Abstract
As an exploratory study the survey raised more questions than it answered and a few suggestions for further research have been noted. Most retailers surveyed admitted a shoplifting problem and half of them saw the problem increasing. Although many retailers use preventive techniques, apparently none of the techniques have been totally successful. Most retailers seemed willing to prosecute shoplifters and the adverse publicity to shoplifters alone may act as a deterrent torce (10). Few retailers had any new preventive techniques in mind although most felt that increased convictions would help. A demographic profile of shoplifters could not be identified.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
“State Campaigns Fight Shoplifting: Losses Hit $5 Billion Annually,”Stores (October, 1975), p. 27.
Smithsonian, October, 1974, p. 140.
“The Truth About Teenage Shoplifting,”Parent’s Magazine (April, 1974), p. 42.
“To Catch a Thief,”Newsweek, September 23, 1974, p. 79.
“Shoplifting Take in U.S. Pegged at Billions per Year,”The Muncie Star, January 2, 1976.
“Why Girls Steal,”Good Housekeeping, February, 1973.
Newsweek, op. cit., “To Catch a Thief,”Newsweek, September 23, 1974, p. 80.
“General Information Report,”National Association of Retail Grocers of the United States, Inc., October, 1974.
“War Against Shoplilfters? Don’t. You’ll Always Lose,”Grocers’ Spotlight (April, 1975), p. 1.
Wilkes, Robert and Glen Riecken, “Retail-Level Fraud by Consumers: An Empirical Study,”Proceedings: Southern Marketing Association (Fall, 1976), pp. 273–275.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bellur, V.V. Shoplifting: Can it be prevented?. JAMS 9, 78–87 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02723567
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02723567