Shoplifting: Can it be prevented?

As an exploratory study the survey raised more questions than it answered and a few suggestions for further research have been noted. Most retailers surveyed admitted a shoplifting problem and half of them saw the problem increasing. Although many retailers use preventive techniques, apparently none of the techniques have been totally successful. Most retailers seemed willing to prosecute shoplifters and the adverse publicity to shoplifters alone may act as a deterrent torce (10). Few retailers had any new preventive techniques in mind although most felt that increased convictions would help. A demographic profile of shoplifters could not be identified.