Retailers call it shrinkage — an umbrella term for inventory lost via clerical error, damage and, yes, shoplifting.
So retailers are fighting back. Nearly two dozen major U.S. stores apprehended 1.1 million shoplifters last year, an increase of 7% on the year before, according to the 25th Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by Jack L. Hayes International, a loss-prevention consulting firm. Over $138 million was recovered from apprehended shoplifters in 2012, an increase of almost 23% from 2011. And often, the culprit was right under the store’s nose. Some $715 was recovered from dishonest employees in 2012, over five times as much as was recovered from other shoplifters ($129) on average, the Jack L. Hayes survey found. (And there’s another form of shoplifting — “sweet hearting” — in which employees and outsiders work together.)
Read on to see which eight products shoplifters target most often — and why.
CosmeticsBeauty products may particularly appeal to those who are nursing personal grievances. Theft can be a way of compensating for emotional distress, says Rachel Shteir, author of “A Cultural History of Shoplifting,” who reviewed academic research and interviewed stores and shoplifters for her book. “Whether they were amateurs or professionals, a common thread among shoplifters is the idea of revenge.” Hair growth formula like Rogaine, teeth-whitening strips, makeup, and facial cream are some of the preferred pilfered items. “Some people feel resentful that they have to pay a high price for them,” she says. “They feel like they have already paid a high price for having genes that make them look the way they do.”
Pregnancy testsPregnancy tests are also among the items most commonly targeted by thieves — particularly organized-crime networks — according to the National Retail Federation’s 2013 Organized Retail Crime Survey. The reason: They’re easy to resell online, says Kathy Grannis, a spokeswoman for the NRF.
Younger shoppers might steal pregnancy test because they’re too embarrassed to take them to the register, but adults shoplifters account for much of the problem. After all, some 75% of shoplifters are adults, says Barbara Staib, a spokeswoman for the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention. In fact, there are approximately 27 million shoplifters — roughly 1 in 11 people — in the U.S. who steal more than $35 million in goods from stores every day.
Baby formula“Baby formula has a worldwide audience,” says Richard C. Hollinger, professor and chair at the department of sociology and criminology & law at the University of Florida in Gainesville. “The powdered variety is light, has a low shipping cost and can be sold online.” Baby formula is a another prime target of organized criminals who hit stores in groups, carrying “booster bags.” These are shopping bags that look like they’re made out of paper, Hollinger says, but they’re lined with aluminum foil so products with electronic surveillance tags can be quietly taken through the exit without setting off the store’s alarm system.
Men’s razorsMen’s razors are among the most popular stolen items cited by both the National Retail Federation and research firm Euromonitor International’s Global Retail Theft Barometer. “People shoplift items they really want, but also those that they believe are overpriced,” Shteir says. Gillette’s Mach 3 is one brand that fits that sweet spot — a packet of 12 Mach 3 cartridges costs around $30. There’s also a healthy black market for men’s razors.
JewelryNecklaces and rings are easily slipped into a pocket, and not so easily tagged, says Kathy Rodkey, author of “The Customer Isn’t Always Right.” What’s more, watches, bracelets and even earrings can be worn out of the store in full view of security cameras and staff. At one chain store Rodkey researched for her book — which did not have an attendant counting items at the fitting room — $10 million worth of jewelry was stolen in one year, she says. There is always a heavy demand for gold and silver, it’s easily resold or melted down, and it’s often difficult to trace, Rodkey says.
UnderwearDesigner underwear just walks out of department stores. It’s more difficult to keep track of than other types of garments, says Rodkey, who is also a former sales associate at two major retailers. “Shoplifters will put three or four bras on them, three bathing suits, four or five pairs of underwear and then put their regular clothes on over them,” she says. Others shop for a whole new wardrobe and leave their old clothes behind. “There is no security company in the world that can put a camera in a fitting room, so it’s almost impossible to catch underwear shoplifters,” she says.
CondomsAfter selling condoms on shelves for two decades, some drug stores have begun locking them up in glass cabinets to prevent theft, but Shteir says many stores still sell them openly. Some owners view it as a public health and customer service issue — as well as a security one — as younger consumers may feel embarrassed to ask for condoms. “It’s a dilemma for retailers,” Hollinger says. “If they’re in a cabinet, they won’t sell as many.” And yet their small size and relatively high price tempts some people to pop them into their pocket.
iPhone accessoriesThere’s a new high-tech target in town. Smartphone chargers, cases and headphones — particularly if they’re made by Apple or for Apple products — have a cache for thieves, according to the latest Global Retail Theft Barometer, which surveys 160,000 stores around the world. Most electronic accessories are not wired or nailed to the counter like smartphones, tablets or computers, Shteir says. Indeed, her research shows that people also shoplift for friends and family. “Wages are flat and many middle class people can no longer afford the luxury items they like,” she says, “especially around the holidays.”
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