Shoplifting and employee theft are on the rise. Call it an indicator of the times. Shoplifting is apparently rising at many retail chains, and experts are pointing to the economy as a leading cause.
"Wages aren't checking up on inflation - especially the buying price of food and energy," said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial. "It just leaves less money for the rest, and that breeds lots of temptation." "It's clear that both employee theft and shoplifting are up," said Richard Hollinger, professor of criminology at the University of Florida who compiles the annual National Retail Security Survey. "A lot of folks are on the financial edge." "Retailers can't afford to just eat that loss," Hollinger said. "Their margins aren't large enough. Which means this hits directly on the bottom line." Here are a few other reasons the sluggish economy is considered to be adding to the increase in shoplifting addiction: • Rising prices and debt. • Fewer store clerks. • Job turnover. • Rise in organized retail crime. I'm encouraged anytime I see a write-up sounding the alarm about shoplifting or employee theft. This information makes sense on a fundamental level: once the economy hiccups, many individuals have less money to buy essentials. But what this article fails to do, for me, is more broadly address the scope of shoplifting and employee theft; instead, it appears to reduce people who steal into two main camps: people who steal out of greed and people who steal out of economic need. This really is inaccurate. If a lot more than 10% of American shoplift (various recent articles) and if 75% of employees steal from work (according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) it's safe to say that why people steal is more complicated than we think. To begin with, I'd like to say that there's rarely a reason for stealing. When times are tough, there's usually got to be other ways to produce ends meet. Unfortunately, desperate times often draw out desperate behavior. We don't think our clearest under stress. That's no excuse, it's just being realistic. We need to be careful to distinguish between "need to steal" and "perceived need to steal." It may be something to shoplift "life-saving medicine" or basic staple food; it's quite another to steal "discretionary" items which one has become accustomed to presenting but can't realistically afford. For many, checking up on the Joneses is really a full-time job! But the greatest missing piece in this short article is the total absence of mention that statistics and research show that most people shoplift or commit employee theft not out of economic need or greed in response to life's stressors. Quite simply, "it's emotions, stupid!" Now, certainly a faltering economy brings up numerous strong emotions for most: fear, depression, anger, hopelessness, shock - just to call a few. It's a significant distinction to produce but is frequently missed: it's not the possible lack of money which makes someone steal - maybe not even the perceived lack of money - but, rather, oahu is the thoughts and feelings behind the circumstances which will make certain people more at risk of "act out." Further, there's no reference to how shoplifting, employee theft and stealing generally speaking can be addictive responses to life's stressors (including financial) and that, again, an increase in theft behaviors may be much more attributable to strong emotional responses and perceived lack of choices that the drop in income, an increase in bills, or the economy's overall health. Research indicates that most addictions increase during tough economic times: drinking, drugging, gambling, eating, shopping, sex, TV, work, Internet - you name'em. The article also perpetuates the myth of the conventional shoplifter once the Massachusetts sergeant states "the shoplifter of days gone by was mostly wanting to fuel a drug habit." My best estimation is that only 10-20% of shoplifters are drug addicts who steal to aid their habit. The same holds true for employees who steal from work. When the economy falters, a cascade of events happen: more stress, more illness, more divorce, more death, loss of home, loss of lifestyle, loss of security, loss of identity, resurfacing of painful past memories or loss, and the traumatic loss of a feeling or basic protection and fairness in life. When an employee knows he or she is all about to lose employment after years of faithful service - sure, loss of income is on one's mind, but even greater feelings of betrayal and loss of control will be the primary motivation for stealing. Shoplifting class Atlanta can be a motivation effort for such addiction. When the conventional shoplifter steals a great purse or perhaps a blouse or perhaps a CD or DVD, those aren't necessity items per se but the shoplifter can appear "entitled" to shoplift in the face of life's losses and injustices.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |