[BigV]

I have worked in retail and I know that shrinkage (loss through theft) has a major impact on profit. I also know that advertising is another large expense. Have you seen some foolish looking advertising schemes? Like people wearing sandwich boards or dressed as gorillas standing on the corner pointing to the store and waving to passers-by?

Well, what about combining these two ideas? Why would a store owner wait for someone to steal from them, be caught, arrested, tried, found guilty, and then sentenced to this strange punishment? Why not offer to hire someone to "advertise" in this way?

The store owner would certainly get the attention of many potential customers, due to the unusual nature of the advertising. And there would be the additional deterrent benefit of warning away any shoplifters.