[scorch]

What kind of stores do you think alot of people would be robbing and those you should avoid due to enemies,size,lack of items, etc. Like if your on the move after a disaster and you see a crowded walmart or an almost empty 7-11. There will also probly be competition for cigs and beer. So do guys think you should avoid some stores?

[Foxfire]

It won't matter what stores. As seen in Katrina nothing was safe from being looted.

[dukman]

If a store is being looted, I would stay the hell away from it. I don't want to be misidentified as one of the looters.

A big part of being a prepper, is NOT needing anything at that last minute when SHTF, and if needed, being able to get the hell out of dodge before the riots begin. I know that I will be avoiding ALL stores.

[gkckak]

your super targets and super walmarts is where everyone would go. Because they have everything. I would not dare to there in a survival situation though

[heysmithy]

I would actually think that the big department stores would be the easiest to put on lock down for how much stuff they carry, given the number of employees you could accumulate, and the fact that there are only 4-5 entrances to guard. All you would have to do is tell employees that they are welcome to have anything in the store that they need for the duration of the disaster, as well as a good sized bonus at the end, and then arm them with shotguns from the sporting goods.... I wonder how the law stands on protecting the store from looters using lethal force?

[Celticwarrior]

I think if you are asking what stores with USEFUL items that will probably be hit and which wouldn't see so much traffic, you would have to say what kind of disaster it is? For example, something like a hurricane would be like Katrina. People would be going after high ticket items like plasma/LED TVs, Video and Audio systems, computers, cameras, and things like IPhones; "supply" items like batteries, ice, canned food, flashlights, etc; and the "comfort" items they think would be valuable to them without paying (booze, cigs, etc.). Stores with those items should be avoided like the plague. Big chain stores (Macy's, Nordstroms, Wallyworld, Sears) will often have generators, and battery-backups for their alarm and video surveillance equipment, so I would think they would be avoided by most looters who have 2 braincells to rub together.

If you are talking all out anarchy and chaos surrounding a complete collapse, due to some really BAD SHTF scenario, I would think department and sporting good stores will be hit hard. Pawn shops, gun stores, jewelry stores and banks will be targets. Convenience stores, liquor and tobacco stores, electronics and bigbox stores (like Best Buy, the Office stores, or Fry's), and mall stores would be on the hit list too. Grocery stores are usually empty before an emergency has gone on too long, so usually there isn't much left to loot.

I also concur about being anywhere near these stores. If I am caught completely with my pants down and away from car and home in a vulnerable position, then maybe I might need to procure some basic gear, but being creative and not going where the crowds go would be the best idea in that case. Otherwise, stay FAR FAR AWAY from all of the zombie-like masses.

[Celticwarrior]

Originally Posted by heysmithy

I would actually think that the big department stores would be the easiest to put on lock down for how much stuff they carry, given the number of employees you could accumulate, and the fact that there are only 4-5 entrances to guard. All you would have to do is tell employees that they are welcome to have anything in the store that they need for the duration of the disaster, as well as a good sized bonus at the end, and then arm them with shotguns from the sporting goods.... I wonder how the law stands on protecting the store from looters using lethal force?

Having worked in Retail Management, I can tell you that even if the cops didn't blink at you shooting a looter, you would be fired from your job, even though your were protecting the company property and valuables. There is no legal department in the world that would be on your side in a "company employee shoots looter" case. You'd be cut loose, the store would apologize and settle with the looter's family, and you'd still likely face criminal charges unless you can prove your life was in imminent danger, and it wouldn't have been possible for you to just leave the scene rather than engage the looters. If you aren't security, you have no reason to be doing anything like holding off thieves, or trying to apprehend or stop a looter. Even retail security has VERY LIMITED license to act in these cases. They aren't cops and can't just shoot first and ask questions later. If the business is YOURS, that is a different story, but you are likely to still have troubles as the current laws in most states say that life trumps property, and unless you are able to prove self-defense, you are pretty well screwed for shooting a thief or thieves for trying to take your stuff.

[dukman]

Originally Posted by Celticwarrior

Having worked in Retail Management, I can tell you that even if the cops didn't blink at you shooting a looter, you would be fired from your job, even though your were protecting the company property and valuables. There is no legal department in the world that would be on your side in a "company employee shoots looter" case. You'd be cut loose, the store would apologize and settle with the looter's family, and you'd still likely face criminal charges unless you can prove your life was in imminent danger, and it wouldn't have been possible for you to just leave the scene rather than engage the looters. If you aren't security, you have no reason to be doing anything like holding off thieves, or trying to apprehend or stop a looter. Even retail security has VERY LIMITED license to act in these cases. They aren't cops and can't just shoot first and ask questions later. If the business is YOURS, that is a different story, but you are likely to still have troubles as the current laws in most states say that life trumps property, and unless you are able to prove self-defense, you are pretty well screwed for shooting a thief or thieves for trying to take your stuff.

You hit the nail on the head CW. Even the so-called-security guards have protocols they have to follow, and quite often will let the thief escape because the protocol says they have to. Big Box retail is too afraid of law suits. Even if the person took $5,000 worth of stuff and was legally apprehended, they would rather let him go then face $10,000 in legal fees to prove they were right.

Most Wal-Marts do NOT have back-up generators. Wally World is too damned stupid if you ask me. The local Target does, and they only do about 20% of the sales volume that the local Wal-Mart does. Just last year our power went out at least three times, and cost over $100,000 in lost sales. Some of the Wal-Marts in areas that experience more frequent power outages may have back-ups, but around here Wal-Mart believes the amount of wasted foodstuffs and lost sales isn't enough to offset the cost of having a generator.

[Celticwarrior]

Originally Posted by dukman

You hit the nail on the head CW. Even the so-called-security guards have protocols they have to follow, and quite often will let the thief escape because the protocol says they have to. Big Box retail is too afraid of law suits. Even if the person took $5,000 worth of stuff and was legally apprehended, they would rather let him go then face $10,000 in legal fees to prove they were right.

Most Wal-Marts do NOT have back-up generators. Wally World is too damned stupid if you ask me. The local Target does, and they only do about 20% of the sales volume that the local Wal-Mart does. Just last year our power went out at least three times, and cost over $100,000 in lost sales. Some of the Wal-Marts in areas that experience more frequent power outages may have back-ups, but around here Wal-Mart believes the amount of wasted foodstuffs and lost sales isn't enough to offset the cost of having a generator.

Yeah, even the ones without a genny have UPS units hooked into their alarms and the phone lines. I love the 'cost-benefit' analysis these companies use. Thousands of dollars in loss for a couple of days without power, possibly over and over during the life of a store, or a one-time few grand in a natural-gas genny. Morons.

[ColcordMama]

H'mmmmmm if TSHTF and I had to go shopping, using the term loosely, I think if I could get to one, I'd hit an agricultural feed and seed store first. Being in a rural area we have several right here. That way I'd know I could stock up on bags of feed wheat and corn and barley, all great potential human food as well as feed for my flock of laying hens. Feed stores could also carry large containers of molasses (full of iron and a good sweetener) and salt blocks. I might even be able to get vegetable seed for future plantings. Who know what other useful stuff I could find? Gennies? Harness and tackle? Propane tanks? Maybe even vet meds! Stock watering tank (water storage, maybe fish farming, folks!), poultry hatching supplies. Good stuff for an uncertain future.