Shoplifting is the act of stealing from a store and can result in penalties such as replacing the stolen item, community service, fines, and being banned from the store. Shoplifting techniques vary and some professionals dress and act like regular customers. Stores use measures such as cameras, security tags, and fake shoppers to prevent shoplifting. Shoplifting can harm the store’s legitimate customers and employees.
A shoplifter is someone who steals money or goods from a store while it’s open. The economic impact of shoplifting is debatable, with some industries claiming that shoplifting results in a large loss of profit, while others find it simply a nuisance. As a general rule, the penalties for shoplifting include having the stolen item replaced, and sometimes the shoplifter may be forced to do community service or pay a fine. He or she will also generally not be able to enter the store anymore.
Shoplifting is a pretty old problem for merchants – the word itself dates back to the late 1600s. There are a wide variety of reasons for shoplifting, ranging from extreme poverty and an urgent need for a particular item to boredom, and even shoplifting techniques are quite varied. In some industries, shoplifting problems are compounded by employee theft, which can make it difficult to tell who is taking the goods and when.
Shoplifters use such a wide range of styles that staff in stores need to keep an eye out for potentially suspicious behavior. While amateurs tend to wear loose clothing and move around the store erratically while shoplifting, some professional shoplifters who shoplift for a living are very crafty and can dress and act like regular customers, making it difficult to lock them into the store. Professionals may also work with accomplices, with one employee distracting while the other steals. A shoplifter can also take advantage of unattended bags and purses belonging to other customers.
Many stores have measures in place to prevent or discourage a shoplifter from getting any ideas, including things like cameras, armed guards, security tags in merchandise, and fake shoppers, security officers who pretend to shop while looking for shoplifters. Depending on the store’s policy, a shoplifter may be met discreetly in the shop or may walk out with the goods before being arrested, so the store can guarantee a bust.
You may also hear shoplifting referred to as getting five fingers off, jacking, nick or boosting. Many shoplifters enjoy the thrill of the experience and the sense of satisfaction that comes from stealing items from a store right under the noses of employees. For this reason, shoplifting is often common among troubled teenagers and children, who may resort to shoplifting small items for entertainment. However, shoplifting is often harmful to the store’s legitimate customers, as it is often used as an excuse to raise prices, and employees can suffer as well, as some employers penalize staff when shoplifting occurs before their eyes.
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