Study: More than 1 Million Shoplifters & Dishonest Employees Apprehended in 2010
Shoplifters and dishonest employees stole more than $7.0 billion in 2010 from just 23 major retailers, according to the 23rd Annual Retail Theft Survey by Jack L. Hayes International, the leading loss prevention and inventory shrinkage control consulting firm. These 23 surveyed retailers apprehended over 1 million shoplifters and dishonest employees in 2010 and recovered more than $148 million from these thieves.
"For the first time in over 10 years, total shoplifter and dishonest employee apprehensions, and the dollars recovered from those apprehensions all declined from the previous year", said Mark R. Doyle, President of Jack L. Hayes International. "While surveyed retailers made almost a million shoplifting apprehensions, apprehended over 69,000 dishonest employees, and recovered over $148 million from these thieves in 2010, these numbers are all down slightly from the previous year. It appears the economy, fewer store employees, and less Loss Prevention staffing all played a role in these results." Mr. Doyle added, "Both shoplifting and employee theft continue to plague the retail industry, which results in higher prices to the consumer and can force companies to close unprofitable stores."