The Steal: A Cultural History of Shoplifting, Essay Example

Shoplifting has commonly been documented as a grievous crime in many business establishments. People involved in shoplifting are prolific type of thieves whose actions can cause losses of high magnitude to the business. Therefore, the owners of business together with their managers have a duty of embracing proactive measures to deal with shoplifters and hence address the problems associated with retail thefts (Robert, 2008). The most common types of shoplifters include the amateur, the professionals, the drug user as well as the thrill seekers.

The professional types of shoplifters form a relatively smaller section of shoplifters although their activities are associated with significantly huge losses in the business. They style of crime is considerably smooth and detecting them is usually difficult. In most cases, the professional shoplifters target items of high value which are later sold at a discounted price. Such items include CDs, drugs, baby formula, DVDs, razors, diapers, diabetic strips and smoking cessation items. Protection of business against professional shoplifters entails regular inventories. Conducting item-movement reports will help the business owners realize any instance of such a shoplifting in good time rather than waiting for a storewide inventory. Installation of closed-circuit systems of televisions coupled with some installed public view monitors around the display locations that are soft target for the shoplifters is an effective measure. Identification of suspicious signs is also worth consideration. Employees must be trained in identification of suspicious people who walk around the business without making any purchase. Deterrence of shoplifting must be a priority in the business and the issue is occasionally emphasized to all employees at meetings. The most important rules as well as procedures to be followed by employees is to be keen on potential shoplifters. Any shoplifter caught in the store must be apprehended and prosecuted.

Amateur shoplifters are usually the majority category in many businesses and their tactics entails opportunism with less skill as compared to the professional shoplifters. Majority of amateur shoplifters are extremely conscious and nervous. Amateurs are the worst category of shoplifters because they associate their actions with fun and excitement. In most cases, the amateur shoplifters steal petty items including underwear, toothbrushes, razors, raw steaks, batteries and DVDs. In most cases, they forget that video cameras are installed in the premise. They also argue that the police cannot prove their crimes in a court of law and if they are prosecuted, the courts can only charge them as little as $500 and the charges are dropped. In addition to the cameras that are instated in the business, the management must desist from displaying expensive items around the entrance and exit points in the business. Employees must also be effectively trained to be alert on suspicious people (Shteir, 2011).

Drug user shoplifters is another category whose involvement in crime is motivated by the need of funding  their addiction to drugs, after shoplifting, the booty is resold to the fence or a cash refund is attempted. Their approach to shoplifting is usually crude and poorly planned and in most cases, they are frantic and violent.

Protecting the retail business against this category of shoplifters entails elimination of blind spots in the premise through rearrangement of the racks, the cash registers and counters. The business can also be fitted with mirrors and cameras that will increase the visibility of all items to the employees.

References

Robert, J. Fischer., (2008). Introduction to Security, 8th edition Butterworth-Heinemann.

Shteir, R., (2011). The steal: a cultural history of shoplifting. New York: Penguin Press.