Shoplifting

928 Words2 Pages

Shoplifting When someone steals merchandise offered for sale in a retail store it

is generically called shoplifting. To commit shoplifting one must

"intend" to permanently deprive the merchant of the value of the

merchandise. Shoplifting most often occurs by concealing merchandise

in a purse, pocket or bag but can occur by a variety of methods. Most

shoplifters are amateurs. However, there are growing numbers of people

who make their living by stealing from retail stores. Amateur

shoplifter can be highly skilled, and some steal almost every day, but

don't do it to make a living. Most amateurs are opportunistic, crude

in their methods, and are detected more often than others.

Professional shoplifters run the gamut from being highly skilled to

thug-like. Some professionals work in teams or use elaborate

distraction scenarios. The crude professionals sometimes use force and

fear much like gang intimidation and often commit grab-and-run thefts.

Being a professional means that they steal merchandise for a living

and like other trades, practice makes perfect. Thoughtful

professionals are very difficult to stop in a society where retail

stores openly display their merchandise.

Shoplifters come in all shapes and sizes, ages and sexes, and vary in

ethnic background, education, and economic status. Some shoplifters

steal for the excitement, some steal out of desire, some steal for

need, some steal out of peer pressure, and some steal because it is

simply a business transaction to them. Some shoplifters are

compulsive, some opportunistic, and ...

... middle of paper ...

...

$1.0 - $1.1 MILLION

33,600 - 38,400

EVERY MINUTE

$16,800 - $19,200

560 - 640

How much shoplifting costs you is directly related to your profit

margin. For example, if you have a 10% profit margin, and someone

steals a $2.00 item, you will have to sell $20.00 in merchandise to

make up for that loss. Some stores have very low profit margins, and

suffer greatly because of shoplifting. Grocery stores often have

profit margins of around 1%. If someone shoplifts steaks worth $7.00,

the store must sell goods worth $700.00 to recover the loss

Crime in six major offence categories has fallen in the past two

years, the latest NSW statistics show. The NSW Bureau of Crime

Statistics and Research today said shoplifting was the only category

to record an increase in the two years to December 2002.

More about Shoplifting

Open Document