Potential costs to a merchant of prosecuting alleged shoplifters are lost time from work for case processing, lost sales of the items at issue as they are removed from the stock for use as evidence, and the possibility of a civil suit for false arrest should a conviction not be obtained. A significant cost of not prosecuting is that the store will be viewed as an easy mark, and habitual shoplifters will continue to steal from the store. A Shoplifters Anonymous study of 1,301 amateur shoplifters indicated that apprehension without prosecution can encourage shoplifting and that apprehension followed by a successful prosecution can deter future shoplifting by the convicted persons. A merchant's civil liability is increased by an apprehension not followed by prosecution. The costs to merchants of pursuing prosecution can be reduced through consultation with police and prosecutors to ensure that procedures for a successful prosecution are followed prior to apprehension, that the rules of evidence are observed, and that case circumstances are properly documented. 1 footnote.