Shoplifting

Retail Theft / Fraud  affects everyone, not just the shops. It is a complete myth that theft from a shop is a victimless crime and no one really cares.

What is Theft ?

A person who dishonestly takes property belonging to another, with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it, is guilty of theft. This is the definition that it used in law when the police interview or deal with anyone who commits the crime of theft. Theft can be from any amount, i.e. 1p to an unlimited amount..

Myths - Questions and Answers

Below are a series of 8 statements, please take your time and think if each statement is either fact or a myth.  

Theft isn't taken seriously as other crimes by the police (Fact / Myth)

Answer - MYTH -  the police treat every crime the same way. None are less important than others and whenever a member of the public reports a crime the police are duty bound to record and investigate it. Every officer assigned to a case will do their utmost to detect it. This means bringing offenders to justice through arrests and subsequent punishments.

Shop theft is a victim - less crime and no one really suffers. (Fact / Myth)

Answer - MYTH -  This is a complete fallacy. The small amount stolen in each theft might not affect the large profits of some organisations but not all shops are huge corporations. Some work on very tight profit margins and can not afford the losses of having property stolen. Even larger shops are not immune to losing profits and people that pay the price are the employees who lose their jobs as the firms try to recoup the loss. How would you feel if someone you knew lost their job even though they were hard working because other people were stealing?

As a general rule, in order to balance the theft of a £2 lipstick the shop will have to sell a further 9 just to break even (Fact / Myth)

Answer - FACT - this sounds stupid until you actually look at the figures. The assumption is the shop works on a 10% profit margin, thus if the item cost £1.80 to put it on the shelf and yields a 20p profit. The store would have to sell 9 units to make the £1.80 back that the stolen item cost. This is before the store can make any profit at all. This again shows the vulnerability of employees that work in stores where shop theft is prevalent.

If the item I steal isn't very expensive it's unlikely I'll be arrested (Fact / Myth)

Answer - MYTH - There is absolutely no minimum amount for theft. Any item regardless of its value can be stolen. If you are suspected of committing a theft and a crime is logged with the police you will more than likely be arrested and taken to custody to be interviewed about the matter.

Any criminal record I get as a child disappears when I become an adult (Fact / Myth)

Answer - MYTH - CRB (Crime Recording Bureau) is an agency that collate information bout people who have been in custody and what happens to them. If you have entered custody at any point then this may be recorded on an enhanced CRB check, even if nothing came of it. CRB information is kept indefinitely in the interests of preventing and detecting serious crime. Most colleges, universities and employers are starting to request CRB checks to make sure they are not putting other staff or their business at risk of harm. Due to the fact that some are not allowed to request this information, they have you request your own details and then take them with you to an interview. Any entries on your CRB record could jeopardise your chances of getting a job.

The maximum punishment for theft is 7 years imprisonment and / or a £5000 fine (Fact / Myth)

Answer - FACT - Although unlikely to receive the maximum penalty for a first time theft, the punishment is there. It is not a good idea to gamble with your life by committing theft as some offenders are given custodial sentence for minor thefts. Don't become a statistic.

If I get a criminal record as a child I might never get a job as a lawyer, doctor, teacher, police officer, banker or even sales assistant. (Fact / Myth)

Answer - FACT - There are obvious jobs that require a clean CRB check. Police officers, nurses, doctors, lawyers and teachers are the most obvious ones, but as stated earlier other employers are asked for a CRB print out from would be employees. Anyone who is in a position of trust may be a candidate for a full background checks and this means anyone handling money or property. After all who wants to give a job to someone with a conviction for theft where there is another candidate who does not have one.

Just think, how would you feel if your most loved item was stolen from you?....... If you don't like it, why should someone else!!!! It is your future and only you can dictate what you do.