It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...
~Charles Dickens

Introduction

In the opening chapter of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens wrote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…" (Bibliomania, 2000). Although Dickens was writing about conditions in the mid eighteen hundreds, the same comment could be made about the world we live in today. We live in a time when modern technology allows us to watch the Olympic competitions in Athens, Greece, as they are taking place, from the comfort of our own living rooms. Unfortunately, it also allows individuals to access Web sites that describe how to make bombs, that lure children to dangerous settings, and that promote theft through our own home computers. Today, an individual can "shoplift" with the click of a computer mouse button without even leaving home.

Identity, credit card, and media theft add to the growing list of common types of shoplifting/theft plaguing today's economy. It is estimated that more than $25 million of merchandise are stolen from businesses on a daily basis and that about 23 million people in the United States are shoplifters. These 23 million people represent individuals from all walks of life, ranging from celebrities to the homeless. Shoplifting is a crime that impacts businesses, consumers, and communities as well as the offenders (Shoplifters Alternative, 2001).

Profile of a Shoplifter

Research studies show that there is not stereotype for a shoplifter. Men are likely to shoplift as women are. Only about two to three percent of shoplifters are classified as professionals who shoplift as a way of making a living (Shulman, 2003; Shoplifters Alternative, 2001). Most shoplifters are classified as non-professionals or casual shoplifters (Gavin, 2004). These amateurs steal to satisfy an emotional rather than a material need. According to Peter Berlin, Executive Director of Shoplifters Alternative, "for almost all non-professional shoplifters, stealing from stores is basically a reflection of a person's ability (or inability) to cope with a multitude of situations in his or her life" (Understanding Shoplifters, 2001).

The Pros

The Professionals make shoplifting their career. Although they comprise a small percentage of the shoplifting population – two to four percent – they are responsible for approximately ten percent of the losses experienced by the business community. These shoplifters are in it for the money. They may either work independently or as a part of a carefully orchestrated team (McGoey, 2004).

Included in this category are the drug abusers and gambling addicts who shoplift to make money to support their addictions. Because professionals steal with the intent to sell, they take items that have a good resale value. These are usually more expensive items than those shoplifted by amateur shoplifters, so the cost impact of what they take is significant (Shoplifters Alternative, 2001; Shulman, 203; Gavin, 2004).

The Amateurs

Thrill Seekers: Some shoplifters are driven by the adrenalin rush that results from stealing without getting caught (Shoplifters Alternative, 2001). Shulman refers to these individuals as the thrill seekers. They make up about five percent of the shoplifter population (p.83). Some studies have shown that shoplifting has become a reward mechanism for some individuals similar to treating themselves to a meal in a good restaurant (Berlin, 2001).

The Impoverished: Debt, unemployment, hunger, and desperation account for approximately five percent of the shoplifters. These individuals are driven by the need to survive and to provide for their loved ones (Shulman, p.82). A recent article in a Colorado newspaper tells of a thirty-one year old man chased down the streets of his small hometown for having stuffed a steak in his pants while he was shopping in the local grocery store. When apprehended, it was discovered that the shoplifter was unemployed, was behind on the rent, had no car or phone, and was afraid of becoming homeless (Schuknecht, 2004). His impulsive behavior is characteristic of those who live in poverty.

The Absent-Minded: The misdeeds of approximately one percent of shoplifters can be attributed to carelessness, inattentiveness, haste, and memory-related illness, such as Alzheimer's disease. The retail world recognizes that mistakes do happen and that there are instances when individuals unknowingly walk out of stores with items without paying for them. Some states make allowances for cases of absent-mindedness by defining shoplifting as the act of concealing a stolen item (Shulman, 2003).

The Kleptomaniacs: Approximately one percent of known shoplifters suffer from kleptomania. Research indicates that about eighty percent of diagnosed kleptomaniacs are women above the age of twenty. Kleptomaniacs suffer from uncontrollable urge to steal to relieve anxiety. They act impulsively without premeditation; they are driven more by the need to shoplift rather than by the challenge or the monetary value. They are tense before the theft and feel relief during and after shoplifting. Unless addictive-compulsive shoplifters, they do not steal out of anger or revenge. (Shulman, 2003, pp. 72-74).

The Addictive-Compulsive: The largest number, approximately eighty-five percent of all shoplifters, falls into the addictive-compulsive category (Shulman, 2003). These individuals share several other characteristics exhibited by those who demonstrate drug abuse behaviors. Similar to drug addicts who use drugs for a temporary feeling of pleasure and escape from depression and anger (Dixon, 2003), addictive-compulsive shoplifters steal as a means of "eliminating their feelings of anger, frustration, [or] depression…" (Berlin, 2001). Although shoplifting can have a loner lasting effect than other addictive behaviors because the stolen items are still present after the adrenalin high wears off, the need for the rush is still prevalent. Shulman compares shoplifting to a gambling addiction. Just as the gambler rejoices more in the winning itself than in the money, the shoplifter enjoys the high of not getting caught more than the actual items taken. Beating the odds becomes the addiction. Unlike sufferers of kleptomania, their behavior is often planned (Shulman, pp. 75-76).

Reasons for Shoplifting

In the introduction to his book Something for Nothing, Shulman provides a list of beliefs that are shared by many of the individuals that he has interacted with through Cleptomaniacs and Shoplifters Anonymous (CASA). Whether or not these statements are true, the perception that they are accurate contributes to the behavior of many shoplifters. Many of them believe that:

• "Life is unfair."
• "The world is an unsafe place."
• "Nobody will be there to take care of me."
• "Nobody's really honest."
• "I'm entitled to something extra for my suffering."
• "Nice people finish last."
• "There's not going to be enough money to live."
• "It's a ‘dog-eat-dog world' out there."
• "No matter how hard I try, things never work out."
• "It's not worth my speaking up about anything."

Shoplifters Anonymous lists the following causes of shoplifting by teenagers:

• Misconception that the stores can afford the losses
• Belief that they will not get caught
• Inability to handle temptation
• Giving in to peer pressure
• Inability to work through feelings of anger, frustration, depression, unattractiveness, or lack of acceptance
(Gavin, 2004)

This list aligns closely with a similar list generated by Shulman as The Top Ten Reasons People Shoplift/Steal. In addition to feelings of anger, depression, frustration, insecurity, and peer pressure, Shulman adds that people shoplift to:

• Cope with grief and/or a sense of emptiness
• Calm anxieties
• Gain power
• Alleviate boredom
• Be good at something
• Fulfill a sense of entitlement for sacrifices
• Challenge authority
(Shulman, 2003, p. 71)

Shoplifting Statistics

In Something for Nothing, Schulman provides the following shoplifting statistics:

• About 25% of shoplifters apprehended are juveniles; 75% are adults.
• Shoplifters say they are caught an average of only once every 49 times. They are turned over to the police 50% of the time.
• Approximately 70% of non-professional shoplifters don't plan their thefts in advance; 30% do.

Shoplifters steal in all types of stores….

• 69% say they steal in department stores
• 63% in supermarkets
• 57% specialty shops
• 54% convenience stores
• 47% drug stores
• 27% all other type stores

Shoplifters Often Buy Merchandise and Steal Other Merchandise

• 59% frequently
• 35% sometimes
• 6% never

Shoplifters Classified As "First Offenders" Admit to Stealing From Retail Stores at the Following Frequency:

• 13% say they steal daily or several time a day
• 57% say they steal monthly or more often
• 27% say they steal weekly or more often
• 43% say they steal less than monthly
• Drug addicts who have become addicted to shoplifting describe shoplifting as equally addicting as drugs.
• 89% of kids say they know other kids who shoplift.
• 66% say they hang out with those kids
• 1 in 5 adults 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.
• 69% said they had been previously caught and prosecuted, 12% said they had been caught but not prosecuted, and 19% said they were never caught at all according to a Shoplifters Anonymous Helpline survey

Shoplifters' Dos and DON'Ts Guide

Shoplifting Mind Games

The battle between right and wrong is one that plagues all individuals at some time or other in their lives. Unfortunately, there is times when making decisions challenges our sense of honesty. At those times, we find ourselves rationalizing our behavior to avoid feelings of guilt. A common example is making a distinction between telling a little white lie versus a true vicious lie. In reality, the issue is whether or not an individual is telling a white lie or vicious lie, but rather that the individual is engaging in dishonest behavior that could eventually escalate into a destructive habit.

Shulman identifies common gray area dishonest behaviors that could either lead to shoplifting or prevent shoplifting recovery.

Common Gray Area Dishonest Behaviors

• Cheating on taxes
• Cash adding mistakes
• False returns of merchandise
• Changing/switching price tags
• Sampling food/taking food
• Sneaking into the movies
• Cheating on parking meters
• Stealing office supplies for personal use
(2003, pp. 104-08, 139).

Many employees engage in the "shoplifting/theft" mind game on a daily basis. They rationalize their behavior with excuses like the following:

• It's not stealing.
• Everybody does it.
• The company can afford it.
• I am using these at work.
• I do other things free for my company.
• It's a small perk.
• Property should be shared.
• As long as it's only a little, it's okay.
• I deserve a little reward or something.
• I don't have time to go to the post office [so I'll use the postage machine].
(Shulman, 2003, p. 139)

According to Shulman, employees who engage in work place theft derive personal benefit from their behaviors as well as material benefit. The following are typical comments made by employees to defend their actions.

• "I get a good feeling of getting a little something extra."
• "It saves me time on going to the store; my time is valuable."
• "It keeps me from taking bigger things at the office."
• "It keeps me from shoplifting."
• "I avoid conflict because I am getting something back."
• "It helps me put up with the low pay – I reward myself."
• "It comforts me to know I have this support system to help me."
• "It's the one thing I look forward to coming to work for."
(2003, p. 139)

Along with benefits, employees who steal from their employers also are aware of the consequences that can result from their actions. Shulman cites the following negative feelings experienced by these employees:

• Keeps me looking over my shoulder, afraid of being caught.
• Could be embarrassing if I am discovered.
• Could be fired if I am found out.
• Feel ashamed, secretive, loss of good eye contact.
• Compromises my recovery.
• Feel hypocritical
• Deprives me of the chance to directly feel feelings, deal with issues, live life on life's terms.
• Deprives me of practice being assertive at work as it becomes easier to keep quiet, unnoticed
(2003, p. 139)

Employee Theft

• Between $20 to $0 billion of losses incurred by business per year are attributable to employee theft, including theft of office items, false claim of hours worked, and inflated expense accounts ("Employee theft still costing business," 1999)
• Approximately 95% of all businesses are victims of employee theft of some kind (Case, 2000)
• Employee theft is the cause of approximately 1/3 of business bankruptcies in the United States ("Employee theft still costing business," 2004; Case, 2000).
• An employee is 15 times more likely to steal from an employer than a nonemployee is ("Employee theft still costing business," 1999)
• Trusted employees are not immune to stealing from their employers ("Employee theft still costing business," 1999)
• Employee theft results in between 44 to 47 percent of retail losses (Vargos, "Retail theft and inventory shrinkage"; n.d.; Vargas, "Retail theft report," n.d.; Ernst & Young, 13 May 2003).
• Employee theft costs retail businesses approximately $15 billion per year (Vargas, "Retail theft report," n.d.)
• Employee theft costs retailers more financial loss that shoplifters do (Ernst & Young, 13 May, 2003).
• Retailers spend $2 million a year on loss preventions (Ernst & Young, 13 May, 2003).
• The cost of employee theft is passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods and services (Vargas, "Retail theft and inventory shrinkage," n.d.; Vargas, "Theft: retail's real Grinch").
• Each working individual in the United State pays approximately $400 a year to cover costs of employee theft ("Employee theft still costing business, 1999).

References:

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Bibliomania.com Ltd. (2000) A tale of two cities. Retrieved October 10, 2004.
http://www.bibliomania.com/0/0/frameset.html

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Dixon, P. (1998). The Truth About Drugs [Electronic Version]. London: Hodder, Retrieved June 20, 2004, from http://www.globalchange.com/drugs/TAD-Opening.htm

Employee theft still costing business. (May, 1999). Retrieved on September 16, 2004 from http://pf.inc.com/articles/1999/05/13731.html

Ernst & Young (May, 2003), "Ernst & Young's study of retail loss prevention." Retrieved on http://retailindustry.about.com/cs/lp/retailstore/a/b1_ey051303_p.htm

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Shoplifters Alternative (2001). "Facts about shoplifting." [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on September 6, 2004 from http://www.shopliftersalternative.org/pages/facts/html

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Shulman, T. (2004). Something for nothing. Haverford, PA: Infinity Publishing

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Vargas, M. (n.d.). "Retail theft and inventory shrinkage" [Electronic Version]. Retrieved September 8, 2004 from http://retailindustry.about.com/library/weekly/02/aa021126a.htm

Vargas, M. (n.d.) "Retail: Retail's real Grinch" [Electronic Version]. Retrieved October 10, 2004, from http://retailindustry.about.com/library/weekly/aa0112a.htm