Shoplifters in Malaysia get smart; malls on alert

A high-end shopping mall's security chief said shoplifters were found with aluminium foil stitched into the inner lining of their bags.

The aluminium foil impedes the signal between the security tag on the goods and the detection system.

"It works regardless of whether the security tag is magnetic or radio based," he said, urging retailers nationwide "to be on alert".

The security chief said he and his team got a whiff of this after noticing a small group of foreign shoppers behaving suspiciously at the mall recently.

They were exchanging items among themselves at a cafe in the premises.

"When our security personnel approached the three they bolted. However, they left behind several bags. We inspected the bags and found 23 pairs of stolen trousers," he said.

Upon closer scrutiny, security personnel found that the bags had aluminium foil stitched into the inner lining.

The Malaysian Association for Shopping and Highrise Complex Management has warned shopping malls nationwide to be on alert for this new modus operandi.

Malyasia, a hit among tourists across the world, is known for its malls and shopping arcades.