“I don’t have 3 hands.”
If you’re someone who likes to shop at Buc-ee’s, you may want to heed one man’s warning. An everyday visit to the popular chain could easily turn into an extremely uncomfortable situation—or even a criminal charge.
In a video with over 171,000 views, TikTok creator and purported former Buc-ee’s worker Ryan (@wtf_its_ryan) answers a viewer question about whether the chain catches a lot of shoplifters. According to him, they do.
“Buc-ee’s does not have an asset protection team the way a lot of other retailers have asset protection teams—at least during my time there,” he starts.
“Now, they do have a ton of cameras, though,” he continues. “Every location has 250 plus cameras. Every pump has a camera. Every square footage of that property is being recorded.”
According to Ryan, if someone is observed stealing, either in person or over Buc-ee’s security camera system, that information is passed up the chain. From there, the alleged shoplifter is confronted, though how they are confronted depends on the circumstances.
“How they confront you is dependent on if they have police presence at the store during that time or not,” Ryan explains. “If they have police presence at the store, they’re going to send the cops on you. That’s it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a drink, it doesn’t matter if it’s a candy bar. If you steal something, they’re just gonna send the cops on you.”
If there is no police presence at the store, Ryan says, an alleged shoplifter will simply be confronted by a manager.
“Either way, you’re gonna end up being criminally trespassed and possibly arrested,” he concludes.
Information available online suggests that, yes, Ryan is correct about Buc-ee’s security system, with some caveats.
While Ryan says that the chain does not employ traditional asset protection teams, this doesn’t appear to be true, though Ryan notes that he’s only discussing his personal experience at the store.
Buc-ee’s does in fact employ asset protection workers. One news article identifies a man as being a loss prevention manager for 24 stores, and a Buc-ee’s job listing says a location is currently seeking a loss prevention clerk.
That said, Ryan is correct about each store having a lot of cameras. ABC13 reports that a Buc-ee’s location in Bastrop, Texas had about 200 cameras as of 2013. This same report claims that the cameras are incredibly powerful; after one customer allegedly left without paying, the store claimed they were able to identify what he took, which vehicle he used, and even his license plate. Thirteen years later, it’s likely the cameras are even better.
There are reports of alleged shoplifters being confronted by both police and management as well. Buc-ee’s locations have been known to employ off-duty police officers. Other Buc-ee’s shoplifting stories say that alleged shoplifters were approached by management. These two details point to Ryan being correct about his understanding of the chain’s security.
In short, if you shoplift from Buc-ee’s, don’t expect to get away with it.
In the comments section, users shared their own experiences with the security system at Buc-ee’s.
“No seriously, I lost my wallet [and] they record the minute your vehicle pulls into the parking lot. They have enough cameras to not poke your nose,” said a commenter. “I’m glad [because] I dropped it [and] it was taken to the register.”
“I had a Monster, fudge and those red burnt peanuts. I had the peanuts in my sweater because I don’t have 3 hands. In the checkout line I got confronted by an employee,” recounted another. “Pissed me off so I put the stuff on the floor and walked out.”
“Well, I got a fountain drink and honestly forgot to pay for it. I walked outside and they came on the intercom at the gas pumps to let me know,” shared a third. “And yes, I did go back inside to pay for it because it [was] an honest mistake. Luckily they did not call the cops or have me banned.”
We’ve reached out to Ryan via TikTok direct message and comment.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motor1.com?
– The Motor1.com Team