Shoplifting

Shoplifting, also called shop theft or retail theft, is when someone takes goods from a store without paying for them. It usually happens while the store is open and is a type of larceny. Some people use the phrase "five-finger discount" to talk about shoplifting in a funny way.

The first known cases of shoplifting happened in London in the 1500s. For a long time, people thought mostly women did it. Stores try to stop shoplifting in many ways, like locking away small items, using security tags, putting up mirrors and cameras, and hiring security guards. Employees are trained to watch for possible shoplifters. Some stores ask customers to leave bags at the front so they can be checked when the customer leaves.

Definition

Shoplifting is when someone takes items from a store without paying for them. This usually means hiding things on a person's body or asking a friend to help and then leaving the store without paying. Sometimes people also switch price tags to get cheaper items, or eat food from the store without paying.

Stores can lose money because of shoplifting. The rules about punishing shoplifting can be different from other kinds of theft, often because it's hard to tell if someone really meant to steal or just made a mistake. Most stores are careful before stopping someone, making sure they are sure the person did something wrong.

History

Shoplifting, also called "lifting," has been around as long as shopping. The first records of shoplifting date back to the 1500s in London. Back then, groups of people would steal from shops. Over time, shopkeepers changed how they showed items, which sometimes made it easier for people to take things without paying.

In the 1600s, the word "shoplift" appeared in books. Some famous shoplifters from that time were women like Mary Frith, known as Moll Cutpurse. Laws at the time were very strict. By the 1800s, doctors started to describe shoplifting as a behavior linked to certain emotions, especially among women. Later, in the 1960s and 1970s, some people began to see shoplifting as a way to stand up against big companies.

Common targets

People often take small items that are easy to hide. These can include groceries like steak and instant coffee, razor blades and cartridges, and small tech gadgets such as vapes, smartphones, USB flash drives, and earphones. Other common items are gift cards, cosmetics, jewelry, multivitamins, pregnancy tests, electric toothbrushes, and clothing. In the past, cigarettes were often taken, but stores usually keep them behind the cash register now.

Methods

Shoplifters might hide items in their pockets, under their clothes, or in bags. Some stores ask people to leave bags at the counter to help stop this.

Others might fill a shopping cart with items and leave the store without paying. This is called a "walkout" or "pushout." Sometimes they wear store clothes when they leave. Employees are often told to only talk to someone they think is shoplifting, to avoid any problems.

Offenders

Offenders can be split into two main groups: those who shoplift for their own needs, and those who do it to sell the items later.

Some people shoplift just once or twice, taking things they need for themselves. These are often called "snitches." In some places, groups of young people, sometimes called flash mobs, go into stores together to take items while others distract the staff.

Other people make a living by shoplifting. These individuals are often very skilled and use clever methods to steal. They may sell what they take in secret markets. Sometimes, groups or even bigger crime organizations work together to plan and carry out thefts. These groups might include many people doing the stealing, others causing distractions, and sometimes even store employees helping them.

Motivation

People who take things from stores without paying might do it for different reasons. Some need the items because they can't afford them. Others might feel pressured by friends or want to have fun. Some act on a sudden impulse, especially if they feel stressed. Researchers say that these people often think they won’t get caught and may feel that the store or situation justifies their actions. Young children might take things to see what they can get away with, while older kids and teens often do it for fun or because their friends are doing it too.

Economics

Shoplifting is something many people do because it is easy and fits into daily life. People of all backgrounds have shoplifted. At one time, more women than men shoplifted, but now it seems men and women do it about the same. Most people start shoplifting around age ten, and it happens more often during teenage years. Shoplifting happens equally among all races, and poorer people do it only a little more than richer people.

The retail industry loses money to shoplifting. In 2017, shops around the world lost about $34 billion because of shoplifting. This is one reason why some shops close. For example, a market in Pittsburgh had to close because of shoplifters, and some stores in San Francisco also closed due to rising theft.

Differences by geography

People in many countries, like the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Japan, and India, sometimes take things from stores without paying. What they take can depend on what is popular in their country.

For example, in Milan, people often take expensive saffron used in a special local dish called risotto alla Milanese. In Italy, parmigiano reggiano cheese is often taken from supermarkets. In Spain, jamón ibérico is commonly stolen. In France, a special anise-flavoured drink called ricard is often taken. In Japan, people sometimes take manga comics, electronic games, and whisky. Some stores in Japan have talked about "digital shoplifting," where people take pictures of books or magazines to read them later without paying. In Norway, packaged cheese is a common item taken, and it is sometimes sold to pizza places or fast-food restaurants afterward.

Consequences

Main article: Shopkeeper's privilege

Shoplifting is a type of theft. Stores can choose to ban people who take things without paying.

In the United States, store staff may hold someone for a short time if they think that person is taking items without paying. They can sometimes make an arrest.

In England and Wales, shoplifting can lead to fines or jail time.

In some parts of the Middle East, like Saudi Arabia, there are strict laws for theft. Not everyone thinks shoplifting should be treated this way.

Prevention

Main article: Retail loss prevention

Shoplifting can be stopped and caught. Stores use Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to watch for people taking things without paying. Another way is Electronic article surveillance (EAS), where special tags on items set off an alarm if someone leaves the store with them. Big stores like Walmart also use Radio-frequency identification (RFID) to track items and know exactly what was taken.

Stores may have workers dressed like shoppers to watch for shoplifters, or they might use security personnel. Some stores have one-way doors or special gates to help prevent people from taking items the wrong way.