‘Alerto,’ other shows dispense helpful tips and cautionary warnings

CLAVIO. Hosts public service program.

Most TV shows are watched because they entertain viewers, but there are others that offer more than mere diversion, dispensing helpful tips and cautionary warnings to protect us from shady characters’ nefarious schemes and “modus.” One such show is Arnold Clavio’s “Alerto.”

Last month, it bared the modus operandi of local shoplifting gangs who steal, in cash or kind, from unsuspecting shop clerks. CCTV footage is used to provide examples of shady behavior and nasty schemes and ploys to watch out for and guard against.

Some shoplifters work in groups with “watchers” assigned to keep an eye on security guards or distract cashiers, even as point men do the actual filching of cash, cell phones, goods, etc.

With so many shady characters out to make a fast buck by whatever means, we need more shows like this to shock us into well-informed action to defend and protect ourselves.

Evil ploys

On US TV, even more helpful reality shows bare how criminals operate, and show viewers what they can do to not end up as victims of their sometimes brilliantly evil ploys. On “Sin City” recently, the host, a police investigator, went undercover to penetrate a smugglers’ ring dealing in illicit perfume deliveries.

It was chilling to see how the crime rings had set up complex mechanisms to protect their shady schemes, which make hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Amateurs who try to penetrate these protective defense parameters end up bludgeoned—or worse! So, guys, don’t try this at home!

Even more detailed and eye-opening was a reality show about a group of former policemen who specialized in solving big shops and supermarkets’ huge shoplifting problems.

The episode we caught used a lot of CCTV footage to show how pairs of “friends” would enter a store, pick clothing items or accessories to try on, and leave with their loot cleverly stashed in various parts of their bodies, or in big tote bags.

Another telecast showed how some particularly daring and “athletic” shoplifters would “train” for their criminal sorties by building up their inner thigh muscles so that they could carry big TV sets—between their legs!

And another exposé revealed how a big woman pretended to be pregnant so she could smuggle out a big appliance (in place of her discarded fake baby)—with cool aplomb!

But, the best public service of all was provided by the program that bared how the investigators went not just after shoplifters, but also deceitful store employees themselves!

When the boss wasn’t looking, for instance, a female shop clerk went to the store’s small warehouse and took out some expensive watches in a box that she then took to the building’s rooftop—and threw down to an accomplice waiting below!

The heist was worth thousands of dollars, but both the erring shop clerk and her accomplice were caught red-handed and on CCTV—and the establishment’s stressed and financially depleted owner could finally breathe a huge sigh of relief!