Author URLs
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-3-2017
Subject: LCSH
Shoplifting, Cosmetics, Household electronics, Toys
Disciplines
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Abstract
This study examines the variation in theft of shoplifted fast-moving consumer goods. Typically, shoplifting is estimated using shrinkage—a composite of several causes of lost retail merchandise. This study, however, benefits from access to a retailer’s database, in which extraordinary steps are taken to identify and record losses due to shoplifting only. This study is unique because of the more valid measure of shoplifting. A 1-year cross-sectional sample of 7468 products, sold in 204 U.S. chain supermarkets, was drawn from the retailer’s specialized database. Using Clarke’s (Hot products: understanding, anticipating, and reducing demand for stolen goods. Policing and Reducing Crime Unit, Paper 112, Home Office, London, 1999) CRAVED model of theft, products’ theft rates were correlated to the attributes consistent with the most vulnerable targets of theft. The results show that theft rates of products were significantly correlated to the measures for CRAVED. Regression analysis indicated that the measures for CRAVED were significant predictors of theft. Specifically, products were stolen more often when they were more Concealable, less Available, more Valuable, Enjoyable, and more Disposable. The most frequently stolen types of products were several types of cosmetics—primarily small but expensive products (e.g., eye, nail, lip products). Additionally, electronics, toys, and games had high theft rates. Implications for retailers, manufacturers, and governments are discussed. Suggestions for further research are also considered.
DOI
10.1057/s41284-017-0108-z
Repository Citation
Smith, Brian T., "Understanding Shoplifting of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: An Application of the CRAVED Model" (2017). Criminal Justice Faculty Publications. 51.
https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/criminaljustice-facpubs/51
Publisher Citation
Smith, B. T. (2014). Understanding shoplifting of fast-moving consumer goods: an application of the CRAVED model. Security Journal, 1-23.
Comments
This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Security Journal. The definitive publisher-authenticated version [Smith, B. T. (2014). Understanding shoplifting of fast-moving consumer goods: an application of the CRAVED model. Security Journal, 1-23. doi:10.1057/s41284-017-0108-z] is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41284-017-0108-z.
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