by Rebecca Walker — December 29, 2008—Police departments report that the number of shoplifting arrests is between 10 percent and 20 percent higher this year due to the struggling economy, says the New York Times.
The actual number of shoplifting incidence is likely higher since most stores handle the matter internally by banning the thief from the store. Although most of the increase is from first-time offenders, organized crime rings are playing a larger role in shoplifting and fraud.
The economy has forced many retailers and police departments to reduce staffing levels, making stores more vulnerable to shoplifting. Many stores are also reluctant to instruct employees to question suspicious customers because they don’t want to do anything that could result in lost business. Seasonal workers hired for the holiday rush are also less experienced at catching shoplifters and more likely to commit theft themselves.
The nonprofit National Association for Shoplifting Prevention estimates that over $35 million in merchandise is stolen every day in the United States, with most of the items resold on the Internet. For more information, see the New York Times Web site.
