A booster bag is a bag used by thieves to hide stolen goods. They can be lined with aluminum foil to block anti-theft signals and look ordinary, making it difficult for stores to catch thieves. Thieves can also punch holes in bags to steal from unsuspecting victims.
A booster bag is a bag designed to hide stolen goods. There are a number of creative variations on this bag, all designed to make thieves difficult to identify and track, and in many shops, customers are required to check their bags at the counter to avoid using envelopes.
Originally, the term was used simply to refer to a particularly large bag used to store stolen goods and sometimes clothing equipped to aid thieves. In the modern age, the booster bag has gotten more high-tech: Thieves line the bags with aluminum foil so that signals from anti-theft devices are blocked, allowing the thief to pass through anti-theft detectors without fear. In addition to lining large bags with foil, thieves can also line clothes to turn into walking bags.
The benefit of a foil lined booster bag for thieves is that it can look perfectly ordinary, allowing the thief to snoop around the store like any other customer. Because the bag blocks tag signals, the thief doesn’t have to attempt to remove or alter the tags, and because store security is on the lookout for suspicious behavior like long trips to the fitting room, thieves fall under the radar. Also, thieves don’t have to be nervous as they step out the door, as they can be sure that signs from clothing tags or stolen items will be blocked.
For stores, of course, foil-backed pouches pose a huge problem. While stores may ask customers to check bags at the counter, it’s not uncommon for women to keep small purses and satchels, and in a store with small, expensive items, such a bag can easily be used to hide stolen items. In stores without counter checks, security must be especially alert for signs of theft if they want to catch someone in the act of using a booster bag.
In another creative variation of the classic pouch, a thief punches a hole in the bottom of a large shoulder bag, allowing the thief to place the bag on top of someone’s purse or handbag while they’re sitting on a bench or table. The thief can grab the bag through the hole, allowing him to take the bag away and inspect it at his leisure. Especially in busy areas, it can take the victim some time to realize that the bag has been snatched, and it can be a challenge to identify the thief, as holding a large shoulder bag is a routine activity that would not normally attract the victim. ‘Attention.
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