Shoplifters and Your Merchandise Part 3

 

 

In Shoplifters and Your Merchandise, Part 2, we talked about how employees can help prevent theft. In Part 3, we’re going to discuss what type of merchandise is stolen and how easy it is to resell.

 

Just what kind of merchandise is easy to resell and what are shoplifters looking for? Jewelry is one for example and car stereos are another. Other items thieves may be interested in are: cigarettes, CD players, lipstick, perfume, jewelry, TV sets, Jeans, and CD’s. Merchandise that is popular on the consumer market is also a likely bet to be on the stolen market list.

 

One question you can ask yourself is if your merchandise is easy to conceal. It’s easier to steal nail polish than a floor fan. You can make the smaller items harder to hide by attaching them to larger things. CD’s for example, are often in plastic cases that have to be removed at the cash register. You can put more expensive articles behind glass cases or lock them up in cabinets. You can also attach security tags that will buzz when the article passes through security. The shoplifter is more tempted to steal something if they like it, if it’s an easy item to sell and the security is lax. Your job is to make sure that it’s as difficult as you can make it to shoplift from your store.

 

So where do the thieves sell stolen merchandise? Some of the answers may surprise you. Pawn shops are often a first choice to re-sell a whole range of stolen merchandise from CD’s to electronics. You don’t have to prove you own the item and unless it’s already been listed as stolen, a lot of shoplifters get away with it. Jewelry stores are another place to get rid of hot merchandise. Jewelry stores both sell and buy jewelry. Church bazaars can be a very unlikely place because all you have to do is pay the price of a booth. Flea markets are definitely another choice. It’s easy to unload clothes, electronics, shoes, CD’s and small tools. Thieves can sell their goods either directly to the flea market customers or to people who make a living from selling at flea markets. Bars can be another outlet. Watches, meat, cigarettes, and auto parts can be sold without anyone batting an eyelash right in the parking lot out of someone’s trunk. Last but not least, are schools. CD’s, MP3’s, and basketball sneakers are some things that would bring a kid in some extra bucks.

 

Pay special attention to any merchandise that would be considered fun or popular. The idea to keep in mind is that the more enjoyable something is, the more likely it is to be stolen. Is your merchandise easy to sell to other people? Is it a product you sell a lot of to non shoplifting customers? If the choice is between the latest basketball sneakers or a plain white sneaker, which do you think would be stolen?

 

By Linda Lee Ruzicka

 

 

 

Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 8 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She also does freelances work for Beyond and for Salesheads. More of her blogs can be found at Salesheads blog.