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CNN Live At Daybreak

Getting Ripped Off at Work

Aired October 17, 2003 - 05:39   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Getting ripped off at work is a growing problem. Perhaps what's most frustrating is that much of the stealing takes place during the business day and not under the cover of darkness.
Brian Cabell has details for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN MILHOUSE: What is the number one thing being stolen out of offices today?

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): No surprise, it's laptop computers, according to security specialist Dan Milhouse (ph). That's what he tells these office workers at a security seminar in Atlanta. What is surprising is that increasingly these thefts are being committed by what he calls office creepers. There's one right there quietly strolling into the seminar while Milhouse diverts attention to the other side of the room.

MILHOUSE: I'm going to pass out these papers right now and I want you all to look at this.

CABELL: In the meantime, the office creeper, so-called because he steals during the work day without being challenged by office employees, takes a laptop and walks away, as Milhouse continues his seminar.

MILHOUSE: Office creepers will usually dress up at -- I'll only give you one.

CABELL: The office creeper set up by Milhouse leaves the room with the stolen property. "Did you see the man?" Milhouse asks the group later. More than half shake their heads.

(on camera): Did you see anything out of the corner of your eye?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nothing at all. I was completely paying attention to him. I had no idea someone walked in.

CABELL: Fifteen feet away from you and you didn't see it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't see it.

CABELL (voice-over): Those who did notice the man said nothing.

(on camera): Did you think anything at that point, like he shouldn't be here, he shouldn't be taking this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I kind of wondered out of the corner of my eye why is he taking his laptop today.

CABELL: Did you say anything?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. I just kind of let it slide on in.

CABELL (voice-over): That's the problem, Milhouse says. Most office workers are too busy with their own tasks to care about some unassuming, often smiling stranger in their midst.

MILHOUSE: Hi, I'm Dan Milhouse. What's your name? Hi, Jill. Very nice to meet you.

That's all it takes, because you've looked them in the eye, you shook their hand. They're gone.

CABELL: How do you stop an office creeper? By acknowledging him, stripping away his anonymity and forcing him to creep to some other office.

Brian Cabell, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 17, 2003 - 05:39   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Getting ripped off at work is a growing problem. Perhaps what's most frustrating is that much of the stealing takes place during the business day and not under the cover of darkness.
Brian Cabell has details for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN MILHOUSE: What is the number one thing being stolen out of offices today?

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): No surprise, it's laptop computers, according to security specialist Dan Milhouse (ph). That's what he tells these office workers at a security seminar in Atlanta. What is surprising is that increasingly these thefts are being committed by what he calls office creepers. There's one right there quietly strolling into the seminar while Milhouse diverts attention to the other side of the room.

MILHOUSE: I'm going to pass out these papers right now and I want you all to look at this.

CABELL: In the meantime, the office creeper, so-called because he steals during the work day without being challenged by office employees, takes a laptop and walks away, as Milhouse continues his seminar.

MILHOUSE: Office creepers will usually dress up at -- I'll only give you one.

CABELL: The office creeper set up by Milhouse leaves the room with the stolen property. "Did you see the man?" Milhouse asks the group later. More than half shake their heads.

(on camera): Did you see anything out of the corner of your eye?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nothing at all. I was completely paying attention to him. I had no idea someone walked in.

CABELL: Fifteen feet away from you and you didn't see it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't see it.

CABELL (voice-over): Those who did notice the man said nothing.

(on camera): Did you think anything at that point, like he shouldn't be here, he shouldn't be taking this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I kind of wondered out of the corner of my eye why is he taking his laptop today.

CABELL: Did you say anything?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. I just kind of let it slide on in.

CABELL (voice-over): That's the problem, Milhouse says. Most office workers are too busy with their own tasks to care about some unassuming, often smiling stranger in their midst.

MILHOUSE: Hi, I'm Dan Milhouse. What's your name? Hi, Jill. Very nice to meet you.

That's all it takes, because you've looked them in the eye, you shook their hand. They're gone.

CABELL: How do you stop an office creeper? By acknowledging him, stripping away his anonymity and forcing him to creep to some other office.

Brian Cabell, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com