Shoplifting is a very big problem in America. Shoplifting affects more than the offender. It overburdens the police and the courts, adds to a store's security expenses, costs consumers more for goods, costs communities lost dollars in sales taxes and hurts children and families. Not all shoplifters are the same, there are two distinct types. There are also many ways to help prevent shoplifting.
The consumer is affected in a few different ways because of shoplifting. For the consumer who shoplifts, which is usually a teenager or senior citizen, the law affects them. No shoplifter will never get caught even though that is what most believe. As shoplifters steal for longer periods of time, and their shoplifting progresses as they start to steal bigger and more expensive items more frequently. As time goes they start to become involved with car shopping, stealing cars, and breaking in to houses. Shoplifting has consequences, which vary from getting your parents called all the way to large amounts of jail time. Even people who accompany shoplifters are in danger; for being with a shoplifter is almost as bad as shoplifting. That is why it is important to stay away from people who are shoplifting. If it is your friend who is shoplifting the best is to try to get him to stop. You could do this by telling him not to, reminding him of the consequences, and maybe even threatening to tell authority if has to come to that. If someone ever asks you to steal you should know the answer is no way no how, because getting in trouble with law will mess up your entire life. For the consumer who does not shoplift, they have the problem of always being suspected. Because of shoplifting, some stores in my area do not allow minors to enter with out an adult. Many stores will ask you "if you are going to pay for that?" It becomes quite annoying when store owners hound you while you are shopping or ask you to leave if you are taking too long when you are actually just browsing.
Shoplifters affect the Store Owner heavily. The number one reason for small, new business's to close is shoplifting. Approximately 10% of consumers enter a store and shoplift. It is very hard to run a store when 10% of your store is stolen from you.