Shoplifting And Its Impact On Business

Jason Obertin-Andersen

Impact of theft on consumers and businesses

I think that shoplifting is a growing problem in today's society. I believe that the temptation of not paying for something is very big factor in why people steal. Shoplifters perceive shoplifting as a form of self nourishment or as a way to relieve fear or pain in their life. In truth, shoplifting is self-destructive not self-nourishing, but shoplifters often can’t see the paradox (slp). A person's addiction to shoplifting can develop quickly when the excitement generated from "getting away with it" produces a chemical reaction adrenaline resulting in what shoplifters describe as an incredible "rush" or "high" feeling, which many shoplifters will tell you is the "true reward," rather than the merchandise itself (slp). The perpetrator of shoplifting thinks he his getting a product for free and doesn't realize it's impact on his future or the community. Shoplifting has a wide range of affects on more than just the perpetrator and his future. It negatively affects the merchant, consumers, prices, law enforcement and the economy.

How does shoplifting affect consumers? According to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention, “Shoplifting has become one of the most prevalent crimes in the U.S., averaging about 550,000 incidents per day resulting in more than $13 billion worth of goods being stolen from retailers each year. That is more than 35 million dollars in losses per day. Current estimates are as high as 1 in 11 Americans shoplift in our nation today. Even with all the advances in security measures, shoplifters are only caught once in 49 times they steal and when caught, turned over to the police only 50% of the time. What most people don’t real...

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...ation, said that the overriding concern is not endangering employees or customers around them when trying to confront shoplifting. The policy at most major retailers is to simply let the thief go if he or she does not comply with more passive anti-theft maneuvers, such as friendly inquiries as to whether the suspected shoplifter can be helped while in the store. This means that by and large, low-level criminals are simply left undisturbed, in order to avoid escalating costs and liability. Police officers and the court system are concerned with all sorts of different crimes, and the focus is mainly on the crimes that most severely impact their communities. While shoplifting may seem a minor offense in comparison to other crimes, it is still important to realize the impact that shoplifting has on the law enforcement agencies, the community and even on the shoplifter.