NCJ Number
14157
Date Published
1974
Length
79 pages
Annotation
OUTLINE OF THE PROBLEM OF STOCK SHORTAGES, FOCUSING ON LOSSES DUE TO SHOPLIFTING, AND DISCUSSION OF APPROPRIATE COUNTERMEASURES.
Abstract
DUE TO THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN STOCK SHORTAGES IN THE 1960-1970 PERIOD, MERCHANTS ARE PURSUING AND TRYING ALMOST EVERY POSSIBLE WAY TO ALTER THIS TREND, INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OR RENTAL OF MECHANICAL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS AND THE HIRING OF SECURITY PERSONNEL. THE NATIONAL RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (NRMA) CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF NUMEROUS RETAIL STORES IN AN ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM AND IDENTIFY MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO COMBAT IT. WHILE STOCK SHRINKAGE CAN BE CAUSED BY CLERICAL ERRORS, INTERNAL THEFT, AND SHOPLIFTING, THIS DOCUMENT FOCUSES ON SHOPLIFTING BECAUSE OF ITS MAJOR IMPORTANCE. FOLLOWING A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM OF RETAIL SHRINKAGE, THE AUTHOR CONSIDERS ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE DEVICES AS A MEANS OF REDUCING SHOPLIFTING LOSSES. A NARRATIVE DIGEST OF THE NRMA SURVEY IS PROVIDED AND STATISTICS CONCERNING RETAIL SALES BY CLASSIFICATION AND THE PRACTICE OF ELECTRONICALLY TAGGING MERCHANDISE ARE GIVEN. THE PROSPECT OF REDUCING SHOPLIFTING THROUGH JOINT COMMUNITY EFFORTS IS EXPLORED. THE LATTER HALF OF THE BOOK - THE APPENDIX - CONSISTS OF SUMMARIES OF SEVERAL RETAIL STORE INTERVIEWS, BRIEF DISCUSSIONS OF SHOPLIFTING TRENDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, AND JAPAN, AND EXCERPTS FROM A SECURITY NEWSLETTER USED BY A LARGE DEPARTMENT STORE AS A MEANS OF COMMUNICATING WITH ITS STAFF ON THIS VITAL PROBLEM. THE NRMA HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE SHRINKAGE PROBLEM CAN BE CONTAINED TO A REASONABLE DEGREE IF AND WHEN STORE OWNERS AND/OR MANAGERS TAKE A CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT INTEREST IN DOING SO.