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Show Retailers want to reduce shoplifting SALT LAKE CITY Retail merchants in Utah have put in motion a program to reduce losses in stores due to shoplifting. The core of that program is the vigorous prosecution of persons caught stealing, according to officials of the Utah Retail Merchants Association. Richard L. Shanaman, association president, said Utah retailers lost more, than $135 million to shoplifters last year. Shoplifting is on the increase and if present national and Utah trends continue, the losses will be even higher this year, he said. Shanaman added that consumers ultimatelv pay the costs of shoplifting because theft losses are considered a business cost and are passed along to customers. "Shoplifting is a crime and shoplifters are thieves. Both the city attorney's office arid the county attorney are actively pursuing prosecution of shoplifting cases," according to Mr. Shanaman of the Retail Merchants Association. Retail merchants said they are better equipped this year than ever before to deal with shoplifting problems. Electronic devices are in use that will trigger an alarm if an item is taken from the store without being desensitized. Surveillance systems now are better than ever before and security guards with special training closely watch crowds for signs of the typical shoplifter. And recent legislation makes arrest and prosecution for shoplifting much easier than in past years, according to Shanaman. He added that statistics show that nearly seven ; percent of retail sales in Utah is lost to shoplifting. In fact, the Utah losses may be even higher. "If we could eliminate shoplifting entirely, along , with internal theft by store employees, most retail stores could reduce their prices across the board by at least seven percent, and probably more, according to Shanaman. Statistics across the U.S. show that women are more prone to shoplift than men, with 46 percent of the offenders being male and 54 percent being female. According to ' the age grouping of apprehended shoplifters, an amazing 41 percent are in pre-high school years, 49 percent are in high school and the remaining 10 percent are older adults, according to the Retail Merchants Association. |
