Transcript Signs of a Shoplifter

Shoplifting
The theft of goods from a retail
establishment. Student created
PowerPoint
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.
 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.
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%.
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.
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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.
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
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.
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 nonprofessionals 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.
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.
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.