Stores
'Make it Easy' for Shoplifters
A
new report revealing the habits of shoplifters has found that stores
actually make it easier for them to steal.
Shoplifters across three continents have been filmed by academic researchers
for the first time as they recreated their crimes.
The findings revealed recently show that crooks target certain stores
and use remarkably similar methods in order to shoplift.
Report author Professor Martin Gill, of University of Leicester spin-out
company Perpetuity, said there were important lessons to be learnt by
retailers.
He said: 'Our study is based on taking shoplifters back to retail outlets
and getting them to recreate their offences, this time while they are
filmed. The study has been conducted with over 100 thieves in the UK,
Spain, Brazil, Canada and the US.
The report, 'shoplifters on shop theft: lessons for retailers' offers
fascinating insights into how thieves say they steal and provides retailers
with insights that can help them tackle shoplifting.
The report looks at the 'decision circle', the six key stages at which
thieves make decisions about their stealing, they are:
1. Choosing the store
2. Entering the store
3. Locating the product
4. Concealing the product
5. Leaving the store
6. Disposing of the goods
Professor Gill notes that: 'The striking finding is that despite lots
of security measures in-store thieves say retailers make it easy for
them'.
The report outlines the different ways in which retailers inadvertently
help thieves, for example by:
* installing inappropriate measures and ones that are not fit for purpose
* failing to train staff on the shop floor what to look for
* organising store layout in a way that is conducive to theft
Professor Gill adds: 'The single most important thing retailers can
do is to fully understand the problems they are facing. This requires
data and intelligence, and then to target appropriate measures and ensure
they work effectively. This is as much about people and process as it
is security.
'By understanding where thieves make the important decisions and by
gaining insights into what they are thinking at different stages we
are able to arm retailers with more information about crime.'
For example, thieves were able to find plenty of blind spots in store
to disguise their stealing, and staff were often disinterested in them
and this made things easier, and there was a lack of effective exit
controls.
This international study found that although countries and stores may
vary, shoplifter approaches are remarkably similar and they use very
similar techniques to avoid being detected by alarms, tags, cameras
and guards.
There were some differences, for example guards were seen as much more
susceptible to bribes in Brazil.
An abstract of the report can be viewed at:
http://www.perpetuitygroup.com/prci/publications.html
and there are directions there about how to obtain a full copy of the
report.
Martin Gill is former Professor of Criminology at the University of
Leicester and now heads a spin-out company of the University of Leicester
engaged in crime and security research.