Food Shoplifting on the Rise
by Susan on 05/22/09 at 9:25 am
That's One Way to Discurage Crime
Recent studies by the Retail Industry Leaders Association indicate a surge in shoplifting. Almost two-thirds of the retailers surveyed reported higher losses in the last four months, with professional shoplifters becoming more active and bolder. The number of supermarkets and grocery stores reporting an increase in shoplifting arrests is also on the rise, thanks to the sour economy and large numbers of consumers feeling hopeless, as they run out of money and struggle to put food on the table.
To discourage shoplifters, many supermarkets are keeping expensive items, such as baby formula and cigarettes behind locked cases. Some are beefing up security systems, with more closed circuit cameras or plain-clothes detectives. Others are putting concealed tags on high-ticket items, which are deactivated at the checkout.
Unfortunately, professional thieves are getting away with hundreds of dollars in merchandise on each visit, due to their practiced techniques. Amazingly, both the experienced shoplifters and the amateurs have been able to walk out of grocery stores with hams, steaks and other expensive cuts of meat stuffed down their pants or in their purses. Most of the stolen items are then sold at a “discount.” It is the desperate members of society – those who are down on the luck and would never think of stealing – who are turning to a new life of supermarket crime, getting caught and ruining their lives.
Some are even shoplifting with their children.
These are the citizens who need, and should be patronizing, the Food Banks. However, I wonder how many of these newly initiated food criminals are aware these services exist. Perhaps it’s time for the groceries to collaborate with the Food Banks on a public relations campaign to help those down on their luck. Maybe some prominent signage in the stores directing the needy to local resources would be one way to curtail the shoplifting.
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