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Shoplifters - It Don't Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Bling!

Posted by Heather Brautman | Fri, Sep 20, 2013 @ 08:00 AM

StealWine1Think that thieves are targeting what’s sparkly and rare? Think again. Some of the hottest things flying illegitimately off the shelves are not exactly what you’d think of as cool. Don’t think that this puts you in the clear if your store sells the expensive or electronic stuff. Every retailer can benefit from some shoplifting reconnaissance, and your employees will benefit from these lookout trends.

Looking Good

You’d think shoplifters were one good-looking bunch, if you went just by the lists of things they're hitting your store for. Electronic toothbrushes top ABC News' list of the items most stolen in 2012. They also note weight loss pills, lotion, and designer clothing as hot tickets.

Don’t Forget the Kids

If kids aren’t the ones doing the stealing, they’re being stolen for. In 2012, a new entry to the most-shoplifted-items list was educational toys and games. Think LeapFrog, not PlayStation. And for those wrongdoers with kids on the brain, pregnancy tests are also often named one of the top-stolen items (and was again in 2012).

Go Go Gadgetry

StealItem1Sticky fingers will always reach for the electronic goods, but today’s bandits show a wide range of stealing proclivities. ABC’s list of most-stolen items in 2012 includes everything from GPS units to LCD monitors, with cell phones and digital cameras in between.

To Their (Bad) Health

Shoplifters may want to have nice teeth and the best clothes, but they’re not always stealing the healthiest items. The Huffington Post notes cigarettes and energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster as very commonly-stolen items, as well as high-end liquor (apparently, thieves aren’t going for the Mad Dog, Boone's Farm or Natty Bo). Maybe it’s related or it’s not, but HuffPo also notes diabetic testing strips and aspirin among the most-grabbed.

Inside Their Minds

Taken as a list out of context, these items may make no real sense together. But there are two main keys you and your store employees should understand – one, these items are easily accessible and in many cases, simple to shove under a shirt or in a bag. Two, they’ve got high secondary retail value. Criminals may post their loot on eBay or Craigslist for example, and the money they earn from sales is entirely pure profit. So some criminals may be cruising solely for goods that they can resell as fast as possible. 

So what does this mean for your store? We’re not saying to go through with a sharp eye and lock up everything that lacks a “cool” factor. It’s difficult to entirely prevent shoplifting – ABC News reported that 96% of retailers reported experiencing the crime in 2012. But you can educate yourself in a couple of ways. First, put new meaning into check out. Do you know the top 4 profiles of a shoplifter? (Note: It’s not just someone who dresses well, is thin from the weight loss pills, and has great teeth.) And second, don’t forget common sense. There are 4 things you should never do, even after you’ve identified a shoplifter. “Steal” all 8 tips and more help here, with our free shoplifting prevention guide.

 

shoplifting prevention tips, shoplifting profiles
 

Topics: Retail

Written by Heather Brautman