifters, and loss prevention personnel train their eyes on monitors fed with images from strategically placed cameras.
"The loss prevention guys know how to spot people," Staff Sgt Edward Grant, 902nd SFS police services said. "Shoplifters give off a vibe you can see through the cameras."
Suspects who are not caught on the premises can be traced using credit card or Social Security numbers.
"Shoplifters usually buy something else," he said. "When you buy something, or return something, it creates a paper trail."
Minyard said shoplifting is a no-win proposition.
"Don't do it," he said. "In the verbiage of the silhouettes at Randolph's AAFES facilities, 'Don't risk it. If you shoplift, you will get caught.'