Analysis of Reasons for Shoplifting - Research Paper Example

Reasons for Shoplifting: An Evaluative Study Reasons for Shoplifting: An Evaluative Study Introduction The attitude of people towards things of variable values depends upon their personality. Some people love to possess a variety of things for the sake of merely keeping them while others have definite reasons for owning certain things. The increasing trend of consumerism in the modern and urbanized societies has potentially influenced the nature of people as customers. One of the most significant risks of the retailers is shoplifting –a culpable act of stealing or concealing the merchandise done at retail business centers. There have been many instances of financially stable and socially reputed individuals involving in this act. In a single glance, shoplifting may look like theft; however, there are various socio-economic and psychological factors that work as reasons behind this notorious instinct. This paper is meant to make an evaluative study the issue of shoplifting through various perspectives and theories to analyze the reasons for it. Meaning and Significance Shoplifting is established when a customer is caught in possession of an unpaid merchandize meant for sale. In other words, any attempt by an individual to take the belonging of another individual without due intimation or permission by making the real owner deprived of the particular thing is called shoplifting. This may involve stealing, concealing the commodity, evading payment of price or even falsification of billing through malpractices. The legislation against this act identifies that shoplifting can even be accused on an individual if the intent is proven from the very act of concealing a merchandise. The law enforcement provisions and punishment grant for shoplifting are decided on the basis of the value of the commodity subjected for the intent by the accused. The charges of shoplifting vary in their seriousness based on the legal system of the concerned states. However, a shoplifting crime can range from infraction to misdemeanor; and in some cases, it may go up to felony charges. The punishment, as perceivable, varies from a fine for infraction to a short jail term with probation for misdemeanor. Longer jail term is the normal punishment for felony charges. However, the establishment of charges of shoplifting is a difficult task for the shopkeepers and their employees in some states because of the legal provisions against any private party’s involvement in the unlawful custody of individuals. In such a case, the attempt of shopkeeper to take a statement of admission of the act by the accused can make him face counter legal proceedings against false imprisonment, assault and battery (FindLaw). The retailers are however assisted by the provisions for legally monitored liberty to handle a lot of such cases in many of the states. Reasons for Shoplifting The reason for shoplifting can directly be linked with the spirit of stealing something for ‘fun’ in a general sense. The shops displaying the acknowledgement of discount sales and other benefits attract a lot of people among whom a few turn shoplifters for instantaneous pleasure. This attitude of stealing something without a premeditated plan is impulsive and can be considered as a measure one adopts to reward oneself. When a person involves in this act, he convinces him with a satisfactory self appreciation for doing some extraordinary thing. As Berlin (n.d.) points out, shoplifting is an act committed in the self-taught method for compensating one’s emotional or economic losses by which one feels stress-free. Many of the shoplifters admit that the feeling the act renders after the successful outcome generates an inspiring enthusiasm derived from the excitement of accomplishing the risky task. There are many generalized reasons for them to say varying from mere boredom to a completely demolished social life as those that induce them to indulge in the act of this madcap theft. A significant opinion of most of the shoplifters is that they are inspired by the stress-bursting effect of this act rather than the desire for the material benefit they obtain from the value of the stolen thing. The very aspect of diverting mind from the pressure factors can be considered as the prime reason why the rich people also involve in shoplifting. For them the main point to focus is self-rewarding and not the material benefit they obtain from the stealing. Even for the rich juveniles, the reason behind their inclination to pilfering is induced by various factors like peer pressure, passion for new things and other factors involving depression. There are some people who criticize that the number of shoplifting incidents is also boosted by the lenience of the law enforcement departments and related agencies with regards to the detection of actual number of events of this crime. According to the finding of Dabney, Hollinger and Dugan (2004), the shoplifting cases are largely ignored by the police unless they are not reported because the police claim that the incidents of shoplifting are to be primarily handled by the in-house security personnel for the police departments are not supposed to monitor the security inside private properties as they don’t belong to their jurisdiction. This provision in the law enforcement creates time lapse in the legal proceedings against the accused by giving them an opportunity to get away with minimal punishments desirable of the circumstantial requirements. The increasing trend of shoplifting among the rich-class individuals is an aggravated tension to the shopkeepers. In many cases, the reason behind their committing such silly looking offenses reflect the impacts of personal problems and work related issues they undergo during certain periods of time. A very interesting fact about adult shoplifting cases is that it involves many celebrities and highly settled people in the society for whom there are no reasons to explain why they resort to this tendency for the momentary ecstasy obtained from the act. In an article, Westcott (2012) refers the incidents in which well-reputed people like celebrity chef Worrall Thompson and American actress Winona Ryder getting caught for shoplifting; and in the case of the Thompson, he ventured stealing things as cheap as onions while Ryder was caught with clothes priced around three thousand dollars. The reasons stated by the accused for this act is either a sudden confusion or an involuntary response to their instantaneous urge for reacting to some perceived kind of loss. In many cases, the sudden loss of rationality may also be the result of continuous medication or other drug related issues. In most of the identified cases, shoplifting committed by the wealthy people reflects their quest of solace from some troubled situations persisting in their life. Implication of Different Theories Related to Shoplifting Considering the seriousness of shoplifting as an increasing and potential threat to the retailers, there needs a comprehensive evaluation of the reasons behind this trait of people. Unlike theft, shoplifting is caused by the absolutely unpredictable impulses of individuals. Particularly in case of non-professional shoplifters, the involvement of wealthy people is noticeable. If the reasons for shoplifting by non-professionals and rich people are to be analyzed properly, it is required to make the connective interpretation of some the theories associated with shoplifting and stealing as mentioned below. Strain Factor of Shoplifting The social aspect of shoplifting temptation among the white-collar and upper class individuals can be read with the general pressure assumed by them for making wealth. The strain factor resulting from the lapse of money at a given point of time will substantiate the pressure for an individual to commit offenses while they try to get an easy solution to their problems. In such a case, there arises coercion on the individual to choose the wrong shortcut to get rid of the strain caused by the internal argument between what he has for achieving what he wants. Langton (2004) highlights that anger and other complex negative emotions induced by strain can also lead and individual to crime. Employees at retail centers and of other organizations are seriously vulnerable to shoplifting due to the strain they conceive from the domestic demands. Unexpected fluctuations in the revenue and the general strain that may mount up from sudden familial requirements also can force one to commit shoplifting. A report on the role of strain indicates that, “the downturn’s layoffs and cutbacks put a strain on household budgets that opportunistic criminals were able to exploit on the secondary market” (Matthew, 2009). Rational Choice as a Decisive Factor Shoplifting has to be seen as a resultant factor of a lenient opportunity accidentally delivered to an offender. In that sense, a person involving in stealing in a retail shop is completely aware of the situational opportunities that may suit well for the act. The perspective of rational choice explains the aspects of decision-making process involved in the shoplifting act. According to Falson and Clarke (1998), the thinking strategy an offender adopts at the time of the crime faces constraints such as quality of information and time available for executing the act by resulting in making a prompt and immature decision that may induce stealing. In such a case, the rational thinking and the choice make a complex argument in which the wrong choice generally prevails. The choice-induced shoplifting is a sudden response to the impulsive urges of an individual’s desire for certain object. In a clear way, it can be seen that the incidents such as shoplifting occurs when a person loses the rational argument to the short-term benefits of committing the offense while the shortage of time forces him to ignore the merits of avoiding the act. Implication of the Containment Theory Like any habitual crime, shoplifting can also be interpreted with the psychological conditions of the offender. A crime like shoplifting is repeatedly done when the offender gets opportunities to execute the act without the fear of punishment. However, the behavioral modification taking place in an individual’s personality is influenced by certain internal and external factors. According to Reckless (cited in Bernard, n.d.), the development of a good self-concept deriving from the internal and external factors acts as protective cover for individuals against involving in impulsive crimes. These factors can be perceived as forces of containment that regulate the impulsive urge of individuals and deter them from deviant behavior. The major elements of internal containment forces include moral and religious teachings mixed with self conception about rights and wrongs. On the other hand, the external forces derive from relatives, educators or other individuals or even some role models who can influence the behavior of a person. However, in delinquent individuals’ case, the absence of the external forces at required intervals may weaken the internal forces and they may sometimes resort to crimes like shoplifting for satisfying their self-rewarding needs. Conclusion From the overall evaluation of shoplifting from different perspectives, it is important to notice that the impulsive reasons for this act need to be addressed scientifically. Shoplifting may seemingly be a small offense but it is one of the most recurring problems before the shopkeepers. Moreover, shoplifting involves several psychological aspects that drive even the rich and poor alike in committing an offense. As the higher degree of intelligence that many shoplifters possess can breach the effect of deterrent devices inside retail units, there should be more sophisticated and scientifically proven preventive measures in place to secure the prosperity and peace of retailers. References Berlin, P. (n.d.). Why Do Shoplifters Steal? National Learning Resource Center. Retrieved from https://www.shopliftingprevention.org/whatnaspoffers/NRC/UnderstandingTheRootCauses.htm Bernard, T. J. (n.d.). Walter Reckless. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1340936/Walter-Reckless Dabney, D. A., Hollinger, R. C., & Dugan, L. (2004). Who actually steals? A study of covertly observed shoplifters. Justice Quarterly, 21(4), 693-728. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/228204010?accountid=1611 FindLaw. Shoplifting. Retrieved from http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/shoplifting.html Felson, M & Clarke, R. V. (1998). Opportunity Makes the Thief: Practical theory for crime prevention. Police Research Series. Paper 98. Retrieved from http://skywallnet.com/data_server/CA/OMT_PP_CP.pdf Westcott, K. (2012). Why do well-off people shoplift? BBC News, Jan 10. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16469928 Langton, L. (2004). Can general strain theory explain white-collar crime? A preliminary investigation. Retrieved from http://etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0004785/langton_l.pdf Lynch, M. (2009). Retails other squeeze: Shoplifting, theft soar as economy struggles. WWD, 198(47), 1-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/231251067?accountid=1611 Read More