Shoplifting

1. Shoplifting The theft of goods from a retail establishment. Student created PowerPoint

2. Some Facts • Over 5,000 individuals being apprehended for shoplifting every day • many people who steal have enough money to pay for the items. • Shoplifting from retail stores costs merchants an estimated loss of 13 billion dollars per year. • 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.

3. There are approximately 27 million shoplifters (or 1 in 11 people) in our nation today. More than 10 million people have been caught shoplifting in the last five years. • Approximately 25 percent of shoplifters are kids, 75 percent are adults • Drug addicts, who have become addicted to shoplifting, describe shoplifting as equally addicting as drugs.

4. Shoplifters who seek temporary relief from unhappiness in their lives can learn how to get the "high" they need without shoplifting. Through "offense-specific" educational programs, shoplifters learn how to substitute "natural highs" such as shopping, eating out, reading a good book, playing ball, getting their hair done or calling a friend. Once shoplifters understand the pressures which triggered their shoplifting incident and how to get relief, the chances of repeating the offense typically drops from 25% to 2%.

5. Types of shoplifters Professional Shoplifters These are addicts who steal to buy drugs or hardened criminals who steal for resale and profit as a life-style. These individuals frequently commit other types of crimes and lack any conscience or guilt. To deal with these shoplifters, the approach here is either a drug treatment program or jail. Non-Professional Shoplifters These are the people who make up the majority of shoplifters and who steal for a variety of reasons, mostly related to common life situations and their personal ability (or inability) to cope. They include people who are depressed, frustrated, anxious, influenced by peers, thrill seekers or kleptomaniacs.

6. Signs of a Shoplifter • Avoids eye contact with employees • Appears nervous • Wanders the store without buying • Leaves the store and return repeatedly • Lingers in a location that employees have a hard time monitoring • Constantly keeps an eye on store employees and other customers • Shoplifters often work in pairs. While one distracts the employee, the other shoplifts the merchandise. When approaching a suspicious person, try to remain calm and professional. It is possible that a misunderstanding has taken place and the person is not actually a shoplifter. Treating the suspect in a polite, discrete yet firm and professional manner will help you and your store avoid a slander, false arrest, or discrimination lawsuit.

7. What the shoplifters are saying 89% of kids say they know other kids who shoplift. 66% say they hang out with those kids. 55% of adults who shoplift say they started shoplifting in their teens. 57% of adults and 33% of juveniles say it is hard for them to stop shoplifting, even after getting caught. 69% say they steal in department stores 63% in supermarkets 57% specialty shops 54% convenience stores 47% drug stores, 27% all other type stores 13% say they steal daily or several times/day 57% say they steal monthly or more often 27% say they steal weekly or more often 43% say they steal less than monthly

8. Some More Facts • `Contrary to popular belief, men and women shoplift equally as often. • `About 25% of shoplifters apprehended are juveniles, 75% adults. • `Shoplifters say they are caught an average of only once every 48 times. They are turned over to the police 50% of the time. • `3% of shoplifters are "professionals" who steal solely for resale or profit as a business. These include drug addicts who steal to feed their habit, hardened professionals who steal as a lifestyle, and international shoplifting gangs who steal for profit as a business. • `The vast majority of shoplifters are non-professionals who steal, not out of financial need or greed, but as a response to social and personal pressures in their life. • `Approximately 73% of non-professional shoplifters don't plan their thefts in advance.

9. What happens if you are caught A merchant must provide probable cause for shoplifting, which must satisfy certain criteria, before you can be detained. A merchant must see you select the store merchandise. If an employee sees you after you have an item in your hand, it establishes doubt as to where the item came from and may not hold up in court. Someone must see you hide or carry away store merchandise or see you emerge from a fitting room with fewer items than when you went in. A witness must maintain visual surveillance of you throughout your stay in the store to provide probable cause for detaining you. You must have left the store's premises before you can be approached for not paying for items.

10. Know Your Rights If you are caught with merchandise, in many states a merchant has the right to detain and question you and have you arrested. In other states merchants do not have the right to detain you but can have you arrested, making a false arrest claims against them more common. Other customers or employees who do not satisfy the requirements of probable cause for your arrest may be considered unreliable witnesses. The use of excessive force in your detainment can be a violation of your rights. An organization that deals with civil rights such as the ACLU should be notified in serious cases (see Resources below). If you are not allowed to leave a room, a chair or other confined space, or if security guards or store employees are acting out of their jurisdiction of power, you may be entitled to claims of false imprisonment. Cooperate with the police if you are caught. Attempting to fight or flee will only make matters worse and may result in a more severe sentence.