Shoplifting Law

Retailers in the 50 States of the United States have the authority under state laws, that have been passed within the past several decades (starting in 1973[1]) to demand civil damages by letter notice from apprehended shoplifters.

The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines larceny-theft as the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another; attempts to do these acts are included in the definition. This crime category includes shoplifting, pocket-picking, purse-snatching, thefts from motor vehicles, thefts of motor vehicle parts and accessories, bicycle thefts, and so forth, in which no use of force, violence, or fraud occurs. Excluded from larceny-theft is motor vehicle theft, which is classified in a separate offense category; also excluded are crimes that involve embezzlement, confidence games, forgery, and worthless checks—all of which are UCR Part II offenses.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization. OJJDP supports states and communities in their efforts to develop and implement effective and coordinated prevention and intervention programs and to improve the juvenile justice system so that it protects public safety, holds offenders accountable, and provides treatment and rehabilitative services tailored to the needs of juveniles and their families.

Shoplifting (also known as PIE theft, five-finger discount, or shrinkage within the retail industry) is theft of goods from a retail establishment by an ostensible patron. It is one of the most common property crimes dealt with by police and courts.

Although the crime of shoplifting may be prosecuted under general Larceny statutes, most jurisdictions have established a specific category for shoplifting. Statutes vary widely, but generally the elements of shoplifting are (1) willfully taking possession of or concealing unpurchased goods that are offered for sale (2) with the intention of converting the merchandise to the taker's personal use without paying the purchase price. Possession or concealment of goods typically encompasses actions both on and outside the premises.

Cleptomaniacs And Shoplifters Anonymous (CASA) is a unique, independent and secular weekly self-help group. It was founded in Detroit, MI in September 1992 by a recovering shoplifter who felt such a group could help himself, others, and the community as a whole.

The National Association For Shoplifting Prevention (NASP) is a private nonprofit tax-exempt [501(c)(3)] organization whose mission is to raise public awareness about the harmful effects of shoplifting on youth, families and communities, unite public opinion toward constructive solutions, deliver needed programs and services and engage community action in prevention efforts to improve the lives of those affected and reduce the number of people who become involved.

Shoplifting is an expensive problem that everybody pays the price for. It hurts you in several ways — prices keep going up as store owners try to recover some of their losses. A big department store can spend millions a year on security, but it may lose as much as $2,000 a day to shoplifters. And shoplifters give teenagers a bad name.

This guide discusses measures to reduce shoplifting (theft of store merchandise during business hours). It focuses mainly on the usual shoplifting method of concealing items in clothing or bags. It does not cover unusual forms of theft involving trickery, as occasionally practiced in jewelers' shops. In many cases, the preventive techniques discussed will also apply to "price switching" (switching price tags from less expensive to more expensive items) and refund fraud (returning stolen or fraudulently acquired items for cash refunds). Due to the lack of available research, the guide makes few distinctions between (1) casual, opportunistic shoplifting and (2) shoplifting committed by "professionals," or gangs of thieves who sometimes descend on a particular mall or shopping center to take advantage of lax security or unsuspecting shop owners.

This problem-oriented guide for police discusses measures to reduce shoplifting. It focuses mainly on the typical shoplifting method of concealing items in clothing or bags, and distinguishes between casual, opportunistic shoplifting, and shoplifting by more experienced professionals. The guide reviews factors that may increase the risks of shoplifting. Finally, it reviews responses to the problem and what is known about them from evaluative research and police practice.

Shoplifting is a common crime that occurs when someone steals merchandise offered for sale from a retail store. Shoplifting from retail stores costs merchants an estimated loss of 13 billion dollars per year.

This guide is designed to provide merchants and retailers with a framework for understanding the underlying causes of their shoplifting problems and developing effective strategies to reduce shoplifting.

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