By Mike Hazlip—
National retailer Hobby Lobby is seeking to fill a job opening in Citrus Heights for a plain clothes loss prevention agent, according to an online job posting.
It is unclear whether the position is newly created, or if the store is hiring a replacement agent. A phone call to the store manager last month was referred to Hobby Lobby’s corporate media department, which did not respond by press time on March 4.
The job posting says the position pays $19-20 per hour starting pay, with paid vacation, health and dental, 401k match and three-day weekends twice a month. Prior experience in loss prevention is required.
Responsibilities for the position include reviewing camera footage, completing incident reports, and “discreetly walking the sales floor undercover to apprehend shoplifters.” Candidates must have a valid driver’s license and pass a background check.
Kathilynn Carpenter, executive director for the Sunrise MarketPlace business improvement district, told The Sentinel in a phone call that retail theft is an ongoing concern in the district but has remained relatively steady. She said hiring of loss prevention agents is a prudent move that many retail stores have taken.
Carpenter was unsure if Hobby Lobby’s job announcement was related to any increase in criminal activity in the district. Citrus Heights Police Corporal Kyle Miyamura said in a phone call Saturday that the department has not seen any increasing trends in retail theft compared to last year.
Carpenter said she is working with Nor-Cal Security and officer Jeff Schouten to prevent as much theft as possible by closely monitoring individuals engaged in suspicious activity.