who shoplifts and why?
Who?
There's no typical shoplifter people who steal from stores can be any age, gender, and social and economic background. Shoplifters generally fall into two categories:
>Professional shoplifters: These people usually take expensive items, like clothing and jewelry, that they can resell easily and alot of teenagers can do so.
>Amateur or casual shoplifters: Teenagers casual shoplifters don't usually go into a store with the intention of stealing they simply see the opportunity to take something and do.
>Teens, about 24 percent apprehended are teens between 14 and 17 years old.
>Most are customers who steal frequently from places where they regularly shop.
>Kleptomaniacs teenagers, a tiny minority of shoplifters who have a mental disorder that makes it difficult to overcome their urge to steal. Many people assume that shoplifters have a mental disorder or that they must really need the items they are stealing in order to survive, moreover many people who steal have enough money to pay for the items.
Why?
Someone might shoplift for many reasons. But there's no way around the fact that shoplifting is stealing and in most places there are heavy penalties for it, including being arrested and possibly charged with a crime.
>Peer pressure is one reason why people shoplift. Some might do it to seem cool or daring. Some do it because their friends shoplift and they want to be part of the group. Some people shoplift because they want things their classmates have but can't afford them.
>Many teenagers wants to try it to see if they can get away with it.Some use the excuses,"This is a big store, they can afford it," or "I don't have enough money".
>Many teens shoplift on a dare, thinking their friends will call them "chicken" if they don't go along with the dare.
What Happens to Shoplifters?
Getting caught shoplifting can be a lot more serious than people may think. Some of the things that can happen to shoplifters are:
>They may be arrested and paraded through a store in handcuffs even if they were teenagers.
>They may face charges for theft.
>They may be banned from stores or malls.
>People (Teenagers) who have been arrested for shoplifting especially if it's more than once — may end up with a criminal record. This can make it harder to get a job, get into college, or do the other things they want.
>Even if people who shoplift aren't prosecuted, their names can end up on a national database that some companies look at when making hiring decisions.
>All this affects teenager's future.
Teenagers don't have to get caught for shoplifting to affect their lives. Some people may feel guilty or ashamed of what they've done.
Shoplifters classified as "first offenders" admit to stealing from retail stores at the following frequency>
13% say they steal daily or several times/day
57% say they steal monthly or more often
27% say they steal weekly or more often
43% say they steal less than monthly
Shoplifters often buy some merchandise and steal other merchandise>
59% frequently
35% sometimes
6% never
Shoplifters steal in all types of stores>
69% say they steal in department stores
63% in supermarkets
57% specialty shops
54% convenience stores
47% drug stores,
27% all other type stores
Facts About Shoplifting - In the United States, shoplifters steal about $25 million in merchandise from stores each day! That breaks down to an extra $300 each year that you and your family have to pay in higher prices to cover the losses caused by shoplifting.
