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Stores plagued by video pranks

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LAKELAND, Fla., March 12 (UPI) -- A growing number of videos on Web sites including YouTube and MySpace feature young people pulling pranks in stores including Florida supermarket chain Publix.

Video sharing Web site YouTube contains videos of teenage pranksters playing tricks at retail outlets including Lakeland-based Publix, Tampa, Fla., based Sweetbay, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Kmart and McDonald's, the Tampa Tribune reported Thursday.

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Among the shenanigans chronicled on YouTube are videos of pranksters running through Publix dressed as chickens, gingerbread men and giant bananas. A Wal-Mart based video features children sneaking onto a Wal-Mart intercom system and belting out a rendition of Mix-A-Lot's comedy-rap "Baby Got Back."

Joseph LaRocca, vice president of loss prevention with the National Retail Federation said the group has not discussed the prank videos with any of the Web sites that display them, but individual stores sometimes contact YouTube or other sites when a video depicts shoplifting or other crimes.

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