Written By Susan Fair
It is just another evening at a busy Carroll County grocery store. A woman bagging groceries at the self checkout returns to her cart and lifts her purse out of the top basket to pay. Suddenly, she becomes aware of a man in a baseball cap, standing a few feet away, watching her. To her surprise, he approaches.
“Sorry if I scared you,” he says, flashing a badge. “Store Security. I’ve been keeping an eye on your purse. We’re had a lot of purse snatching and shoplifting lately.”
The woman does not know which is more disconcerting: the fact that she had not noticed the man eyeing her purse, or the fact that her local grocery store is now employing both a security guard and an undercover detective.
What is going on in Carroll County? Is stealing really on the rise?
In the face of an economic situation that has left many in difficult financial straits, an increase in shoplifting seems plausible. And indeed, statistics show that theft crimes, including shoplifting, have risen.
The Global Retail Theft Barometer found that “shrinkage” – the retail term for loss of goods between manufacture and purchase, was up 8.8 percent in the U.S. in 2009 – the highest increase worldwide.
University of Florida Professor Richard C. Hollinger, Ph.D., reported in his annual National Retail Security Survey Final Report that shoplifting cost retailers $12.9 billion in 2008. And Carroll County, it appears, is no exception to the phenomenon.
“There has been an increase in total theft of all types,” said Chief Jeff Spaulding of the Westminster Police Department. Shoplifting cases in Westminster totaled 231 in 2009 and 216 in 2008. Chief Spaulding has no hesitation in attributing the rising theft numbers to the economy.
Indeed, an informal survey of local retailers found that almost all report a significant increase in shoplifting, and all who have experienced it attribute the rise to the economic situation.
Darnell Manning, Asset Protection Associate at Wal-Mart in Eldersburg, said, “Yes, definitely there has been an increase in shoplifting: about 25 percent.” Sue Gesell, manager at Target in Westminster, also noted the increase in what she considers economic based theft; she said that clothing theft in particular has increased. And an employee at SuperFresh in Westminster who did not want to be identified said that shoplifting is up, and that meat and cosmetics seem to be the most frequently stolen items in that store.
In response to the increase in shoplifting, stores have been fighting back by stepping up their security, mostly under the principle “tempt not a desperate man.”
In Mount Airy, Food Lion Manager Andy Hopkins said the rise in theft, while modest, has inspired his store to keep more products behind the counter.
Wal-Mart’s Manning said that his method of choice for deterring shoplifters is what retailers call “aggressive hospitality” – approaching and interacting with customers under the premise that if someone feels they are “noticed” they are less likely to steal.
While another, less publicized facet of theft – that of store employees stealing merchandise – has increased nationwide; by many statistics even surpassing shoplifting, none of the retailers surveyed in our area noted a significant problem with or increase in employee theft.
Although it is not a stretch to blame the increase in shoplifting on the economy, is that really all that is going on? Things are not quite so simple.
Terry Shulman, Founder of the Shulman Center for Compulsive Theft and Spending and the Director of KASA (Kleptomaniacs and Shoplifters Anonymous), said there are a lot of misconceptions about shoplifting, most notably that shoplifters “are stealing due to lack of money or are inherently dishonest.”
Once a compulsive shoplifter himself, Shulman said, “Most shoplifting is not planned and is impulsive or the result of peer pressure.” He suggested that anyone tempted to steal “understand the consequences: arrest, criminal record, fines. And also know that shoplifting can be addictive.”
So who are the shoplifters in our community, and what happens to them once they’re caught?
“Generically they can be anybody,” said Chief Spaulding. “It can be a 64-year-old grandfather, it can be a 10-year-old kid.” If you’re caught shoplifting, Chief Spaulding said, “The officer could choose to write a criminal citation or to arrest. Either way you’ll end up in court.”
And as for those of us who are not shoplifting, why should we be concerned? Professor Hollinger has one good reason: “Losses due to shopliftingÉare yet another substantial profit loss that retailers must pass along to consumers in the form of higher product prices.”
Coping with Theft:
If you or someone you know may have a compulsive shoplifting problem, these websites could be a good starting point for finding help.
www.theshulmancenter.com ¥ www.kleptomaniacsanonymous.com
Jack Hayes International provides a wealth of information and services to help retailers deter theft. www.hayesinternational.com
Keep track of what is going on in your area by using CrimeReport’s crime mapping website. CrimeReports partners with law enforcement to provide up to date information on crime incidents by location, including Carroll County. www.crimereports.com
