While browsing the Navy Exchange, you spot a nice pair of name-brand sports shoes. You really don’t have the extra cash for them this payday, but think why not just take them.

Lacing up the new shoes, you put your old shoes in the box and slide it back on the shelf and walk out the store. Feeling smug, you think you got away with it. Think again!

Last year, NAS Whidbey’s Navy Exchange caught 51 shoplifters and recovered $14,704 from Feb. 2, 2004 to Jan. 24, 2005 said Anglice Hollins, Loss Prevention Safety Supervisor.

Shoplifting not only cost the Navy Exchange budgeted dollars, but ultimately you, the military member, in lost Morale, Welfare and Recreation dollars.

“Seventy percent of Navy Exchange profits go to MWR,” said Lynn Moore, Whidbey’s Navy Exchange General Manager. “Thirty percent is used for recapitalization for things like equipment,” she added.

Shoplifting affects more than the offender. It burdens the base Security Department, Staff Judge Advocate, Personnel Support Detachment who has to suspend your ID card shopping privileges, store security expenses and hurts family members.

“It’s illegal to profile people,” said Hollins. “We look for certain behavior cues such as people wearing unseasonable coats or carrying large purses or backpacks.”

The Navy Exchange uses cameras, loss prevention personnel wandering the store and trained sales associates to spot shoplifters.

After an offender exits the building beyond all points at which they can make a payment, the person will be approached by a loss prevention investigator who will identify him or herself.

“Ninety-eight percent of shoplifters will accompany the investigator back into the store,” said Hollins. The remaining 2 percent will put up a fuss, but eventually comply in the face of being embarrassed in public.

Hollins said all Navy Exchange shoplifters, no matter if you’re a family member, retiree, active duty or civilian guest, will be cited by NAS Security. For active duty members, a letter goes to their command.

For shoplifters with a military ID card, they will have their shopping privileges revoked by Personnel Support Detachment for one year, and if caught a second time, privileges are suspended indefinitely. Offenders found in the Navy Exchange during their suspended period will also be charged as trespassers.

The Navy Exchange automatically charges offenders $200 as part of the Civil Demand Program to recoup money lost to shoplifting. On top of this, all cases are processed by the Staff Judge Advocate where one could be fined as much as $2,500 or a year in jail.

Just like commercial retailers, the Navy Exchange is not immune to people working in teams to shoplift. Recently NAS Whidbey’s NavyExchange was alerted to a shoplifting team at Naval Station Everett using a specifically marked large shopping bag.

“The very next day,” Hollins said, “they were spotted and caught at our store due to the MO (modus operandi) we had on them.”

Items stolen can range from a 55-cent candy bar to cosmetics to DVD players.

Amazingly, patrons are bold enough to use strollers to stash stolen merchandise.

“Civilian retail ‘shrink’ is 2 percent of total sales,” said Moore.

“The overall Navy Exchange system is just over 1 percent and Whidbey in the past three years is .64 percent,” she added, which statically is good.

“Shrink” is described as the difference between book inventory versus physical inventory.

Shoplifting also affects customer service said Hollins, because certain merchandise such as electronic video games are under lock and key, meaning patrons have to wait for someone to unlock the case to view the product.

“There are consequences to their actions,” said Hollins. “How do you explain this to your chief or commanding officer?” Moore agreed saying,"Sometimes we have to handcuff a parent in front of their child; what kind of message are you sending?”

The Navy promotes “Honor, Courage and Commitment” as Core Values.

Shoplifting is definitely not honorable.