Theft of Inventories

Shoplifting - How Serious Is It?

Shopstealing or shoplifting is one of the most common crimes committed in Australia. It is so common that many young people believe it is not a very serious crime at all because it may involve relatively inexpensive items. Some people do not regard it as a major problem. You hear people jokingly saying that something was a 'five-finger' discount.

However, shoplifting is a serious crime. Department stores and shopping centres are prime targets for shoplifting. Stealing is a criminal offence and adults caught shoplifting will be arrested, fingerprinted and charged with 'stealing from a retail store'.

Shoplifting is a very serious and costly problem to all of us - not just the store owners. This is because, to cover the costs of shoplifting the retailer is forced to raise the prices of goods. Therefore, the costs are passed on to the consumers and we all end up paying for shoplifting.

Source: Chapman S, Freak M and Stewart R, Concepts In Commerce, The Jackaranda Press, Milton, 1994, p 21.

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