“More Consumers, Workers Shoplift as Economy Slows”
USA Today (06/19/08) ; Dugas, Christine
Many retail chains report an increase in shoplifting, which experts blame on the struggling economy. A recent survey showed that 74 percent of retailers believed that shoplifting increased from 2006 to 2007. Retail theft costs companies approximately $40.5 billion a year, with the losses passed on to consumers through raised prices. Police said that shoplifters have historically been people attempting to fuel a drug habit, a trend that has changed due to the poor economy. Now, more everyday items are being stolen, including groceries. The economic downturn also forced many companies to reduce the number of employees. With fewer sales clerks watching shoppers walk the aisles, it is easier for thieves to steal merchandise. The rise in retail thefts is also being blamed on the presence of organized crime, which account for up to $30 billion in losses every year, according to the FBI. These rings of professional thieves can easily move stolen items through the Internet, where consumers go to look for deals. Companies must also deal with employee theft, which makes up almost half of company losses. The FBI recently joined with the retail industry to openly share information in an effort to curb organized retail theft.
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