INVENTORY LARCENY: Store thieves grab $53 billion

Detroit Free Press ^ | 12/18/03 | Greta Guest

[Holly_P]

High-profile shoplifting cases like Winona Ryder's Beverly Hills shopping spree last year and local cases of security guard assaults on suspected shoplifters give the impression that retail theft is an outside job.

But a recent survey shows retailers lose more inventory from insiders -- employees -- than they do from shoplifters.

[jocon307]

Years ago, when I worked for a jewelry manufacturer I had to take a lie-detector test; the Friday of the first week I worked there was a very strange day. It was obvious even to me, who had only been there 4 days. Lots of men showing up at the window, where you had to be buzzed in, they all looked like undercover cops or something.

Well, it was a strange day, they busted the head guy in the factory for stealing gold. This was back in the 70's, when gold was going UP! UP! UP!, it got up to $600 an ounce I think. And this company had had a REALLY hot item and was doing real well.

My boss was a WONDERFUL man, he went and ran the factory himself for a while. He hired the handicapped, he would pay for his employees tuition to go to Fashion Institute of Technology and learn more to earn more, the factory part was a union shop. He was a really fine fellow. I never found out what happened to the theiving foreman, only that the guys who had been showing up all day where not just NYC detectives, but also FBI, so I guess interstate something was involved.

When our daughter got her first job, selling souveniers at Liberty State Park, her dad told her "Don't ever TAKE anything, even if it looks like a piece of garbage, don't take anything with offering to pay for it". Theft is such a major problem in these types of situations.

Thanks for making me remember Ira Skalet, my old boss, who's birthday was one day before mine. I didn't work for him very long, and I regret it. How many bosses can you say that about?

[Holly_P]

What I have noticed a lot of in grocery stores is "grazing". Customers walking through the store muncng on fruit or candy before it's been weighed or paid for. They must not think it is stealing because they do it openly.

[Cultural Jihad]

And retailers often pass the cost of inventory losses on to consumers. The survey found that the average family of four will pay more than $400 in higher prices at the register this season to offset the inventory losses, known as shrink.

According to the Libertarian philosophy, these poor customers are not committing any force or fraud, and yet they are being punished for other people's deeds, as if what one person in society does affects another! If a retail business is harmed by anyone then the owners need to go after those who harmed their business, and leave the rest of us the h*ll alone! ;-)

[Cultural Jihad]

Even so, I would wager that the grazing is very minimal compared to what gets dropped on the ground and dustpanned away into the dumpster. Nuts, some grapes, etc. I wouldn't have any problems with if I owned a store, but wrapped merchandise would be something else, or getting one's fill. Having scruples is really fine, but scruples can be a hinderance as much as a help.

Have you seen the flea markets where people munch away testing the produce in front of the vendors, apparently with their approval?

[Holly_P]

Have you seen the flea markets where people munch away testing the produce in front of the vendors, apparently with their approval?

I haven't seen that but something similar. People at an all you can eat for one price buffet wrapping food and stuffing it in their pockets or purse to take home with them, all the while management is watching. To me this is theft also. It's supposed to be all you can eat there, not all you can take home with you. I'm probably too picky about honesty though. To me there's no such thing as a "little theft".

[Fizzie]

You're not kidding this is a huge problem. I have been in the retail business as an owner.

I make it a point to always watch the cashier ring something up... and then CLOSE the transaction. They can punch anything they want in, and then clear or void. You can almost develop an ear for it too.

Then, when you seriously suspect your transaction was not rung up, or it was cleared, note the time, and the transaction immediately following it. Then call the owner or the corporate office. Never the manager.. lots of times its the manager who does it.

You have NO idea how appreciative they are! My favorite was when I bought a caramel apple for $3.00 at a privately owned store. It was clearly not rung. The owners investigated, and estimated that the store mgr. had been stealing $100 per day for a year. They sent me a coupon for 2 caramel apples with undying thanks. Those were the sweetest caramel apples ever.

[Spell Correctly]

Munching

[A.J.Armitage]

According to the libertarian philosophy, stores can charge whatever customers are willing to pay. As you should know.

[Spell Correctly]

That sounds like capitalist philosphy to me.

[Spell Correctly]

Philosophy

[CurlyDave]

You have NO idea how appreciative they are! My favorite was when I bought a caramel apple for $3.00 at a privately owned store. It was clearly not rung. The owners investigated, and estimated that the store mgr. had been stealing $100 per day for a year. They sent me a coupon for 2 caramel apples with undying thanks. Those were the sweetest caramel apples ever.

Lets see here, you stopped a $36,500 per year loss for them and they gave you two caramel apples. That really did show some appreciation...

[A.J.Armitage]

Yes it does.

[genefromjersey]

Nothing new there ! Pro shoplifters take a LOT of stuff,and are rarely caught.Amateurs get caught a good % of the time.Store employees take at least 12 times as much,last I heard.

[NonValueAdded]

Hah! You made a typo, you made a typo!

[Spell Correctly]

But I corrected it!

[Fizzie]

Lets see here, you stopped a $36,500 per year loss for them and they gave you two caramel apples. That really did show some appreciation...

They showed appreciation, which is better than most do. I wasn't expecting anything in return, so 2 caramel apples was great! We should not expect compensation for doing the right thing.

Besides, it wasn't like I captured Saddam or anything. In that case, I would have held out for the millions. And I would have told Bruce Willis to donate his million bounty to the defeat Hillary PAC.

[Bob J]

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[Viking2002]

I used to work loss prevention for a retailer. The employess were the biggest single source of shrink. LOL We had one store that was so bad, we had files on every employee on the payroll....LMAO

[Lazamataz]

I'm probably too picky about honesty though. To me there's no such thing as a "little theft".

I agree.

That's why I go for the really big hauls, like in the millions.