NCJ Number
13671
Journal
Security World Volume: 11 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1974) Pages: 58-60,62
Date Published
1974
Length
4 pages
Annotation
STATISTICS FROM STUDIES ON SUPERMARKET AND DEPARTMENT STORE SHOPLIFTING ARE PRESENTED TO SHOW TRENDS AND TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM.
Abstract
THE STATISTICS QUOTED IN THIS ARTICLE WERE TAKEN FROM THE ANNUAL STUDY ON SUPERMARKET SHOPLIFTING APPREHENSIONS PUBLISHED BY LOS ANGELES FIRM AND THE SAMPLING STUDY OF DEPARTMENT STORE SHOPLIFTING BY A NEW YORK CITY COMPANY. THE LOS ANGELES FIRM PROVIDES SUPERMARKETS WITH A PUNCH CARD TO BE FILLED OUT FOR EACH APPREHENDED SHOPLIFTER. THE CARDS RETURNED FORM THE BASIS FOR THE ANNUAL ANALYSIS. THIS SERVICE ESTIMATES THAT SHOPLIFTING OCCURS AT LEAST SIX TIMES A DAY PER SUPERMARKET AND THAT EACH SHOPLIFTER STEALS AN AVERAGE OF THREE ITEMS. BREAKDOWNS ARE PRESENTED BY SEX AND AGE. THE NEW YORK COMPANY STUDY INDICATES THAT ONE OUT OF EACH FIFTEEN CUSTOMERS ENTERING A DOWNTOWN DEPARTMENT STORE WILL PROBABLY STEAL. THE THEFTS WILL AVERAGE OVER FIVE DOLLARS EACH. MOST OF THE THEFTS WILL OCCUR ON THE MAIN FLOOR. LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE SHOPLIFTERS WILL BE APPREHENDED. THE METHODOLOGY FOR THIS STUDY WAS TO ASSIGN INVESTIGATORS TO FOLLOW SHOPPERS ENTERING FOUR TEST STORES, REGARDLESS OF THE SHOPPER'S AGE, SEX, OR RACE. THIS STUDY SHOWED A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FREQUENCY OF SHOPLIFTING AND THE VALUE OF GOODS STOLEN. NEITHER AGE OR RACE WERE SIGNIFICANT FACTORS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)