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FAIRFIELD, IOWA -- The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Merchant’s Association will present “Customer Shoplifting: Not in My Store” on Wednesday, April 21 at 8:15 am at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.  Admission is free for Chamber members.

Fairfield Police Lieutenant Dave Thomas is the seminar’s featured speaker.  Thomas will provide instruction on customer shoplifting prevention and prosecution.  Highlights include discussion on how to

·         Identify and stop a shoplifter as he or she enters the business

·         Read body language and recognize other behaviors suggest a shoplifter is inside the business

·         Detect and detain alleged shoplifters while waiting for the police  to arrive

Thomas will also provide theft-deterring equipment and procedure demonstrations and discuss legal procedures relating to shoplifter prosecution.

“We call it a Chamber seminar you literally can’t afford to miss,” said Brent Willett, Chamber Executive Director.  “Shoplifting, unfortunately, is one of the most prevalent concerns of Chamber member retailers, businesses which already work on thin margins and to which a successful shoplifter or series of incidents can have a tremendously detrimental effect.”

Willett said a previous employee theft prevention Chamber workshop which featured County Attorney Tim Dille and now-Chief of Police Julie Harvey inspired Wednesday’s event.  “We had a strong turnout for our employee theft program and the participants went away asking us for something to focus on customer shoplifting next.  That’s what Wednesday’s event all about.”

Prior to working with the Fairfield Police Department, Thomas worked as a plain clothes officer preventing internal and external theft at Kmart and Walmart in Loss Prevention and for the Ottumwa Police Department. Thomas started with the Fairfield Police Department in 1999 as a Patrol Officer, was promoted to Sergeant and now serves as a Lieutenant.

Admission to the seminar is free for all Chamber members and $10 for non-members.  Coffee will be served and the event will conclude at 9:30 am.  Registrations are encouraged.  To reserve your seat, contact Lori Knox at the Chamber at 641-472-2111 or lknox@fairfieldiowa.com.  For more information, visit FairfieldIowa.com/Blog.

For additional information on this or other Chamber programming, contact Willett at 641-472-2111 or bwillett@fairfieldiowa.com.

Press release from Fairfield Economic Development Association & Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce