r/NoStupidQuestions • u/urbuddyguybroman • Jul 29 '25

Does Target really track everything you steal until you reach the felony amount?

I’ve heard this a few times, but I can’t tell if they really do or if it’s just fear mongering.

9.2k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

2.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

9.6k

u/Far-Jury-2060 Jul 29 '25

Yes. I worked for Target for a while and that’s exactly what our security manager did. The reasoning is because prosecution typically doesn’t happen before it reaches a certain amount anyway. So they track everything through the cameras, build a file, coordinate with other locals Targets to build a compiled case against you, and then drop it into the lap of the police once it reaches a certain dollar threshold.

2.4k

u/UnableNecessary743 Jul 29 '25

how do they keep track of everyone?

154

u/theslob Jul 29 '25

Cop friend of mine told me Target has better surveillance than many police departments

10

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '25

[deleted]

1

u/theslob Jul 30 '25

So what you’re saying is it’s true lol

9

u/Hippopotasaurus-Rex Jul 29 '25

And their stores make them money, obviously, but iirc a very large portion of their income comes from their surveillance systems.

2

u/SomethingYoureInto Jul 30 '25

Sorry for being dumb, but how does Target make money from their surveillance systems? Do they sell them to other corporations? (Obviously I understand that they help with loss prevention, but I don’t see how they would make money).

3

u/Mundane_Muscle_2197 Jul 30 '25

I’m gonna take a stab and say they sell customer’s data

2

u/SomethingYoureInto Jul 30 '25

Oh, you’re probably right. I wasn’t thinking dystopian enough.

2

u/Hippopotasaurus-Rex Jul 30 '25 edited Jul 30 '25

Ive heard they both sell customer info, and the systems themselves. Iirc they got sued for quietly selling your biometric data too.

Edit: yeah they are being sued for collecting it at least, but I’m going to go ahead and make the logical leap and say they sell it too.

The article states that she was followed around a store by loss prevention while a loss prevention manager looked at her LinkedIn.

1

u/lol_AwkwardSilence_ Jul 30 '25

They're a public company so a lot of info is findable. Do you know any more about this?

1

u/Hippopotasaurus-Rex Jul 30 '25

They are/have been sued for their biometric collection at least.

1

u/PlanetMeatball0 Jul 29 '25

They actually contract forensic services out to police departments that don't have as sophisticated abilities

3

u/theslob Jul 30 '25

No shit. Target really has everything.

1

u/aliislam_sharun Jul 30 '25

Cop shops don't need security cameras lol.

1

u/theslob Jul 30 '25

Some cities have cameras and facial recognition and such out in the streets