Survey Reveals Important Information About Shoplifters
Shoplifters Alternative (SA) conducted a survey between February 2000 and March 2001, of 16,000 adult and juvenile shoplifters.
Based on prior research, Shoplifters Alternative know that habitual, non-professional shoplifters represent approximately 27% of all shoplifters, but that this group, due to frequency of their theft, contribute to 85% of the losses suffered by retailers. Habitual offenders are motivated not by greed, but shoplift as a way to unknowingly cope with underlying emotional problems such as depression, boredom or low self esteem. Recidivism studies reveal that almost 98% of adults and juveniles don’t repeat the offense after completing one of SA’s educational programs, designed to rehabilitate shoplifters by addressing the root causes of their behavior and providing strategies that they can use to avoid temptation and repeat offenses.
SURVEY RESULTS
1) 55% of adults said they first started shoplifting when they were teenagers. -- Juvenile shoplifting should be taken seriously because it can become a long-term habit starting in the teenage years and continuing through adulthood.
2) 46% of juveniles said their parents never spoke to them about why shoplifting is wrong.
More parents need to educate their children about shoplifting, explaining that it is wrong to steal and that the consequences are serious.
3) 44% of adult shoplifters are parents. -- The effect shoplifting may have on one’s children is for many people not a deterrent to shoplifting even though such behavior may encourage their children to do the same.
4) 98% of shoplifters admit they are repeat offenders. -- Both juvenile and adult shoplifters admit that shoplifting is a behavior which they repeat.
5) 86% of juveniles know other kids who shoplift - 59% of adults
know others who shoplift. It is not surprising that 86% of kids know other kids who shoplift. However, for 59% of adults to have knowledge of others who shoplift suggests that shoplifting may becoming more accepted and less shameful.
6) Security measures feared most by adult shoplifters are : 51% cameras; 21% guards; 15% electronic security tags; 13% alert employees. Security measures feared most by juveniles are 33% electronic security tags; 31% alert employees; 21% cameras; 15% guards -- Overall, shoplifters fear CCTV more than security tags, which formerly represented the most feared device. The increased publicity about cameras may have contributed to this shift in perception.
7) Approximately 72% of shoplifters did not plan their thefts in advance, but rather stole as a result of impulse. -- Almost 3/4 of shoplifters do not see a need to plan their thefts in order to avoid detection. They rely on their own awareness and past experience.
8) 70% of shoplifters did not know or consider the level of security in a store before they shoplifted. -- Most shoplifters didn’t know if a store had good or bad security when they decided to steal. Their decision was primarily based on their experience of not getting caught.
9) 39% of apprehended shoplifters said they have worked, currently work or plan to work in a retail store. -- The possibility of a retailer hiring a person who shoplifts is high.
10) After being offered a shoplifter education program, 89% of adults and 87% of juveniles said they would be less likely to steal from an employer. -- Shoplifter educational programs not only effectively help people to quit shoplifting, but helps deter them from stealing from their employers as well.
11) 71% to 86% of parents shop in the store where their child was caught shoplifting. -- Teens tend to shop and shoplift in the stores where their parents are often loyal customers. Offering educational programs benefits the child, the community and parents, who remain customers because they feel the store cared about their child.
12) 78% of apprehended juveniles say education is the best way for kids to learn how to stop shoplifting -- The majority of juveniles who have taken a shoplifting educational program recognize its effectiveness in getting kids to permanently stop shoplifting.
13) 96% of juveniles who took a shoplifter rehabilitation program felt the education they received from it would keep them from ever shoplifting again. -- Shoplifter rehabilitation programs should be offered to juvenile shoplifters so they can effectively teach kids how to get themselves to stop shoplifting.
14) 98% of parents whose children were apprehended for shoplifting felt their children benefited from the educational program.
15) 87% of parents whose children who were apprehended for shoplifting said that the retailer was the only one who offered their children an educational program. --Retailers play an important role in educating shoplifters and can not rely on the courts to offer programs to shoplifters.
Some Shoplifting Facts Compiled from Earlier Research
* Shoplifters steal an average of 1.6 times per week
* Shoplifters are caught an average of 1 in 48 times they steal
* Each shoplifter steals an average of $4,600 in merchandise each year
* 27% of non-professional shoplifters are habitual repeat offenders
* Professional shoplifters are responsible for $1 billion of losses each year
* Non-professional shoplifters are responsible for $9 billion of losses each year
* Non-professional shoplifters are caught an average of 3.9 times and prosecuted an average of 2.6 times
* One habitual offender who was caught stole $193,394 worth of merchandise over a 2 year period with 70%
being stolen from one chain store
