Undercover Security

[Tech_Disney]

Have you guys actually ever seen these guys? I have and when you know what to look for, it's kind of obvious who they are. Here are the distinguishing traits, so you can see if you can see them.

1. Big men. (Not big as in fat, big as in muscular)
2. Completely Alone.
3. Standing or sitting in places that a normal guest might not sit or stand. (Example, standing right next to the bag check)
4. An Earpiece and a wire going into their shirt. (This is the most obvious sign.)
5. The same person is standing in the same place when you pass multiple times in one day, or when you come to the park on a completely different day.
6. While their clothes do blend in on first glance, on further inspection you will notice that they are genarally wearing a button up shirt and slacks. Even though they are supposed to look like they are not in a costume, they still meat all of Disney's dressing and grooming standards.

Every single time I go to the park, I see the same man standing next to the bag check area wearing an earpiece. He is usually wearing a button-up Hawaiian shirt and black slacks and black shoes.

There are probably some guards that are more conspicuous than this one and the other few that I have noticed, and the only reason this one sticks out in my mind is because I see him all the time. I suppose they would look like a dad waiting for his family to an average guest, but once you know exactly what to look for (especially the earpiece) you start to notice that all they are missing is the name tag.

[MegarooFifi]

Have you guys actually ever seen these guys? I have and when you know what to look for, it's kind of obvious who they are. Here are the distinguishing traits, so you can see if you can see them.

Yep, I've seen them before. I've even seen a few younger guys around, who aren't that muscular, but if you watch them long enough, you can figure out if they're undercover security. Some of them don't have earpieces on, they have walkie talkies in their pockets... (at least I assume that these guys are also security)

They have them at other parks too - I was once approached at Six Flags and was accused of stealing (that's a whole other story, which sort of explains why I don't like going there). The guy approached me, identified himself as an undercover security guard, showed me appropriate identification and told me that a employee had identified me as someone who was suspected of stealing from a particular store. He then asked to look inside my shopping bag and asked to see my receipt. After bringing me over to a service counter, he emptied the contents of my bag and verified that everything was on my receipt. He then put everything back in my bag, handed me my receipt and said thank you. No apology or anything

So, I'm hoping that the DL ones are a bit nicer!

[Orcatime]

How do you know that?

[SoCal]

They have them at other parks too - I was once approached at Six Flags and was accused of stealing (that's a whole other story, which sort of explains why I don't like going there). The guy approached me, identified himself as an undercover security guard, showed me appropriate identification and told me that a employee had identified me as someone who was suspected of stealing from a particular store. He then asked to look inside my shopping bag and asked to see my receipt. After bringing me over to a service counter, he emptied the contents of my bag and verified that everything was on my receipt. He then put everything back in my bag, handed me my receipt and said thank you. No apology or anything

Couple things to say about this. At my old job if the security accused a person of stealing and they were wrong they lost their security spot. One of hte head guys made a bad call and was re-assinged to the registers where he quit.

But they do this because things can get very sitcky for them if they accuse you of stealing and they are wrong. I am sure if you made a fuss you could have walked away with more than you entered with.

As far as the DL guys go, I never had a direct run-in with them. But today my daughter (4 years old) ran out of the Buzz store with a Buzz toy in her hand when she saw the talking trash can outside (she loves that thing). One of the older CM laides threw a HUGE FIT despite the fact I was standing in line to get some other items, and she knows me from my weekly visits. Ya, like I need to have my kid steal a $10 toy :botox:

[Steak]

Wow Megaroo!

If something like that happens again (and of course you didn't actually steal something) make them call the police. Don't let some dork check your bag. They will either leave you alone, or call the cops, and be so embarrassed once you are cleared, you will get far more than an apology. Free tickets and meals (which you can quickly scalp ! ha!) or more. Don't take that kind of crap, if someone accuses you of stealing, that is a big charge. Don't fold for a keystone cop.

[Tech_Disney]

How do you know that?

This isn't 100% accurate, and this isn't really an official guide to finding security guards. I just made a brief summary of what I have observed. Some of these points could just be coincidences between the guards that I have noticed.

[Club 33]

Also, if they're shoes are hard and black and are shiny as solar reflectors.

[Old_School_Goofy]

Theres undercover women,too. I guess they blend in better.

[Tiggeriffic]

As far as the DL guys go, I never had a direct run-in with them. But today my daughter (4 years old) ran out of the Buzz store with a Buzz toy in her hand when she saw the talking trash can outside (she loves that thing). One of the older CM laides threw a HUGE FIT despite the fact I was standing in line to get some other items, and she knows me from my weekly visits. Ya, like I need to have my kid steal a $10 toy :botox:

My youngest daughter is notorious for picking up things. Once she picked up a pack of underwear in a store in Disneyland and we didnt notice until we were in another land. Luckily, when my ex ran back and explained what happened, they were extremely nice about it and nothing happened.

On another note, last Saturday when my brother and I were entering the park (about 6pm) a guy and girl (ages lets say...18-21) were being escorted out of the park. They walked right by us and the guy obnoxiously turned around and yelled "dont go in there, they accuse you of stealing"

[Mr D]

Didn't anybody remember when Eisner adopted the MOM patrols? The mom with the stroller lookouts? The stroller has a hidden camera being fed back to the video surveillance control room (similar system used at Walmarts) where the MIB (Mouse in Black) units are then sent out...if there is any problems the MIB use their own modified Disney styled memory erasers, identical to those ones we see at night in DL.

:lol:

[Soulquarian]

That must be hard on security. Even at my own job, sometimes people will look like they might be trying to steal something, and it's hard to decide what action to take. I don't want to embarrass them or anything. I'd hate to be a security guy at Disneyland, with all those pesky kids and dozens of families all crowded into the tiniest stores...

[CA_Man_In_HI]

Here's how "undercover" security worked back in 2000 (could've changed since then). Regular security CMs could apply to be a PCO (Plain Clothes Officer). They had to be retrained, and learn all the laws concerning theft and how to appropriately approach and detain (they can't arrest). DL is very strict about this policy, and who can approach somebody stealing, for two reason 1) DL really does care about Guest expierence, and knows that falsely accusing somebody can really give a guest a bad day. 2) DL is so lawsuit-phobic (and who can blame them sometimes?).
PCO's don't (or didn't) wear earpieces, but rather have a concealed radio, and a pager. When they go to approach someone, there will be 2 or 3 regular security CMs around, staying far enough back that it's not obvious, but close enough for the suspect to see them and think twice about taking off.
PCOs are very good about approaching suspects without alerting other guests. In one instance, a PCO approached a suspect, showed him his badge and identified himself, and escorted the suspected off to the backstage area from the middle of the Mattherhorn queue without anybody really noticing. To the casual observer, it just looked like a friend approached another friend and asked him to ride something else.
PCOs are of all ages (18 and above), races, and sex. They rarely are alone, and will work with another PCO. 2 sets of eyes are better than one, and one PCO looks a little too suspicious.
What's my source of information? While I was not a PCO, let's just say I've had some work-related expierence with PCOs during my short 8 months there.

[Robert951]

I used to work private security & I know people that work D/L security. Most of the stores on stage have overhead (hidden) cameras to monitor activity in the stores (both CM & guest - yes, you are being watched!), utilize plain clothes officers (to blend in they usually wear t-shirts or polo shirts, I can't say from where or what logos) and 'mystery' shoppers to keep an up-close eye on CM's & guests at the registers (to reduce chances that the register totals may be 'modified'). I've also seen 'guests' hustled off-stage to have a 'talk' with them......and yes, they do work in teams - I've seen that also. They are all easy to spot - just look for someone that is watching people, not the things going on around them. They always appear to express no interest in parades, shows or performances, but their eyes are always scanning crowds.
Robert

[sorceress1986]

Well, I have to say, this all makes a lot of sense. Believe me, I go to college & a lot of people my age jus don't know how to behave at all...I would do the same things. Just the idea of some of the stuff people do in a place like Disneyland just disgusts me..

[innerSpaceman]

Did you guys ever stop to think that the Resort's Plain Clothes Officers could be conducting surveillance of this very message board?!?

It's true. They are here, and they are watching us!




Ok, well, enough of hysterics .... but it is true that PCOs post here. As you might imagine, they need to remain anonymous ... and even the subterfuge of screen names is not sufficient concealment of their identities. Because of that, they are not able to freely post in this thread ... but one of them would very much like to say something pertinent - - and that is:


The PCO's are a fine group of men and women. We are very well trained in our decision making skills and assesments.Yes, at times we do stand out, but that actually helps deter people who may try to do the resort harm. There are alot of myths about this program, and I wish I had time to dispel them all.

[Disneyphile]

When I worked there in merchandise, they were known as "foxes", and believe me, they were quite sly. We once had a shoplifter in Adventureland Bazaar, and I had to call the hotline. About 2 minutes later, a man came up to me with his kid in a stroller, shopping bags, balloon, you name it, and said, "I got the page. Did you see which direction he went?"

I was blown away. The only thing that gave him away was the earpiece that was barely visible above his shirt collar. The dude was completely incognito, dressed as a tourist. Absolutely brilliant on Disney's part.

[Retlaw Yensid]

the kid was actually a security camera... and the stroller was the antenna :devil: :devil:

[Disneyphile]

the kid was actually a security camera...

Wow, then that was a damn good animatronic.

People can't get away with much at Disneyland, because heck, the person behind them in a queue could be a "fox" and they'd never be able to tell. Hands down, I think Disney has the best security department around.

[innerSpaceman]

While I have never shoplifted or vandalized at the Resort, I've gotten away with so much trespassing that I have to wonder at the level of security. Perhaps efforts are, rightly so, directed more at economic issues of protecting merchandise.

[CA_Man_In_HI]

While I have never shoplifted or vandalized at the Resort, I've gotten away with so much trespassing that I have to wonder at the level of security. Perhaps efforts are, rightly so, directed more at economic issues of protecting merchandise.

With between 10,000 to 65,000 people in the park, they can't be everywhere and see everything at once. A lot of people have gotten away with various things (myself included), but the illusion that the security dept. gives off acts well enough as a deterrent for most guests seeking mischief.