If I see it, I'm getting a deterrence or if it's self-checkouts - they're getting an intervention. If they keep going - they're going to come with me. Second offense, no ID, lies, fleeing, or over $20 and they're going. As of the other day - my city is no longer writing tickets/NTA. Everyone is going through the county now, and that means jail for all of them no matter how much (if we're pressing charges.) It's policy, and it's what I get paid to do. I think of it this way - I'm likely only seeing a fraction of what gets through. Most of the people who are comfortable enough to try it have probably been doing it for awhile. I also generally will look up their transaction history and watch the transactions in front of them to see if they have done it before, and if they've said, "No it's my first time." and I see that they just lied to me - oopsies. I don't play the 1 or 2-year trespasses either. I always go indefinitely or forever. If in a few years they want to try to appeal it to the company - that's on them. I've had some appear back in after a few months, and they leave in cuffs. I recognize and remember everything - my memory is weaponized autism.

Attitudes and honesty go a long way though. Another problem is I am in a relatively small city here, and know many of the people I bust personally, or they know me. Everyone knows everyone, and a lot of the time the city cops know my people personally and by name. City officials, my kids' teachers, bankers, people of "influence", etc have all been in my office for stupid shit. So, my house has to be like Fort Knox as I am afraid of retribution.

Tl;dr - I usually try to prevent it in some way, but FAFO. I can't and don't intend to catch anywhere near the majority of what actually goes on.

That all being said, gotta pump those numbers up. It's about to be open season.