Pilferage Posse UK
“She had left the Somerfield store in Exeter with three legs of lamb. Hidden where?”
The term “shoplifting” brings to mind images of Winona Ryder, angst-filled teenagers acting out for attention, and grubby kids sneaking candy into their pockets. But retail theft is more common than many of us realize; there are even organized shoplifting rings that nick millions of dollars worth of products. The crime of shoplifting costs U.S. stores $13 billion a year, which often causes the retailers to hike up prices to cover the loss. If some of the items at your local store seem a little expensive, keep your eye on shifty characters around these 9 products that shoplifters most frequently target.
Where’s the beef? That’s what many retailers are left wondering after a shoplifter hits. In the past several years, meat has often emerged as the top item stolen from stores, as regular shoppers and kleptomaniacs alike feel the urge to slide a steak into their coat pocket. Most meat thieves go for the higher end products, such as filet mignon or lamb chops, and anti-theft experts have started hiding security tags under the price label or in the pad that soaks up the meat juice. All they really need to do though, is keep an eye out for the shopper who is being followed by a pack of drooling dogs.
The sharpest criminals seem to be taking razors from stores, probably because they are easy to hide and have a high resale value. And Gillette apparently is the best a thief can get. The Mach products from Gillette are always among the most taken razors since they are relatively pricey and high in demand. Americans aren’t alone in this trend; razors have ranked among the top shoplifted items in the world since at least 2003. Only men’s razors seem to be targeted, though, so we hope that doesn’t mean women are starting to skip shaving altogether.
When you consider the fact that it costs more than $10,000 each year to take care of a child, it’s really not surprising that there’s a market for discounted infant formula. Formula normally costs $25 or more and babies can go through eight or ten cans a month. The financial strain of that, plus everything else tiny people need, can lead some desperate parents to swipe the formula from the store or buy it from less-than-legitimate sources who probably stole it off the shelf. The powdered formula is also used in the drug world to weaken the strength of cocaine or heroin.
Apparently many thieves are worried about getting wrinkles. One of the top beauty products being shoplifted is Oil of Olay’s Regenerist anti-aging line. Maybe the stress of stealing is starting to show on their faces. The Oil of Olay product is only one of many cosmetic items that is frequently taken. Since mascara and lipstick are made small enough for women to carry in their purses, they are also easy to hide from store employees and security guards. Most thieves go for the more expensive make-up or hair care brands to either use or sell, causing cosmetics brands to lose as much as 2% of sales to shoplifting.
