‘Tis the season for shoplifters
Submitted on December 2, 2005 - 1:00am.
B. Blair Dedrick - Fall 2005
As millions of people head out to buy Christmas gifts, a small population lurks within their numbers. They are the bane of retail, the sworn enemies of store security and the reason salespeople hover annoyingly: shoplifters.
From department stores to toy stores, increased customer traffic means more shoplifters. And stores know it.
“With added traffic comes heightened awareness and increased security,” said Sarah Weber, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman. “It's a game we don't like to play, and we really don't like to lose.”
Overall, shoplifting costs the retail industry $10.5 billion a year, according to the 2004 Retail Security Survey by the University of Florida, and experts predict the number will continue to inch up. The 2004 Uniform Crime Report, compiled by the FBI from statistics reported by law enforcement offices, showed the shoplifting rate steadily increasing since 2000.
From department stores to toy stores, increased customer traffic means more shoplifters. And stores know it.
“With added traffic comes heightened awareness and increased security,” said Sarah Weber, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman. “It's a game we don't like to play, and we really don't like to lose.”
Overall, shoplifting costs the retail industry $10.5 billion a year, according to the 2004 Retail Security Survey by the University of Florida, and experts predict the number will continue to inch up. The 2004 Uniform Crime Report, compiled by the FBI from statistics reported by law enforcement offices, showed the shoplifting rate steadily increasing since 2000.
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