Uptick in shoplifting signals, oddly, that economy is back
Why does Aladdin swipe that loaf of bread? ‘Cause he’s poor, right? No money for food, so he’s gotta steal.
Certainly, save for Ocean’s Eleven-style burglaries, theft has traditionally been an act of desperation.
But in a strange twist, a recent uptick in shoplifting is being chalked up to an economic recovery and not a further sink into despair.
Yes, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) out of the U.S., inventory shrinkage – defined here not by what happens when inventory swims in a cold pool but as the value of lost retail merchandise – cost store owners more than $37 billion in 2010. That’s up from $33.5 billion the year before.
To the layman, our gut says, “Oh, man, ya see? What recovery? People are stealing just to put food on the table.” Yet in the stance of the NRF, the increase in shoplifting, which they claim is largely due to employee theft, is a sign workers are more sure of the economy than they’ve been in a while.
When employees steal more, it’s said, they’re less concerned about the threat of losing their job, even if it’s minimum wage. That’s why shoplifting went down during the recession when times were tight, according to some sources.
“They were so worried about their future, their families and paying the mortgage, they realized this is what is keeping their family afloat,” said Richard Hollinger, a University of Florida criminology professor and author of the NRF’s security survey.
Not without merit here is that such a trend has historical precedent. Retailer inventory losses reached their highest point in 1994, when the American economy was quickly growing following the late ‘80s/early ‘90s downturn. It took more than 15 years, after another grisly recession, for shoplifting rates to reach heights resembling their sky-high rate in 1994.
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Jack | Jun 27, 2021 4:41:29 PM
OK, everyone, lets all get out there and shoplift to help the economy along further;-)
Posted by: Chrissy Claus | Jul 1, 2021 12:47:00 AM
Not sure I BUY that reasoning...but darn sure I wouldn't STEAL it either! LOL :p
Posted by: Russ Rowe | Jul 4, 2021 11:43:37 AM
I really have to dissagree with their logic. Shoplifting countermeasures such as electronic tagging, and greater security have had a lot more influence in reducing shoplifting than a failing economy.