“As Economy Dips, Arrests for Shoplifting Soar”
New York Times (12/23/08) P. A1 ; Urbina, Ian; Hamill, Sean D.
Police departments report that the number of shoplifting arrests is between 10 percent and 20 percent higher this year due to the struggling economy. The actual number of shoplifting incidence is likely higher since most stores handle the matter internally by banning the thief from the store. Although most of the increase is from first-time offenders, organized crime rings are playing a larger role in shoplifting and fraud. The economy has forced many retailers and police departments to reduce staffing levels, making stores more vulnerable to shoplifting. Many stores are also reluctant to instruct employees to question suspicious customers because they don’t want to do anything that could result in lost business. Seasonal workers hired for the holiday rush are also less experienced at catching shoplifters and more likely to commit theft themselves. The nonprofit National Association for Shoplifting Prevention estimates that over $35 million in merchandise is stole every day in the United States, with most of the items resold on the Internet. Some Web sites even sell fake receipts that shoplifters can use to obtain a cash refund for stolen goods. In order to combat the rise in retail crime, law enforcement agencies and retailers are working together to try new tactics. One Georgia-based chain of convenience stores has linked its video surveillance system to the local police station, where officers keep a lookout for shoplifters. Shoplifters arrested in Louisiana must now pay a mandatory $1,000 bail or stay in jail until their trial.
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