Summary of Responses to Shoplifting
The table below summarizes the responses to shoplifting, the mechanisms by which they are intended to work, the conditions under which they should work best, and some factors you should consider before implementing a particular response. It is critical that you tailor responses to local circumstances, and that you can justify each response based on reliable analysis. In most cases, an effective strategy will involve implementing several different responses. Law enforcement responses alone are seldom effective in reducing or solving the problem.
Responses 1-13 outlined below address all shoplifting, while 14-18 deal specifically with shoplifting conducted by organized groups. Responses 19-23 are those with limited effectiveness.
| Response No. | Response | How It Works | Works Best If.... | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For All Shoplifting | ||||
| Retailing Practice | ||||
| 1 | Improving store layout and displays | Makes it easier for staff to exercise effective surveillance | ....staff are trained and motivated to detect shoplifting | May be relatively inexpensive, but some stores' basic design makes it hard to eliminate all opportunities for shoplifters to conceal their activity |
| 2 | Tightening stock controls | Helps managers to detect changes in amounts or patterns of shoplifting | ....managers have incentives to reduce shoplifting | Increases in source tagging and electronic point-of-sales systems will gradually lead to improvements in stock control |
| 3 | Upgrading retail security | Makes it harder for shoplifters to operate | ....staff and managers have incentives to reduce shoplifting | Some security practices may be unpopular with staff and customers alike, and consequently have the effect of reducing sales; they sometimes carry costs in terms of staff time |
| 4 | Posting warning notices on high-risk merchandise | Alerts potential thieves that identified merchandise may be subject to special surveillance | ....the notices identify the most frequently targeted items | A low-cost measure; might alarm some innocent shoppers |
| Staffing | ||||
| 5 | Hiring more and better-trained sales staff | Makes it harder for shoplifters to operate | ....staffing levels are increased at high-risk periods | Can be a relatively expensive way to reduce shoplifting |
| 6 | Hiring security guards | Provides a deterrent to shoplifters who might otherwise believe they could escape if apprehended by sales staff | ....the guards are properly trained, are physically imposing, and have an active, visible presence | Guard characteristics and behavior are extremely important: poor guards have no effect on shoplifting |
| 7 | Hiring loss prevention and asset protection teams | Improves strategic responses to prevent and deter shoplifting | ....the teams are briefed about the specific concerns and guided to focus on certain key areas | Some team functions may overlap with those already employed by store security personnel |
| Shoplifting Policies | ||||
| 8 | Using civil recovery | Provides retailers with a practical means of recovering some shoplifting costs; penalizes and deters apprehended shoplifters | ....administrative procedures are clear and uncomplicated, and shoplifters are able to pay restitution | May not be an option for small retailers who lack time and resources to pursue civil recovery |
| 9 | Using informal police sanctions | Of unknown deterrent value, but saves time for retailers, police, and the criminal justice system | ....combined with efforts to change offenders' attitudes about shoplifting | Usually used only with first-time offenders; often limited to juveniles |
| Technology | ||||
| 10 | Installing and monitoring CCTV | Increases surveillance of vulnerable merchandise and locations; can be used to identify offenders after the act and/or provide evidence for charges | ....the CCTV cameras are located close to key areas (offenders can conceal goods elsewhere, such as around blind corners, in elevators, and in stairwells) | Employees must be trained in equipment's use; equipment must be adequate to keeping close watch on suspicious individuals; staff watching monitors quickly become fatigued |
| 11 | Using electronic article surveillance | Detects shoplifters trying to leave store with concealed goods | ....the tags are difficult to remove without damaging goods | Fewer customers Staff may become complacent about other antitheft policies and procedures; not all merchandise can be easily tagged; an expensive option, but source tagging will reduce costs |
| 12 | Attaching ink tags to merchandise | Removes the rewards of shoplifting by rendering stolen goods unusable | ....combined with electronic article surveillance | Not all merchandise can be easily tagged; ink tag security can be compromised by theft of tag-removal equipment |
| 13 | Using advanced surveillance electronic systems | Advanced software programs appended to surveillance systems allow for immediate detection of unusual activity | ....early warnings are attended to at once by monitoring centers or security personnel | May be expensive to obtain or maintain |
| For Organized Shoplifting | ||||
| 14 | Establishing early warning systems | Eliminates element of surprise that organized shoplifting groups often rely on | ....systems are operated by stores whose merchandise is targeted by organized shoplifters | A low-cost, sensible precaution for stores vulnerable to organized shoplifting |
| 15 | Forming task forces with other law enforcement agencies | Enhances police intelligence about shoplifting incidents and groups | ....large organized criminal groups are involved | Law enforcement priorities may vary across jurisdictions, which may affect outcome of investigations |
| 16 | Forming partnerships and working with retailers and manufacturers | Enhances shoplifting intelligence and improves theft prevention and offender apprehension | ....retailers express willingness to work closely with law enforcement | Roles and functions should be established to avoid confusion |
| 17 | Monitoring stores' goods suppliers | Reduces retailers' risk of purchasing goods previously stolen by organized shoplifters and therefore disrupts market in these goods | ....suppliers' premises are regularly inspected by loss prevention teams and store buyers are encouraged to watch for suspicious transactions | Loss prevention teams and buyers need to be trained and be given incentives to identify and report suspect goods and irregular transactions |
| 18 | Using social networking sites to gather information about shoplifting incidents | Enhances police intelligence about shoplifting incidents and groups | ....monitoring helps identify and prevent future incidents | Can be resource and time consuming and may not always yield useful intelligence |
| Responses with Limited Effectiveness | ||||
| 19 | Hiring store detectives | Deters offenders, especially casual shoplifters | ....the stores are large, so that detectives' identity does not become known, and detectives spend considerable time on shop floor | May not be an effective deterrent to more determined or organized shoplifters who can spot store detectives |
| 20 | Arresting and prosecuting shoplifters | Punishment deters shoplifters from offending again and deters other people from shoplifting | ....the chances of getting caught for shoplifting are perceived to be high | Risks of getting caught are so low that shoplifters pay little attention to possible costs |
| 21 | Using shaming punishments for first-time offenders | First-time offenders learn how and why not to repeat their behavior | ....the sanction is combined with some other informal sanction | Uncertain effectiveness; may be more effective if used with young offenders |
| 22 | Banning known shoplifters | Denies known shoplifters opportunity to steal | ....the identities of those who have been convicted of shoplifting are publicized | May have some value in deterring shoplifting, but unless those identified have been convicted by a court, both merchants and police are vulnerable to legal challenge or public criticism |
| 23 | Launching public information campaigns | Informs public about shoplifting harms; encourages people to report shoplifting; increases knowledge about penalties | ....used to advertise new anti-shoplifting measures | Little evidence exists that these campaigns reduce shoplifting, but they might change community attitudes |
Free Bound Copies of the Problem Guides
You may order free bound copies in any of three ways:
Online: Department of Justice COPS Response Center
Email: askCopsRC@usdoj.gov
Phone: 800-421-6770 or 202-307-1480
Allow several days for delivery.
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