Shoplifting, coupled with employee theft accounts for 30% of all business failures. How do you curb theft in your store?

An arresting development: 10 billion is the price tag to retailers each year for people intent on creating their own discounts by shoplifting! That’s according to National Crime Prevention Council, citing that 25% of those caught lifting the merchandise were between the ages of 13 and 17. It could be said that it’s a sign of the times, but be careful how you read that sign. Some said they stole because of extreme need or peer pressure, but most of the sticky fingered teenagers said they did it because they were bored! That should be a billboard for all of us. Another sad statistic is that 75% of all adults have helped themselves at one time or another.

Shoplifting can take many forms: switching price tags, removing security tags, switching sizes on one half of a two piece suit are all forms of stealing. And then of course, there’s the five fingered discount that comes with just leaving the store with the merchandise concealed.

How can retailers curtail shoplifting in their establishments…..Begin with simple strategies that let potential shoplifters know you’re serious.

If you are involved in retailing, you need to become proactive in loss prevention…

• Less accessibility to small, pocket or bag sized merchandise
• Acknowledge all that enter your store with a friendly greeting…it works for Walmart
• Better clerk to shopper ratios
• Surveillance systems can send the right message
• Install ceiling mirrors which will offer visibility down side and back aisles
• Not only customer shoplift, but employees have “Sticky Fingers” as well and can contribute to tremendous revenue loss!

The bottom line for most retailers is that their profits depend on being known for taking a tough stand on shoplifting. Individuals who steal aren’t going to bother with a store that makes it too hard. For the health of their operation, retailers need to adopt the health care adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

As a retailer you must educate yourself in handling a shoplifter as well as creating a “Loss Prevention” guideline for your employees to follow. Make sure to check local laws as they apply to a “Citizens Arrest” procedures.  Here are a couple of basics:

• You must see the suspect take and conceal the item
• You must never lose sight of the suspect after you see him take the item. The reason is
  simple, you need to be sure they still have the item on them when they leave the store
• The suspect must leave the store before you can arrest them

The punishment for theft varies from state to state based on the charges filed, the value of the merchandise, prior convictions, and age of the person arrested. As a retailer make sure to prosecute all who attempt to shoplift in your store…Send a strong signal to the community that theft will not be tolerated!