Shoplifting in America: How Much is Stolen,
From Where, Who is Doing it and More
by www.SixWise.com
Every day, more than $25 million worth of goods are stolen
from retailers -- an amount that adds up to over $13 billion
each year, according to the National Association for Shoplifting
Prevention (NASP). Nearly every type of store out there, from
thrift shops to supermarkets to department stores, is vulnerable
to shoplifters' sticky fingers.
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Routine shoplifters say they're caught an average of
only once in every 48 times they steal, according to
Peter Berlin, founder of the National Association for
Shoplifting Prevention.
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In all, NASP estimates that there are 23 million shoplifters
in the United States today (that's one in 11 people!). And,
in the last five years, over 10 million people have been caught
shoplifting.
Why Do People Shoplift?
Shoplifting impacts not only the retail store and the perpetrator
(if he or she is caught). It also ends up costing YOU money,
in the form of increased costs for goods (after stores must
devote more money to security). So why do people do it?
Contrary to what many people believe, most people do not
shoplift because they need something and can't pay for it.
Nor do they do it because of greed. Instead, according to
Peter Berlin, founder of NASP, most shoplifters steal "to
get something for nothing."
"To most non-professional shoplifters, 'getting something
for nothing' is like giving themselves a 'gift' or 'reward,'
which in turn gives them a 'lift.' Many people feel they need
a 'lift' just to get through the week or even the day,"
Berlin says.
While some people shoplift to substitute for a loss in their
life (such as a divorce or lost job), others do it to get
"payback" for how hard they work. Still others are
actually addicted to the "rush" or "high"
they get from stealing.
Berlin also points out that others use shoplifting as a "relief
mechanism" for anxiety, boredom or even depression. In
fact, studies have found that one-third of shoplifters have
been diagnosed with depression.
Who Shoplifts? Learn the Seven Different Types
While shoplifters can be men or women, young or old (NASP
says that 75 percent of shoplifters are adults, and 55 percent
of them started shoplifting in their teens), they can be broken
down into two major types: amateurs and professionals.
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Experts say shoplifting is often a psychological problem,
stemming from feelings of anger, depression, low self-esteem
or inadequacy.
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Amateur shoplifters, who make up the majority, may shoplift
often, every day even, but do not make their living from shoplifting.
Professional shoplifters, meanwhile, may use elaborate schemes
to steal and do so to make a living. According to NASP, professional
shoplifters make up only 3 percent of all shoplifters.
Interestingly, the majority of shoplifting cases are not
planned out. Some 73 percent of adult and 72 percent of youth
shoplifters say they did not plan to steal in advance, according
to NASP.
However, shoplifters can be broken down even further, into
seven distinct groups, according to Terrence Shulman, JD,
LMSW, ACSW, CAC, CPC, founder of The Shulman Center, a treatment
center for people with theft and spending addictions. They
are:
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Addictive-compulsive shoplifters (75 percent)
(These people often have other compulsive addictions,
such as overeating, shopping, drug use, or gambling, and
often have repressed anger as well.)
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Professionals, who steal for profit or lifestyle
(5 percent)
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The impoverished, who steal out of economic need
(5 percent)
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The thrill seekers, who steal on a dare or for
excitement (5 percent)
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Drug and gambling addicts, who steal to pay for
their habit (5 percent)
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Kleptomaniacs, who steal for no reason (1 percent)
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The absent-minded (such as the elderly, people
on medications, people in a hurry or those with cognitive
or memory issues) (1 percent)
Shoplifters Don't Get Caught That Often
Even with all the lengths stores take to prevent shoplifting,
including electronic tags/ink tags on merchandise, security
cameras, locked cases, mirrors, patrol officers and more,
shoplifters often get away with their crime.
"Shoplifters say they are caught an average of only
once in every 48 times they steal. They are turned over to
the police 50 percent of the time," says Berlin.
Meanwhile, regular shoplifters do so about 1.6 times every
week, stealing anywhere from $2 to $200 worth of merchandise
each time, according to NASP. It's even common for them to
steal some products and buy others during the same visit!
Help for Shoplifters
Most experts believe that chronic shoplifting is a psychological
problem, often stemming from unresolved anger or depression,
or problems with self-esteem, addictions and more. Many shoplifters
also feel underappreciated and unloved.
If you or someone you love has a problem with shoplifting,
there are support groups out there that can help, such as
Cleptomaniacs And Shoplifters Anonymous (CASA). Support
groups are available nationwide and online.
Recommended Reading
The
Biggest Crime You've Never Heard of -- Return Fraud -- and
How the Criminals Do It
The
Unethical but (Mostly) Legal Retail Shopping Tactics of Devil
Consumers
Sources
National
Association for Shoplifting Prevention
Cleptomaniacs
and Shoplifters Anonymous, a Division of the Shulman Center