It is happening more and more often in the center of Hoofddorp: officers sprinting after shoplifters with ‘prepared bags’. The bags contain a layer of aluminum through which the thieves try to bypass the alarm system. Shopkeepers are also recognizing the trend and are increasingly catching thieves in the act.
By attaching a layer of aluminum to the inside of a bag, the thief tries to slip past the security gates with his loot unnoticed. The trick is also used in combination with jackets, or by simply putting a layer of aluminum over the tags.
For example, local police officer Arjen Schut recently came across a bag in the village whose inner layer had been sewn with great precision to the outer layer. The trick is not new, by the way. Shoplifters have been using such bags for years to rake in their loot.
The thieves are trying to hit many stores, but they seem to be mainly targeting perfumeries, electronics stores and shoe stores, says officer Arjen Schut.
The manager of Intersport Twinsport on Marktlaan can talk about it: last Monday he chased a thief who, despite using a prepared bag, still set off the alarm.
And that was not the first time: it happens so often that Rakers now has the 06 number of the local police officer under his shortcut key. When he comes across yet another missing piece of clothing or empty hangers, he knows it has happened again. A month ago he and local police officer Schut went after a thief with a prepared bag, but they did not catch him.
Not new
Although the number of arrests is increasing, center manager Sonja Langendijk of Hoofddorp Winkelstad emphasizes that attention was already paid to the devious method years ago. For example, there was a meeting at the time where several entrepreneurs stood around the table and were shown the loot from such a prepared bag. “All kinds of bags are used for this, from Albert Heijn bags to Prada bags.”
Because shopkeepers and police are becoming increasingly aware of the use of the bags, thieves are increasingly being caught red-handed with self-made bags. Shopkeepers who have doubts can rely on their gut feeling, according to local police officer Schut. “Keep an eye on them, speak to them and remove them from anonymity.”
The bags can sometimes be recognized as a crumpled paper bag, as they have often been used as a prepared theft bag.
Shoplifting fine
According to the police database, shoplifting has increased in almost every neighborhood compared to the previous year. In Toolenburg West this has more than tripled from 29 registered shoplifting cases in 2022 to 98 cases in 2023.
To reduce shoplifting with prepared bags, Haarlemmermeer has included in the general local ordinance (APV) that carrying such a bag is already punishable. If someone is caught with such a bag again after an initial arrest, he must not only pay a fine, but also a penalty of 2,500 euros to the municipality,
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