THE SUMMARY EXAMINES SHOPLIFTERS BY AGE, SEX, TIME OF DAY THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED, METHODS OF CONCEALMENT, AND ITEMS STOLEN, INCLUDING THEIR NUMBER AND VALUE. ALL OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE SUMMARIZED IN CHARTS. THE CONCLUSION DRAWN FROM SHOPLIFTERS STUDIED SHOWS THAT BOTH MALES AND FEMALES SHOPLIFT ALMOST EQUALLY, THOUGH IN THE JUVENILE AGE GROUP MORE BOYS THAN GIRLS ARE CAUGHT. THE SHOPLIFTER MAY ACT AT ANY TIME OF THE WEEK OR MONTH, WITH AFTER SCHOOL HOURS PRODUCING THE MOST APPREHENSIONS. METHODS OF SHOPLIFTING USED BY THE NONPROFESSIONALS ARE USUALLY VERY ORDINARY, SUCH AS CONCEALMENT IN A PURSE OR COAT. THE AVERAGE VALUE OF ITEMS STOLEN IS LOW (LESS THAN $10), BUT BECAUSE OF THE OVERALL VOLUME OF THEFT EACH INDIVIDUAL INSTANCE MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. HOWEVER, LESS THAN A THIRD OF SHOPLIFTERS ARE REFERRED FOR PROSECUTION. IN VIEW OF THE HIGH COST OF PROSECUTION, THE RETAILER SHOULD ESTABLISH A PROGRAM WHICH BALANCES THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS WITH THE GREATEST DETERRENT EFFECT. TABULAR DATA AND GUIDELINES FOR SURVEILLANCE AND APPREHENSION ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)