PPreventingreventing SShopliftinghoplifting

This guide is one in a series of prevention publications designed to equip current and potential Safe City partners with low-cost tools to assess their crime problems and to develop strategies to address them. Other guides in this series include vandalism, public disorder, car , panhandling, and . 2 Safe City www.urban.org/justice. For moreinformationabouttheUrbanInstitute’s justicepolicyresearchactivities, pleasevisit implement. For moreinformationabouttheSafeCityprogram, pleasevisitwww.mysafecity.com. of crimepreventionstrategies foruseinretailsettings, manyofwhichareinexpensiveandeasyto Safe CityhaspartneredwiththeUrbanInstitute, anon-profi t policyresearchfi rm, todevelopavariety crime anddisorderproblemsoccurringinaroundtheirbusinesses. success. These partnershipsarefurtherstrengthenedbyindividualretailerstakingownershipoverthe The SafeCitymodelpromotespartnershipsandtechnicalsolutionsasinstrumentalbuildingblocksfor fi nancial, technological, andhumanresourcesavailable toaddressacommunity’s crimeproblems. leaders, propertymanagers, andcommunityorganizations. This approachmaximizesthetactical, by buildingcollaborative relationshipsbetweenlawenforcement, businesses, residents, government U.S. modifythemodeltobestsuittheirneedsandresources. The goalistoleverage existingresources develop communitiesintosaferplacestolive, work, andshop. Community partnersincitiesacrossthe attributes of “hot items” (seesidebar). “Hot” to . The acronym “CRAVED” highlights “hot” merchandiseare particularlyvulnerable MERCHANDISE. greater riskofshoplifting. organized securityprecautions, arealsoat Smaller retailers, especiallythosewithout any areas ofconcentrated low-incomeresidents. city centers, high-traffi c areas, schools, and problematic forbusinesseslocatednear across allaisles. Shopliftingtendstobemore layouts thatdonotpermiteasysurveillance greater risk, asareshopswithphysical street, rather thanintoamall, maybeat LOCATION. holidays andwhenschoolisoutofsession. Peak seasonsforshopliftingarearoundwinter retail days(Wednesday throughSaturday). hours, inthelatemorning, andduringbusy TIME. system. gateway forjuveniles intothecriminaljustice juvenile males, andissometimesconsidereda perpetrated byregular customers, particularly Shoplifting isusuallyacrimeofopportunity SShoplifting Patterns “shrinkag damaged goodsareoftenlabeledtogetheras from shoplifting, employeetheft, and understand itsshopliftingproblem. Losses It isdiffi cult foranybusinesstofully UUnderstanding Shoplifting SSafe City Shoplifting important forbusinessestoaddressthiscrime. shoplifting patternsandexplainswhyitis h a n f o e p Shopliftingtendstooccurafterschool d

l C i e.” T e i f t t Businessesthatopentothe r y i his sectionidentifi es common n

s is amodelcommunity-basedinitiativethataimstoreducecrime, buildawareness, and g Retailersspecializingin t

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S h o p l i and disorder. lead tostoreclosingsandfurthercrime safety perspective, seriousprofi t lossescould store’s netprofi ts. Second, fromacommunity incidents canhaveasignifi cant impactona event maybelow, thevolumeofthese the actualcostofanindividualshoplifting many reasonstoaddressthiscrime. First, while seemingly pettycrimes. Nevertheless, thereare and reportingaretimeconsumingforsuch attention tothiscrime. For instance, detection there areevendisincentivesforpayingclose above afewpercentoftotalnetsales. Infact, long asthecostofshrinkagedoesnotrise attention totheftanddamageofgoodsas retailers. Somestoreownerspaylittle least detectedandreportedcrimesaffecting Shoplifting isoneofthemostcommonbut AAddressing Shoplifting purchase theseitems. because shopliftersaretooembarrassed to condoms orpregnancytests, arevulnerable them legally. Birthcontrolproducts, suchas minors becausetheyareunabletopurchase beverages aresusceptible toshopliftingby as cigarettesandsingleservingalcoholic name clothingandfootware. Productssuch control products, decongestants, orbrand- products, CDs, videogames, earrings, birth merchandise forshopliftersincludestobacco f d t d i r n e s g s i n g

S h o p l i f t i n g the UrbanInstitute,itstrustees,orfunders. position orpoliciesoftheU.S.DepartmentJustice, authors anddonotnecessarilyrepresenttheoffi Opinions expressedinthisdocumentarethoseof the The UrbanInstituteJusticePolicy Center. “Preventing Shoplifting.” Washington, DC: Michelle L. Scott, andKevonne Small. 2007. For citationpurposes: to carry pockets, bags, orunderclothing or consume 5 Modify yourstrategy ifnecessary. 4 Measure yourshopliftingproblem 3 Choose apractical strategy toreduce 2 Identify businesspractices thatmay 1 Measure yourshopliftingproblem. can helppreventshoplifting: Here areafewguidingstepsthat QQuick Tips panhandling, andretailburglary. vandalism, carcrimes, publicdisorder, Other guidesinthisseriesaddress business environment. nature ofyourcrimeproblemand should tailoryoursolutiontotheunique implementing thesestrategies you issues. Keep inmindthatwhen community stakeholders aboutthese dialogue amongretailers, police, and business areaandtohelppromote the shopliftingproblemaffectingyour your partnersunderstandandaddress This guideisdesignedtohelpyouand UUsing DDisposable: EEnjoyable: VValuable: AAvailable: RRemovable: CConcealable: Description of “Hot” Items CCRAVED: easy tofi nd resale value orstatusamongpeers a v n o i e R your strategy. again toassesstheimpactof shoplifting andtryit. make youvulnerable toshoplifting. s s u n l a j m u p o i i c i A l y o o a e n a c s v a b a V b a k g a b l l l e a b b l e E

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G (Clarke 2002) u i d e cial problem sothatyoucanselectanappropriateresponsestrategy. Community partnersshouldconsiderthequestionsthatappearbelow. Answers tothequestionsbelowwillhelpyoubetterunderst other areabusinesses, agencies, andpublicservicesisbenefi cial to addressanyunderlyingcommunityproblemswhichmaybere affecting yourbusiness. Although therearemanymethodsyoumayusetoaddressshopliftingonyourown, acommunity-widerespo BBefore implementingastrategy DDefi e e f o fi r demographic orothercharacteristics? Do thedocumentedshoplifters share anyparticular items stolen? Are youandotherarea businesseshavingsimilar If so, whatdoyouhaveincommonwith them? Is theftaffectingparticularstores inadditiontoyours? area businesses? What itemsare mostoftenstolenfrom yourstore or shoplifting orlossesoccur? What timeofday anddayofweekdiddocumented business experiencedoverthepastquarter? How manydocumentedshopliftingincidentshasyour shoplifting orfrom internal/employeetheft? Can youdistinguishwhetheryourlossisdueto inventory valuefortheprevious quarter? What isthedifference betweenyourstore’s salesand QQuestions toAsk: ning Your Problem e n u

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s r t r o a b t e l g e y m topreventshoplifting, itisimportanttodefi ne thespecifi c natureoftheshopliftingproblem females betweentheagesof13and 16yearsold. Yes, mostofthoseshoplifterscaughtstealingclothesare high-end, designerclothes. Yes, theotherclothingretailers andIareexperiencingtheftof experiencing shopliftingproblems. Yes, theotherclothingretailers inthisshoppingareaarealso Most theftisofclothing. weekends. during theweek. Ihavealsodocumentedlossesonthe Most knownshopliftingoccurredbetween2pmand6pm I documented56shopliftingincidentsinthelastquarter. employee theft, althoughIbelievebothdooccur. I cannotbeentirelysureiflossesareduetoshopliftingor experienced alossof$5,000. total $125,000basedoninventoryrecords. This meansIhave My storerevenuetotaled$120,000, butIexpectedsalesto EExample Responses: x a m p l e

R e s p o n s e s : lated toshoplifting. and yourshoplifting nse thatincorporates

3 SafeS City hoplifting 4 Safe City other areabusinessestojoincollaborative effortstoreducecrime reducing shoplifting(oranyothercrime)canbeusefulinpersuading you whethertheresponseselectediseffective. Proofofeffectively problem bothbeforeandafterinitiatingaresponse. Doingsowilltell It isimportanttomeasuretheextentofyourbusiness’shoplifting prevention strategy. and delaysinboththeimplementationimpactofyourcrime for potentialimplementationchallenges, suchasunanticipatedcosts that yoursmayrequireatailoredresponse. Inaddition, beprepared common shopliftingscenarios. Donotforgetthatsituationsvary and strategy topreventit. The followingarestrategies thatcanbeusedfor shoplifting problemforyourarea, youarereadytodeveloparesponse Shoplifting AAfter you’veworked DDeveloping ResponseStrategies f t e e • Demographics ofsuspects • Day/timeofincidents • Numberofreportedincidents Juveniles stealingclothing • Types ofmusic/moviesstolen • Demographics ofsuspects • Number oftruantsreportedto • Day/timeofincidents • Numberofreportedincidents Truant youthstealingCDsandDVDs • Numberofreportedincidents • Type ofunaccounteditems • Number ofunaccounteditems Theft ofelectronics orotheritems • Unaccounted lossesby • Day/timeofincidents • Percent orvalue ofshrinkage Employee orinternaltheft • Locationofincidents • Numberofreportedincidents • Total salesandprofi ts ($) • Numberofrepeatoffenders General shoptheft MMeasurement v r school and/orpolice employee

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e with yourpartnerstodefi ne s • Businessrecords • Localpolice • Businessrecords • Localpolice • Businessrecords • Localpolice • Businessrecords • Localpolice • Businessrecords • Localpolice DData Source p a o t a n

S s o e u

r S c e t r • Post “no shoplifting” signsdetailingthefi nes andprosecutionif • InstallCCTVand/orconvexmirrors • Train staffondetectingandpreventingshoplifting • Redesignstorelayoutforeasierviewingofallareas • Position cashiersnearstoreexits • Reducenumberofexitsfromstore • Keep popularand/ornewreleasemusic/videos behindcounter • Package CDs/DVDsinoversizedpackagingorusecardboardplace • Enactstorepolicyprohibitingyouthduringschoolhours • Keep expensiveorpopularitemsinlocked showcases, behindcounter, • Use oversizedpackagingtomake itemsmorediffi cult tohidein SStrategic Response • Increasevisiblesecurityguardpresence duringafter-school hours • Installinkmerchandisetagsthatstain ifnotremovedbyemployee • Work withlocalschools tolaunchananti-shopliftingcampaign • Collaborate withlocalschoolsandpolicetoidentifymonitor • Work withlocalschoolsonanti-truancyprogram • Install merchandisetagsonitemstosoundalarmwhennotremoved • Installvideocameras tomonitoremployeeactivities • Establishnotolerance policytowards employeescaughtstealing • Track inventorylossesbyuniqueemployeeIDnumber • Tighten inventorycontrolprotocols • Enact policyforemployeebagcheckatendofeachshift

a the t caught shoplifting holders andrequiremerchandisepickupatcheckout counter truant youth or onwiredcablesthatonlyemployeescanunlock customers’ bagsorclothing or disengagedbyemployees r t a e t e g g i i c e

R s time asthenumberofshopliftingincidentsdecrease. attention toshoplifting. However, reportedincidentsshoulddeclineover outcome, indicatingthatcommunitymembersarepayinggreater increase inreportingofincidentstopolicemayrepresentapositive When measuringoutcomesitisimportanttonotethatatemporary problem hasimproved, andpossibledatasources. shoplifting problem, outcomesthatwillindicatewhethertheshoplifting following tableoutlinesways thatyoucanmeasurethestateofyour after implementingaresponsetoseewhetherithashadanimpact. The improvements immediately, itisadvisabletowait atleastafewmonths suggesting anadjustmenttotheresponseisinorder. While youmaynote evidence thatthestrategy isnotreducingshopliftingasyouexpected, throughout thecommunity. Your measurementmayalsoprovide e s p o n s e • Incidents less • Fewer incidents • Increased salesand • Fewer repeat • Fewer juvenile • Fewer afterschool • Fewer incidents • Fewer incidents • Decreased shrinkage • Fewer typesof • Fewer juvenile • Fewer school-hour • Fewer incidents • Fewer incidents • Fewer types • Fewer unaccounted Outcome O concentrated profi ts offenders offenders incidents specifiemployee c associated with movies stolen targeted music/ offenders incidents unaccounted items of targeted items u t c o m e TThe ownersofseveralshops MMeasuring Your Problem:AnExample shoplifting months, sotheygraphed thetotalsalesoftheirstoreswith The shopownerswanted furtherclarifi cation aboutthemostprevalent the lateafternoonhours. graph. The ownersnoticedadistinctincreaseinshopliftingincidents The timeofeachincidentwas reviewedandplottedasshowninthefi rst and 2005. incidents, alongwithdatesandtimes, occurringatthePlazafor2004 owners worked with Valley Police Departmenttogetalistofshoplifting could developandimplementthemostappropriateresponsestrategy. The wanted todeterminethenatureoftheirshopliftingproblemsothatthey h e

No. of Shoplifting Incidents Reported e

((As reportedtoValley PoliceDepartment) aat Valley ShoppingPlaza TTime ofShopliftingIncidents o 10 12 14 16 18 20 a A 0 2 4 6 8 w t i s

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E x more diffi cult. the useofink-tagorelectronictagsystemtomake theftfromthestores about therisksofshoplifting. Several shopownersarealsoexploring They alsopostedprominentsignsintheirstorestoeducateindividuals owners institutedanemployeebagcheckbeforetheendofeachshift. To addresstheirconcernswithpotentialemployeetheft, thebusiness response strategy mustfocusonbothcustomersandemployees. the unaccountedsalesareinternalorexternaltheft, buttheydoknowa sales increasingduringthesummermonths. The ownerscannotbesureif graph. Again, theownersnoticedadistinctpatternwithunaccounted in salesandexpectedisconsidered “unaccounted” inthesecond the salestheyexpectedbasedontheirinventoryrecords. The difference a

Dollars ($) m 100 120 aat Valley ShoppingPlaza MMonthly ShopliftingIncidents ((As reportedtoValley PoliceDepartment) 20 40 60 80 A 0 p t Jan s o

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5 SafeS City hoplifting HHowow OOtherther CCommunitiesommunities PPreventrevent ShopliftingShoplifting

Here are examples of how other retail establishments addressed shoplifting in their communities.

AArearea RRetailersetailers EElectroniclectronic & AApplianceppliance RRetailetail CChainhain CColoradoolorado SSprings,prings, CColoradoolorado UUnitednited KKingdomingdom To address a problem of repeat shoplifters, a group of retailers in In response to shoplifting problems, an electronic and appliance retail Colorado Springs established a retail security association to improve chain experimented with each of three different shoplifting prevention communication with local police. A sworn offi cer, loss prevention offi cers, methods – electronic tagging, relocation of commonly stolen items (store and managers of retail stores met every other month to exchange redesign), and uniform guards patrolling stores during business hours. information about shoplifting incidents and suspects. After one year, the Electronic tagging was most effective at preventing theft over time, with police dismantled a professional shoplifting ring and calls for service a 20 percent decrease in shoplifting after six weeks of implementation decreased by one-third. After reanalysis, the group reorganized to meet (Farrington et al. 1993). more frequently, and they developed an Internet tool to exchange information online, which allowed instant communication between police and loss prevention personnel. Over four years, shoplifting calls for CCentralentral BBusinessusiness DDistrictistrict service declined 25 percent citywide (Colorado Pikes Peak Retail Security MMesa,esa, AArizonarizona Association 2003). A large retailer experiencing a large number of shoplifting incidents partnered with police to address the problem. Business loss prevention RRetailetail CChainhain staff and law enforcement made efforts to improve communication between each another. In addition, loss prevention offi cers were UUnitednited SStatestates empowered to issue court appearance summons to shoplifters for Save Mart, a retail chain, used a variety of measures to prevent incidents under $100 in value without requiring a police report. shoplifting, including installing lower display racks to limit the number Shoplifting incidents decreased by 21 percent and calls for service of items a person could remove at once. The store also put stickers on dropped more than 50 percent during the three-month pilot (Arizona items indicating that the product was from their store in order to reduce Theft Reduction Action Program 2000). resale options. Attractive targets, such as CDs, were kept in secured glass cabinets or displayed in empty packaging. Convex mirrors and wider aisles improved . The crime prevention efforts undertaken by Save Mart decreased theft by 21 percent within one year (Nelson and Perrone 2000). g n i t f i l p o h S 6City Safe Clar Available: www.popcenter.org/Problems/problem-shoplifting. Clar Arizona Theft Reduction Action Program. 2000. MesaPolice Department(AZ): www.popcenter.org/library/goldstein/2000/00-16.pdf Sources consultedforthisguideinclude: • National Association ofConvenienceStores: http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/default.htm • NationalRestaurant Association: www.restaurant.org • NationalRetailFederation: http://www.nrf.com • SmallBusiness Administration: www.sba.gov • NationalCrimePreventionCouncil: http://www.ncpc.org • RutgersUniversityCrimePreventionServiceforBusiness: http://crimeprevention.rutgers.edu • National Association forShopliftingPrevention: www.shopliftingprevention.org • CenterforProblem-OrientedPolicing: www.popcenter.org • Your LocalSafeCityPartnership • Your LocalPolice Department AAdditional Resources and criminaljusticeNo.152. www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/ti152.pdf (accessedDecember8, 2006). Nelson, DianaandSantinoPerrone. 2000. “Understanding andControllingRetail Theft.” Canberra, Australia: Australian Institu Felson, MarcusandRonald V. Clar Prevention Studies, Vol. 1, editedbyRonald V. Clar Farrington, DavidP., Sean Bowen, Abigail Buckle, Tony Burns-Howell, JohnBurrows, andMartinSpeed. 1993. “An Experimentonth Colorado Pikes Peak RetailSecurity Association. 2003. Colorado SpringsPolice Department(CO): www.popcenter.org/library/golds Available: www.popcenter.org/learning/60steps. wwww.MySafeCity.com ke, ke, d w Ronald V. and JohnEck. 2005. Crime Analysis forProblemSolversin60SmallSteps. Washington, DC: U.S. DepartmentofJustice, Ronald V. 2002. Shoplifting. Problem-OrientedGuidesforPolice Series, No. 11. Washington, DC: U.S. DepartmentofJustice, Offi d w i . t M i y o S n a f a e C l

i t ke. R y 1997. BusinessandCrimePrevention. Monsey, NY: CriminalJusticePress. . c e o s m o u ke. r Monsey, NY: CriminalJustice Press. c e s te ofCriminology. Trends andissuesincrime tein/2003/03-09.pdf e PreventionofShoplifting.” InCrime ce ofCommunityOrientedPolicing Services. Offi ce ofCommunityOrientedPolicing Services.

7 SafeS City hoplifting wwww.MySafeCity.comww.MySafeCity.com