Shoplifting Models

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Shoplifting Models

Shoplifting

PROCESS

Measures to Prevent Shoplifting

To deter these thefts, retailers use various security measures, such as security cameras, alarm systems, anti-theft tags, undercover store detectives, and exit alarms. Each type of theft can result in legal consequences, ranging from fines or community service to imprisonment, depending on the severity and whether the thief is a repeat offender.

Concealed Theft

The most common form of theft, where a person hides items on themselves, in their clothing, or in a bag with the intent to steal and leave without paying.

Example: A thief conceals an item under their jacket or inside their purse and exits the store without paying for it.

Fraudulent Product Returns

This occurs when an individual steals an item and then returns it to the store for a refund or store credit, often using a fake or no receipt.

Example: A person steals shoes, then returns them claiming they are defective, or seeks a refund without a receipt.

Packaging Substitution

This involves swapping a product’s original packaging with one from a less expensive item, making the higher-priced product appear cheaper.

Example: A person may take a luxury perfume and place it in a less costly item’s box, intending to pay the lower price.

Coordinated Retail Theft

A more organized and planned form of theft, usually involving groups who steal large quantities of goods with the intention of reselling them for profit.

Example: A team of thieves targets multiple stores, stealing valuable goods like electronics or cosmetics for resale.

Opportunistic Stealing

In this type of theft, a person steals on impulse, often because of a momentary opportunity or a lack of attention from store staff.

Example: Someone notices an item left unattended and, seeing no one around, decides to take it impulsively.

Employee Theft

This type of theft involves store employees stealing either merchandise or money through dishonest practices within the store.

Example: A cashier steals money by pocketing some of the proceeds from a sale or alters the register to take more than what is owed.

Price Tag Manipulation

In this form of theft, a person switches a higher-priced item’s tag with a lower-priced one to pay less at checkout.

Example: A shopper removes a price tag from a jacket and replaces it with one from a less expensive item to pay the cheaper price at checkout.

Grab-and-Run Theft

A quick, impulsive theft in which an individual grabs an item and immediately runs out of the store without paying.

Example: A thief snatches a handbag or piece of jewelry from a display case and dashes out the door before staff can react.

Juvenile Shoplifting

Shoplifting by minors, often due to peer pressure, lack of awareness of consequences, or as an act of defiance.

Example: A group of teens steals small items such as candy or accessories, often as part of a dare or challenge.

Online Retail Theft

With the rise of online shopping, some individuals engage in fraudulent activities to steal from e-commerce stores.

A person uses a stolen credit card to make an online purchase and later exploits the return policy for a refund.

Walkout Theft

In this form of theft, an individual leaves the store without paying for items, but unlike concealment theft, the items are not hidden.

A person picks up an item, walks straight to the exit, and leaves without going through checkout.