The objective of the store detective is to observe a complete crime taking place. In the "Dirty Harry" spoof, Harry was downgraded to a video store detective. To make a living, he took a job as a store detective. Carner was a store detective who appeared in five novels. Coughlin began his career with R. H. Macy's West Coast division as a store detective. A store detective has several techniques that they use to detect shoplifters. Many large retail or grocery stores have a store detective to watch for shoplifters.