Woman in Tears Goes Viral on TikTok After Witnessing Brazen Theft at Lafayette ULTA Beauty Store

A woman recently went viral on TikTok after witnessing customers stealing from an Ulta Beauty store in Lafayette, LA.

TikTok user @mg82.02 was in tears as she explained what she had just witnessed while shopping at an Ulta Beauty store earlier this month. Her tears were tears of anger due to the fact that employees stood by while a group of women stole products from the beauty store.

According to the woman, the employees also instructed other customers to not intervene as it was store policy to not get involved when it came to theft.

Retail theft is a pretty common issue for businesses, and it's a big headache for retail stores. According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, shoplifting incidents can result in an average loss of around $559 per incident in the United States. That's a lot of money that retailers could lose, so it's no wonder that many major retail outlets have policies in place that tell employees not to get involved when it comes to theft.

So, why is this policy in place?

Well, the safety of employees and customers is the top priority for retail outlets. In many cases, shoplifters can become violent, and it's just not worth it for employees to risk their safety and health by getting involved.

Retail employees aren't trained to deal with dangerous situations, and getting in between a thief and their loot could lead to someone getting hurt or even killed. So, it's better for everyone to avoid these situations entirely by not intervening in theft.

What about legal issues?

Another reason for this policy is the potential legal trouble that could come with getting involved. Sometimes, a retailer's intervention in theft can lead to a wrongful accusation of theft, resulting in legal problems.

For instance, someone pointed out that the woman who posted complaints about the thieves was wearing sunglasses and a black hoodie—two things she used to describe the suspects.

Retailers also have specific procedures and protocols in place to handle theft situations, and it's up to management to follow them closely to ensure they are handling each incident correctly.

The eye in the sky doesn't lie

Additionally, some retailers use surveillance technology to monitor their premises to identify and prevent theft. The use of cameras and other monitoring equipment can help deter shoplifters and provide evidence for law enforcement if theft does occur. This approach helps retailers avoid any confrontation with the shoplifters and ensure the safety of employees and customers.

To sum things up, the policy of not intervening in theft is in place to keep everyone safe and avoid legal trouble. As frustrating as it might be, retailers want to minimize the risk of theft while ensuring the safety of their employees and customers.

By following these policies and procedures, retailers can protect themselves, their employees, and their customers while minimizing the risk of theft. With that said, it doesn't necessarily mean the good still won't suffer for the bad as some stores have already alluded to higher prices in the future due to theft.

While there were some people who told the woman she was overreacting, many others sympathized with her—some even saying they experienced the same thing at ULTA.

A commenter who claimed to work for ULTA said that professional criminals are aware of policies that make it easy for them to steal.

Many others chimed in, saying they've experienced the same thing in ULTA stores.

In the end, all was well, but it doesn't make the issue any less maddening.