SUMMARY Shoplifters and magicians have one thing in common. Both rely on sleight-of-hand. However, amusement turns to anguish when individuals who pretend to be customers come into a small store and prove that "the hand is quicker than the eye." The methods which shoplifters use are discussed in this Aid, and the types of persons who practice this form of thievery are described. The Aid also gives practical suggestions on using protective devices, on what employees must do, and on apprehending and arresting shoplifters. The author is president of Dale System Incorporated, New York, N. Y. Shoplifters hoplifters are stealing me blind, is a complaint made by many retailers. And rightly so, because in some localities the shortages caused by nimble-fingered artists are the greatest percentage of a retailer's inventory shrinkage. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to break up such thievery. It is a constant battle in which you must fight individual engagements. One difficulty is identifying your opponent. Challenging an innocent person can be costly as well as embarrassing. A key to reducing shoplifting losses is knowing your man and catching him in the act. What methods are used by the shoplifter? What kind of person is he? METHODS OF SHOPLIFTERS Professional shoplifters are sleight-of-hand experts. Under ordinary circumstances, they can, and do, snatch items from counters and pass these items to confederates without detection. The best protection a retailer has is a sales force trained to watch for such things. In stores where clerks are not wide awake, shoplifters can literally take over. These thieves have been known to step behind counters, pose as sales clerks, and collect money from customers. As for the hand-is-quicker-than-the-eye techniques, shoplifters come equipped with coats and capes which have hidden pockets and slits or zippered hiding places. Hands emerge unseen from slits to snatch up articles directly from open displays. Many times, such performances are blocked from view by the open coat itself. These shoplifters are also adept at palming small items with the cover-up aid of loose handkerchiefs and gloves. Sometimes shoplifters have special hooks or belts on the insides of their coats or tricky aprons and undergarments designed to hold innumerable articles. Some sleight-of-hand thieves slip merchandise into packages or into boxes that have a hinged top, bottom, or end. Salesclerks should know how to spot such devices. Employees should also be suspicious of and watch shoppers who carry bulky packages, knitting bags, shopping bags, and umbrellas. These are handy receptacles for items which a shoplifter purposely knocks off counters. Some shoplifters do not confine their activity to shopowners. They even steal from customers. They pick up packages or handbags which store patrons carelessly lay aside in their preoccupation with shopping. Ticket switching is another method used by shoplifters. It is an especially vexing problem for owner-managers of a store. It is almost impossible to prove the guilt of a ticket switcher, for one thing. Also there is the hazard of false arrest countercharges. TYPES OF SHOPLIFTERS Fortunately for the owner-manager of a small store, the majority of shoplifters are amateurs rather than professionals. A breakdown of various types should help you to understand the motives which causes these individuals to steal and the methods they use. JUVENILE OFFENDERS. The young make up about 50 percent of all shoplifters, and indications are that this type of offender is on the increase. Sometimes youngsters steal "for kicks" or because they have been "dared" to do so. They may enter stores in gangs. In order to discourage these rebellious and unsupervised juveniles, retailers should "get tough." Youth is no excuse for crime. It should be prosecuted and made to pay through the proper legal channels. HOUSEWIVES. Many retailers report that the majority of adults who are apprehended are women, and a significant number of them are housewives. They steal because they have given in to momentary impulse and temptation. Many of them are first offenders and by catching them, you may help prevent them from becoming habitual shoplifters. KLEPTOMANIACS. Thefts by kleptomaniacs stem from psychological compulsions. The term is a combination of the Greek word for thief, "kleptes," and the word "maniac." Often kleptomaniacs do not need the items they pick up. But even so their behavior is no less costly to you. DRUNKARDS AND VAGRANTS. Drunkards and vagrants are probably the most clumsy shoplifters and the easiest to detect. They often steal because they desperately need money and food. NARCOTICS ADDICTS. Drug addicts are, of course, more desperate than vagrants. Also addicts may be armed. They should be handled by the police. PROFESSIONAL SHOPLIFTERS. The professional is the most difficult type to detect and apprehend. He is clever at his craft. When he comes into the store, he often pretends that he is shopping for something to buy for his wife. The professional shoplifter is "in business" for money. He usually steals to resell his loot to established fences. He often has a police record. Indeed, he may belong to an underworld organization which will supply bail and help him in court. The professional can be discouraged from stealing if he sees that store personnel are really alert. CALL THE POLICE Regardless of the type of shoplifter, the common answer that most shoplifters give when caught is: "I have never done this before." Failure to prosecute "first offenders" encourages shoplifting. It is best to operate on the premise that he who steals will also lie. Call the police when you catch a shoplifter. When every merchant in town follows the policy of prosecuting each shoplifter, the word gets around. Hardened professionals will avoid the town. Amateurs will think twice before yielding to the temptation to pocket a choice item. PROTECTIVE PERSONNEL AND DEVICES In reducing shoplifting losses, the deterrent factor is all important. Protective devices help you to discourage borderline shoplifters-ones who don't steal unless the coast is clearand to trap bold ones. Among these devices are two-way mirrors, peepholes, closed-circuit television, radio communication, and detectives posing as customers. |