The least common stolen items are fuel, cameras, and their house keys (1%).
It's cheese, but why? It would probably surprise you to learn that the No. 1 shoplifted food item in the world is not a pocket-sized sweet or high-end liquor but rather everyone's favorite burger topping: cheese.
A 2022 survey conducted by the National Retail Federation found laundry detergent to be among the most stolen items in organized retail crime, which has contributed to a $94.5 billion inventory shrinkage issue for the retail industry. These crimes aren't as simple as a lone shoplifter pocketing a product.
Alcohol is one of the most commonly shoplifted items due to its high cost and easy concealment. Many shoplifters steal alcohol to either consume it themselves or sell it to others for a profit.
“The most popular items that burglars are looking to steal are typically cash, jewelry, and electronics.
Employee theft is a larger problem than shoplifting, although it is not usually considered to be shoplifting. At least 5 percent of customers shoplift. The frequency of the offense is greatest for boys between 10 and 18 and for girls between ages 12 and 20.
Concealing items in a bag is one of the traditional forms of shoplifting. An item can be concealed, for example, in a backpack, shopping bag or trolley. Thieves may incorporate a false bottom in the bag or add pockets that are difficult to detect.
Burglars and thieves usually steal valuables to turn a profit. Pawn shops are the most common places to recover stolen items. But online listing sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are increasingly popular places to sell stolen goods.
A lighter is one of the most commonly lost items, along with pens and wallets. For a smoker, a lighter is an essential item — that person needs his or her lighter to light cigarettes around 20 times a day.
It is commonly touted that men are more likely to shoplift than women — however, this is based on data from 1980 and may be outdated. Approximately 1 out of 11 people in the US are shoplifters. ¼ of shoplifters are children. 55% of shoplifters began shoplifting when they were teenagers.
Generally, they're looking for things they can sell for large sums of money. So, what are the items that robbers want to find in your home? Jewelry and Cash: These are two straightforward items burglars aim for. They're also the leading items that homeowners report stolen.
1. The Central Bank of Iraq Robbery – $920 million. Baghdad holds the infamous record for the largest bank heist in history. The mastermind was none other than Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Theft rate - Country rankings
The highest value was in Denmark: 3949 thefts per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Senegal: 1 thefts per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 2003 to 2016. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.
The Antwerp diamond heist, dubbed the "heist of the century", was the largest ever diamond heist and one of the largest robberies in history. Thieves stole loose diamonds, gold, silver and other types of jewelry valued at more than $100 million.
Vincenzo Peruggia (8 October 1881 – 8 October 1925) was an Italian museum worker, artist and thief, most famous for stealing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre museum in Paris on 21 August 1911.
Reasons for Shoplifting
According to Psychology Today, people may shoplift for various reasons with most of them not relating at all to a lack of money or a need for the item being taken. A couple common reasons include an addiction to stealing and a mental disorder that encourages the behavior.
Stolen goods and jewellery can be sold to any number of online or second hand or exchange stores, swap meets or private dealers for cash. Not all thieves dispose of their ill-gotten gains – some steal for their own personal benefit.
Packages, newspapers, coats, gloves and other things that are carried in the hand can be used as shoplifting aids. as a knitting bag, diaper bag, large purse, briefcase, paper bag, booster box, etc.) to conceal merchandise.
Low risk
Studies have shown that just one in 48 shoplifters are caught. Shoplifting is a crime that rarely results in legal consequences, therefore some thieves consider it a low risk offense. They'd rather hedge their bets on getting something for free versus paying the price of the crime.
Techniques of shoplifting include (1) hiding merchandise in loose clothing, (2) palming expensive objects and substituting for them, (3) using box devices that can be placed over items that are trapped by a spring device, or (4) using a 'booster' belt with a series of hooks on which stolen objects are placed.
66% of all shoplifters were under 30 years old.
Generally, they do not steal out of need, but temptation and the trend play a role. Based on OJP's data, 33% were between 18-29 years old, and 26.7% were between 12 and 17 years old. Even more alarming, 6.2% were under 12 years of age.
Refrain from distractions like personal phone calls while on the sales floor. Provide adequate staff. The most vulnerable times for shoplifting occur early in the day, during lunch, and near closing, especially on Fridays or holidays. It is important to have enough staff to provide adequate coverage during these times.
Compulsive Shoplifters
Most of the people who get caught shoplifting are compulsive shoplifters. These types of people can't help but seek the thrill. Usually, it's a one-time offense.