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Retail Theft: An Analysis of Apprehended Shoplifters

NCJ Number
172698
Journal
Security Journal Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: August 1997 Pages: 233-246
Author(s)
R Hayes
Date Published
1997
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A total of 171,141 shoplifting incidents reported by 171 retail companies with 21,013 stores were analyzed to determine the characteristics of the offenses and the offenders.
Abstract
Data were collected by means of a self-administered case report form. Each company provided its own version of the form, which was completed by a company employee following the apprehension of the shoplifter. Twenty-nine percent of the companies were supermarkets and other grocery stores, 9.3 percent were drug stores, 9 percent were home and hardware stores, 7 percent were department stores, 7 percent were general merchandise stores, and the others were other types of companies. Discount and mass merchant chains accounted for only 7 percent of the companies and 27 percent of the reporting stores, but they reported more than 70 percent of the shoplifter cases. Supermarket and food stores accounted for 15 percent of the incidents and 23 percent of the participating stores. The merchandise most often confiscated from shoplifters were cigarettes and other tobacco products, athletic shoes, and other clothing. The average theft amounted to $56.67. Thefts occurred around the year and throughout the week. Fifty-five percent of the offenders were males; 45 percent were females. Youths ages 13-17 years accounted for 31.5 percent of the offenders. Offenders appeared to act on personal motives. Findings indicated the diversity of shoplifters and their crimes. Findings suggest the need to interview apprehended offenders to gain insight on effective prevention techniques before developing specific prevention messages and marketing campaigns. Tables, figures, and 19 references