A recent survey study of 25 large retail companies found that shoplifter apprehensions was up by 16.8% in 2009 over 2008. The survey was conducted by Jack L. Hayes International, Inc. Additionally, the report found that “shoplifters and dishonest employees stole over $6 billion” in merchandise in 2009, from just the 25 major retailers surveyed alone.
Here’s a look at the shoplifting numbers in more detail:
| 2008 | 2009 | #/$ | Difference Pct. | |
| Apprehensions | 868,858 | 1,014,817 | 145,959 | 16.80% |
| Recoveries | $110,664,294 | $111,776,369 | $1,112,075 | 1.00% |
| Avg. Case Value | $127.37 | $110.14 | -$17.22 | -13.52% |
| Hours Per Apprehension* (*12 companies reporting) | 54.8 | 43.78 | -20.11% | |
| Recoveries (No Apprehension Made) | $24,522,155 | $29,266,930 | $4,744,775 | 19.35% |
So why the increase in shoplifter apprehensions? Survey respondents shed their thoughts on the subject. The top 5 reasons they attribute the rise to are:
- Struggling economy is causing more shoplifting to take place
- Fewer employees on the sales floor creating more shoplifting opportunities
- Organized Retail Crime (ORC) activity continues to increase
- LP personnel focusing on high shrink areas and merchandise
- Reduced social stigma of shoplifting
Of course there are many ways retailers can protect their inventories from would-be thieves. We offer up the following tips to prevent product loss due to shoplifting:
- Ensure employees are properly trained on established theft deterrent tactics
- Maintain proper floor coverage and encourage staff to walk the floor regularly
- Use and maintain effective anti-theft security devices and systems
Download the full survey results here.
Interested in Securing Your CE Products? Check out our retail security systems