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December 6, 2008

Lack of jobs leads to more shoplifting, official says

By Brian Boyce

TERRE HAUTE — The ranks of the unemployed continue to grow as the holidays grow near, and shoplifting is on the rise.

And at least one industry official predicts the costs to exceed $34.8 billion this year nationally.

“We always seem to have an increase in shoplifting complaints that come in around the November and December time,” said Sgt. Joe Watts of the Indiana State Police.

The “sheer volume” of people in the stores leads thieves to think they can get away with it, and with money tight and Christmas wish lists on hand, some are down for the risks.

“With most of our shoplifting complaints this time of year, the suspects are trying to steal presents for family and friends,” Watts said.

On Dec. 2, the ISP responded to a theft complaint at the Wal-Mart Store on U.S. 41 South, where the store’s undercover loss prevention officers were attempting to hold two females suspected of shoplifting.

According to a media release from the ISP, as the two women were being taken out of the store to the custody of police, one fled on foot across U.S. 41 and disappeared into an adjacent neighborhood, not turning herself in until the next morning.

Flo Weir, 24, and Crystal Carrico, 27, appeared in the City Court of Terre Haute where they were each charged with one count of criminal conversion, a class-A misdemeanor.

Between them, the theft of about $114 in clothes and toys was in question.

Wal-Mart corporate spokeswoman Ashley Hardie declined to comment on specific cases, but said the safety of customers is a “top priority” and as such the stores cooperate with law enforcement and are “constantly evaluating security measures.”

And Wal-Mart’s not alone in that regard.

Joseph LaRocca, vice president of loss prevention for the National Retail Federation, said retailers across the country spend about $11 billion annually on loss prevention measures.

“Technology is playing more and more of a role,” he said, noting plainclothes shoplifting detectives are still inside the stores watching shoppers, but more and more “intelligent video systems” are in place, with motion detectors and computers tracking how weight is moved from shelves at any given time.

The average loss to retailers from shoplifting is about $34.8 billion a year, he said, noting that translates into about 1.5 percent of every dollar worth of goods sold, all of which amounts to a “hidden crime tax” passed on to other customers.

And 2008 looks to be worse than usual, he said.

The National Retail Federation began its annual survey in April and checked back again in October, with all indicators showing that this year’s losses will be higher than 2006 and 2007.

“Unfortunately, crime is up this year in retail stores,” LaRocca said.

Shoplifters usually come in one of two varieties, he said, differentiating kids who steal candy from adults who steal merchandise with intent to re-sell.

The latter, which he referred to as “Organized Retail Crime” can involve teams of between five and seven individuals who work together to move merchandise out the door and out onto the streets.

And with holiday specials driving higher numbers of shoppers into the stores, the percentage of shoplifters goes up with it, a figure amplified by out-of-work parents working in tandem to fill the floor beneath a Christmas tree.

The economy, LaRocca said, can be a “trigger” which motivates normally law-abiding citizens to cross the line.

And for whatever reason, the shoplifters of 2008 seem to be more willing to put up a fight for their right to steal.

“Shoplifters are becoming more aggressive, even combative,” LaRocca said, noting struggles with police officers and store personnel who attempt to protect the company’s merchandise.

Watts said most companies employ undercover “loss prevention officers” who pose as shoppers and observe theft.

“They have simple detaining powers,” he said. “They have the right to detain people until law enforcement gets there.”

Most companies have policies regarding the extent their undercover workers can go in stopping theft, Watts said.

“Sometimes there’s a struggle,” he said, but typically the stores instruct their unarmed employees not to chase or fight the suspects due to the danger, and instead rely on video and descriptions to give to police.

“We catch them more often than not,” Watts said, explaining that it’s pretty rare for a shoplifter to break free of store personnel and get away without being recognizable for a later arrest.

And Watts added that the behavior of a suspect is usually taken into account in court.

“It’s always better to cooperate with the police,” he said. “It’s always going to be in your favor when the judge knows you cooperated from beginning to the end.”

And if caught, Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said shoplifters will end up in the court system.

“The key is, every single one of those that gets caught, we prosecute,” he said.

Individuals stealing less than $250 worth of merchandise are generally charged with criminal conversion, a class-A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $5,000.

Those stealing in excess of $250 could face class-D felony charges of theft, he said.

“A lot of it depends on what the amount of product they’ve stolen is,” he said, adding that, “depending on what their criminal history is, it’s handled differently.”

But regardless of how it’s handled, a record will be there, and as Watts said, that record stays for a long tiwme.

“It’s just not worth it,” he said, noting that some professions such as teaching or law enforcement might be out of reach to those with a criminal record.

Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.

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