Despite the high standards of conduct required of students by the Honor Code, shoplifting attempts regularly occur on campus.

Thanks to the loss prevention specialists, also known as "floor walkers", these incidents are often only attempts and not actual thefts.

"People that apply usually like a little excitement," said Dennis Lindberg, BYU Bookstore's assistant director of operations. "We look for someone that can blend in. We also look for people that are very observant and pay attention to details."

In order to become a loss prevention specialist, students need to be older than 18 years old, be able to pass the university police background check, be able to communicate in English both written and oral, be able to climb stairs and be able to stay on their feet for up to four hours at a time, Lindberg said.

"It's a very handy job," Bookstore employee Lyndi Dewey said. "They're that extra eye."

As a bookstore employee, Dewey knows who the loss prevention specialists are, but they are pretty effective at blending in.

"They basically look as a customer," Lindberg said. "You'd never know."

Lindberg said part of their training is attending 30 hours with the Security Academy, where they are instructed on what to do in an emergency situation.

The floor walkers report to university police for any suspicious activities or individuals, Lindberg said.

"The cases they send to our department are valid ones," said Lt. Aaron Rhoades of the BYU Patrol Division. "They are very professional."

Rhoades defined shoplifting as taking merchandise which has been displayed for sale and removing it from the store without paying for it.

"As a citizen of U.S., if you witness a crime, you can make a citizen arrest," Rhoades said.

Rhoades explained the loss prevention specialists have to wait for individuals to be outside of the store in order to constitute theft and to go and stop them.

Copyright Brigham Young University 11 Jun 2008