What is considered a professional shoplifter?

#2 Professional Shoplifter

Professional shoplifters account for 20% of shoplifting losses and often shoplift multiple expensive or “high-end” items at a time. They usually steal as a part of their lifestyle, for profit or greed. They are usually underemployed, as shoplifting may be their full-time job.

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 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.

What are two broad categories of shoplifters?

Shoplifters come from all walks of life. Basically, however, they fall into two broad categories: ordinary customers and professionals who steal for a living. The amateur steals on impulse. His most important motive is a simple desire for the item itself.

Behind the scenes of Home Depot's operation to take down professional shoplifters

What are three signs of a potential shoplifter?

What are the 7 types of shoplifters?

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 are the five basic categories of shoplifters?

the (1) taking and (2) carrying away of (3) personal property of (4) another, with (5) the intent to deprive the victim permanently, by (6) the use of force, fear, or threat of force. This illegal taking is called trespassory. The property taken in a robbery must be taken illegally by the robber.

Do stores know if you steal?

Many retailers, especially large department and grocery stores, use video surveillance. Cameras in and outside of the store can detect suspicious activity and capture evidence of the individual stealing.

How do grocery stores know you steal?

Large shopping bags, hanging around high-theft items, moving in groups, and hanging around certain areas for long periods of time are all indicators that someone is likely to steal. Shoplifters may also stoop or hide their hands in order to conceal an item. If something like this is spotted, employees engage with them.

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.

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.

How do you steal from stores like a pro?

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.

Who commits the most retail theft?

Overall, blacks and Hispanics were no more likely than whites to steal merchandise. However, when race and gender were examined by subcategory, Hispanic females stole the most, shoplifting at more than seven times the rate of white females, he said.

How often do shoplifters get caught?

A good moment to stop shoplifters is as they leave the department or the store. However, only 5 to 10 percent of shoplifters are caught. Of those caught, only some are reported to the police and fewer are sentenced (usually to a fine).

Is shoplifting a mental disorder?

Kleptomania (klep-toe-MAY-nee-uh) is the recurrent inability to resist urges to steal items that you generally don't really need and that usually have little value. Kleptomania is a rare but serious mental health disorder that can cause much emotional pain to you and your loved ones if not treated.

Why do I like shoplifting?

According to Psychology Today, people may shoplift for various reasons with most of them not relating at all to a lack of money or a need for the item being taken. A couple common reasons include an addiction to stealing and a mental disorder that encourages the behavior.

Why is shoplifting so easy?

The most they do is record the thefts with their cell phones. Why is shoplifting so rampant? Because state law holds that stealing merchandise worth $950 or less is just a misdemeanor, which means that law enforcement probably won't bother to investigate, and if they do, prosecutors will let it go.

What should you not do when shoplifting?

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.

What is considered suspicious shopping Behaviour?

Suspicious behaviours may include: Inappropriate or oversized clothing that can conceal weapons, contrabands or explosives (i.e. a big, bulky coat worn when the temperature is 35 degrees Celsius, shoe laces that suspiciously look like wires or cables)

How do you shoplift at self-checkout?

There are many different self-checkout theft techniques. These include, but aren't limited to: Fake Barcodes: Customers cover barcodes with those of cheaper items. Simultaneous Scanning: This involves piling similar and hard-to-notice items, like greeting cards, and only scanning one.