Feature
important part of retail security, but Figure 1
the truth is that they only identify a
small proportion of what is stolen
by criminals. Figures in GRTB 2008
show that thieves responsible for
only 3.4 percent of the amount
stolen from retailers were
apprehended by retailers last year,
and even in North America the
figure was only 5.7 percent (GRTB,
2008).
Without decrying in any way the
value of in-store security personnel,
loss prevention through deterring
or preventing criminal activity is
likely to be a more successful policy
than apprehending thieves per se.
Shoppers or employees can be
tempted to steal if they think it is
[Source: calculated from the GRTB 2008]
relatively easy to do and the
chances of detection are low. More
people may well be inclined to try
their hand at crime at a time of
recession, but the key factor
affecting whether people attempt
to steal is based upon that person’s
REFERENCES
notional risk/reward ratio of retail
crime. If they have been successful
Bamfield, J. (2009) Coping with adversity: European retailers and the credit crunch,
Nottingham: Centre for Retail Research.
once, then profitable theft can
provide further reinforcement,
BBC (2009a) ‘Figures show business crime rise’, BBCNews24, 16 April, found at
making them more confident and
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8002195.stm
willing to steal next time. In
BBC (2008) ‘Italian troops to patrol cities’ BBCNews24, 20 July, at
countries where the criminal justice http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7532817.stm
system is perceived to be weak in
BBC (2009b) ‘Recession “fuels insurance fraud”’, BBCNews24, 15 April at
dealing with persons apprehended
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8000630.stm
for retail theft, then this will of
course weight the risk/reward ratio
Boyce, B. (2008) ‘Lack of jobs leads to more shoplifting, official says’, Tribune-Star, 6 Dec., at
increasingly in favor of theft.
http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_story_341234113.html
There’s little question that these Clements, A. (2009) ‘Beating the new crime wave’, Retail Week, 27 March, pp. 40-1.
difficult times making life a lot more
Dorfman, B. (2008) ‘Thieves prowl stores more as economy slumps’, Reuters, 18 Nov., at
challenging for all retailers, and the
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Economy/idUSTRE4AH77C20081118
job of loss prevention is more
complex than ever due to new
Gary, A. (2008) ‘Stores guard against theft as economy slumps’, Business Rockford, 24 Nov., at
threats, increased sophistication by
http://www.rrstar.com/homepage/x415850487/Stores-guard-against-theft-as-economy-slumps
thieves and, to some degree, a GRTB (2008) The Global Retail Theft Barometer 2008, Nottingham: Centre for Retail Research.
stronger sense of desperation by
Husty III, D. (2008) ‘Shoplifting in Lee County soars as economy sours: Thefts up 76.8 percent in
potential thieves both inside and
Cape, 73.5 in Fort Myers since ’06’, News-Press, 7 Dec., at
outside the store. But don’t forget
http://www.news-press.com/article/20081207/BUSINESS/812070393/1075
this fact: There’s nothing inevitable
about higher shrink in any retail
Needleman, S.E. (2008) ‘Businesses say theft by their workers is up’, Wall Street Journal,
December 11, found at
establishment. Threats can be
http://Online.Wsj.Com/Article/SB122896381748896999.Html?Mod=Googlenews_Wsj
identified, and strategies to deter
and detect put in place. Through a
Retail Bulletin (2009) ‘Shoplifting up almost a quarter across North East’, The Retail Bulletin, 1st
combination of better strategic
April, found at
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/shoplifting_up_almost_a_quarter_across_north_east_01-
planning, vigilance in maintaining
04-09/?u=34056
reasonable LP technology
investment, and an understanding
Retail Week (2009a) ‘Is the worst of the global downturn behind us? Retail Week, 15 May, pp.
18-20.
of why and how shrink takes place,
retailers can continue to reduce
Silvester, J. (2008) ‘Crime changes direction as economy heads south’, The Age, 24 November, at
shrink as a percentage of revenue,
http://www.theage.com.au/national/crime-changes-direction-as-economy-heads-south-
and protect their organizations’
20081123-6etq.html
profitability in these tough times. Verdict (2009) The Impact of the Credit Crunch on European Retail, London: Datamonitor.
ISSUE 4 AUGUST 2009 • 25
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