What is a professional shoplifter?

The professional shoplifter dresses, talks and acts so he doesn't attract attention or arouse suspicion. He is usually interested in a small, high-value items for which there is an easy resale market. The professional shoplifter is likely to be very cautious. Generally the professional steals for a living.

What are the 3 types of shoplifters?

Are most shoplifters professional?

Shoplifters are caught once out of every 48 times they steal – and, when they are caught, they are arrested 50% of the time. “Professionals” make up only 3% of shoplifters – but this group is responsible for 10% (or more) of all profit loss from theft.

What are some differences between a professional shoplifter and an amateur?

The main difference is that an amateur shoplifter usually steals for personal use, while a professional shoplifter typically steals to sell the merchandise after the theft. The amateur and opportunist are your typical everyday shoplifters. They are usually stealing items for themselves.

What type of person shoplifts?

There's no typical profile of a shoplifter. Men and women shoplift about equally. Adults comprise 75 percent of shoplifters. The vast majority of shoplifters (nearly 75 percent) shoplift not out of economic need or greed, but in response to personal and social pressures.

Professional Shoplifter Tells Dr. Phil Why He Steals

What are the two types of shoplifters?

Researchers divide shoplifters into two categories: "boosters", professionals who resell what they steal, and "snitches", amateurs who steal items for their personal use.

How do you identify a potential shoplifter?

Why can't employees stop shoplifters?

Employees Can't Stop Group Shoplifters Due to Store Policies

Retail employees who intervene in shoplifting face attacks from shoplifters and disciplinary action from their employers. Some stores do not allow security guards to intervene, even when they see people blatantly stealing.

Is it okay to be an amateur?

Amateurism is given a hard time. To be called “amateur” is to be seen as unprofessional, rather than non-professional. It's used as a criticism or an insult about a person's approach to their work.

How do grocery stores know you steal?

How do shops know if something is stolen? Most stores do inventory monthly or quarterly. So if they know they received 10 of an item, and computer records show 7 were sold, there should be 3 left on the shelf. If there is only 1 on the shelf, they know 2 were stolen.

What race is most likely to shoplift?

The odds of shoplifting were significantly higher in men than in women. Native Americans had higher odds than whites, although blacks, Hispanics, and Asian Americans had lower odds of shoplifting than non-Hispanic whites.

What age group Shoplifts the most?

And although shopkeepers often are quick to blame juveniles for missing items, the UF study found shoplifters were most commonly between the ages of 35 and 54.

What is the most shoplifted item?

Designer clothes are the most stolen item by organized retail crime gangs or smash-and-grab thefts. Such organized retail crime has been costing retailers an average of over $700,000 from every $1 billion in sales for the last five years in a row, with the number rising yet again according to the latest figures.

Is shoplifting an addiction?

The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP) explains, “Drug addicts, who have become addicted to shoplifting, describe shoplifting as equally addicting as drugs.”¹ You don't have to use a substance to experience addiction. Behaviors like shoplifting can be as or even more addictive.

What should you not do when shoplifting?

Can shoplifting cause depression?

Shoplifting is oftentimes due to depression. Many scholarly studies have linked depression and other mental issues and shoplifting. In fact, the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, in a widely reported study, found that over 30 percent of first-time offenders were clinically depressed.

How do I become an amateur?

Becoming an amateur is about going from doing nothing, or very little, to forming a consistent behavior. Changing our behavior to consistently exercise, eat right, save money, or more fully enjoy time with our family, requires forming new habits, which over time give us what we want.

What's below a master?

There are 13 enlisted Army ranks: private, private second class, private first class, specialist, corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant, sergeant first class, master sergeant, first sergeant, sergeant major, command sergeant major and sergeant major of the Army.

What are some of the positive things about being an amateur?

"Because they have little to lose, amateurs are willing to try anything and share the results. They take chances, experiment, and follow their whims. Sometimes, in the process of doing things in an unprofessional way, they make new discoveries."

Can you chase a shoplifter?

Never lock the door to keep a shoplifter from leaving. Never chase a shoplifter out of your place of business. Remain at least an arm's length away from the shoplifter.

Should you confront a shoplifter?

Confront them – If you decide to confront the suspected shoplifter, approach them when they have exited the premises. According to security expert Chris E McGoey, it's best to have additional personnel with you when you approach the shoplifter. “A good rule is to outnumber the suspected shoplifter by a least one.

Can you sue a store for accusing you of stealing?

Yes, employees can also file a claim against an employer for being wrongfully harassed or fired because of false accusations of stealing.

How can I be the best shoplifter?

Is Loss Prevention allowed to touch you?

LP is prohibited from touching you or running after you.

If you are stopped for shoplifting, loss prevention is not allowed to run after you or physically touch you.

How do you approach a shoplifter?

If you've witnessed someone doing this, approach them calmly outside of the store, identify yourself, and explain that you know they shoplifted. Then, escort the person back into the store and call the police. However, if the shoplifter runs, never chase them as you could pose a safety risk to others around you.