Types of Shoplifters/Recognizing A Shoplifter

My first blog post will not deal with statistics of retail theft, it will not be an overview of what accounts for shrink in retail stores, it will be about the types of shoplifters and behaviors they exhibit that give them away as such. This is simply the most interesting aspect of Loss Prevention.

I will start by listing the types of shoplifters, and note that the lines between them are very thin and the types are often interchangeable with one another.

- The Amateur Shoplifter
- The Kleptomaniac
- The Professional

These are the three basic groups of shoplifters, although there are sub groups that can fit into the basic ones. These groups can include but are not limited to:

- The Addict
- The Vagrant
- The Mentally Unstable

I will go over all three groups of shoplifter one by one, while mentioning the subgroups that may apply to the main types.

The Amateur Shoplifter

The amateur is the most commonly encountered type of shoplifter. Typically someone who steals for personal profit, as they typically want the item for themself. The amateur is normally unskilled and crude in the methods in which they conceal the item, but some are highly skilled. Amateurs tend to be teenagers, and as mentioned, steal because they want, not because they need. Those who are highly skilled are not to be confused with professionals, as they may be good at what they do, but the professional title refers to someone who shoplifts for a living. The addict, the vagrant, and the mentally unstable all fall into the category of the amateur shoplifter. The addict describes one who is addicted to narcotics, and needs to shoplift merchandise to pay for the addiction. The addict typically attempts to shoplift expensive merchandise and will sometimes go without concealing the item, instead picking it up and attempting to walk or run out of the store. The vagrant describes someone without a home, who is normally unsure of when the next meal will come. The vagrant shoplifts for the same reasons as the addict, and will typically employ the same tactics. The mentally unstable subcategory also falls under amateur. This can describe someone who does not know right from wrong and will brazingly attempt to shoplift merchandise. One who falls under this category will often conceal the item in a crude manor, allowing store employees easy sight of the attempted theft. All three subcategory shoplifters are often the most violent, and will more than likely attempt to fight or flee when confronted.

The Kleptomaniac Shoplifter

The rarest form of shoplifter, the kleptomaniac steals purely on impulse. The kleptomaniac is an individual who steals not completely for the want of an item, or for the money to be gained from selling the item. The kleptomaniac steals for the rush of the theft, for the high he or she gets while committing the act. While few shoplifter fits this profile 100%, many shoplifters show a bit of it. Some find that in addition to getting the item they want through theft, they also get a high out of it. It is with this brazeness and feeling of invincibility that many shoplifters are caught.

The Professional Shoplifter

The most difficult shoplifter to deal with, the professional shoplifts for a living. This also means that the professional is often the most skilled shoplifter that retail stores deal with. The professional has no other form of income aside from the money received from selling shoplifted items to a "fence", a group or person that buys stolen items and resells them for a profit. Professional shoplifters typically operate in teams, with every member informed of the plan beforehand, and what do to if there is any occurance that variates the team's plan. Professionals often use what are known as "booster bags", bags lined with tin foil. The booster bags prevent security alarms from going off when merchandise with anti-theft devices are moved through them. This allows professionals to save time in their operation, and make concealment easier. Most shoplifters attempt to take concealed merchandise into a bathroom or corner of the store, where they then remove the actual product from it's protective packaging. The booster bag allows for merchandise to be stolen faster, in a much greater quantity, and with less risk of getting caught. Professionals will typically have one team member distract Loss Prevention officers or employees near the area where they wish to commit the theft. This distraction normally consists of elaborate questions, that the employee will need to concentrate on or request assistance for. Many professionals utilize blue tooth head sets, allowing communication between every member of the team. Finally, as shoplifting is their profession and only means of making money, professional shoplifters rarely give up without attempting to flee the scene. This means having a getaway car ready, and being ready to fight employees as a group.



Recognizing The Shoplifter  

There is no profile for a shoplifter. It can be anyone, at any time, anywhere. This being said, there are ways to recognize who is more likely to shoplift and who is exhibiting shoplifter behavior. It is all about body language, and the clothing or items a person is carrying. Those wearing large coats during the summer should instantly be recognized as a shoplifter threat and watched by employees. Sunglasses hide a person's eyes, which are the second most important thing to watch aside from hands. If a person is acting nervous, refusing employee assistance, or trying to get to parts of the store where he or she will be alone, they are a threat to shoplift. Scratching parts of their body, tugging at their clothing, or in any way acting nervous in a store are other signs. As I stated, the eyes are the most important thing to watch. Those constantly shifting their eyes without moving their head, or looking at the ceiling for security cameras are major shoplifting threats. If a person is sweating when he or she shouldn't be, or getting red in the face for no reason, it's because something is going on in that person's mind that gets them nervous. A person roaming aisles of a store without even looking at products is yet another threat to shoplift. It's pretty basic. Any behavior that a normal, calm person wouldn't exhibit is behavior a shoplifter would. The most important thing to remember is that no matter how experienced a person is a shoplifting, he or she cannot fight the urge to take one final look around before concealing a product. It is human nature and is extremely difficult to do away with as an instinct. One final sweep of what's in front of them and what's behind them in an aisle, and then the product is concealed. It happens every time, and is the key to spotting a shoplifter. All of the above information is good, but not always right. Watch the eyes and watch the hands. The eyes will give them away, and the hands will seal the deal.