Preventing retail crime

What is it about?

Retail crime encompasses acts as varied as shoplifting, assault, cyber-crime, fraud, graffiti and public disturbance (to name just a few), with the personal and societal impact of these offences extending beyond the criminal act itself (consider violence and drug use). The environments in which retail crime takes place also vary – from small stores to large supermarkets and hospitals to railway stations. Yet whilst context varies, there are many common emerging themes that can be transferred between settings to assist in retail crime prevention.

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Why is it important?

The contributions within this book report on a variety of retail environments, from the perspective of a number of relevant agents, in different countries and differing contexts. However, the findings reveal many common themes that are relevant to both policy and practice in preventing and reducing retail crime. The impact of retail crime goes far beyond the crime itself. Wider societal consequences include fear of crime amongst users of those spaces, violence against staff, elevated pricing and, in some cases, a pathway to more serious crimes. It is understandable that retailers must balance the different needs of users and abusers, yet retailers cannot simply blindly accept the losses because that risk is outweighed by the financial gains of avoiding the implementation of security measures.

Perspectives