Shoplifting: Addiction and Offence - Essay Example

Shoplifting - Addiction and Offence Shoplifting is theft of goods from retail stores or super malls or stealing of money from the cash box by an ostensible patron. Most of the accused are amateurs, some of whom do it for the sake of daring or enjoyment, some make their livelihood and some want to show their talent and never get caught, screwing the security measures instilled in the retail shops. This crime arises out of sheer desperation because the urgent need, desire, leaving little or no hope or they committed as last resort. People with addictions commit a substantial percentage of all crime related to alcohol, drugs, etc. (Frederic G. Reamer, 2003:29-134)1 The present scenario of an alcoholic picking up bottles of Vodka can be categorized as offence committed by addicted people. The suspect is an alcoholic, unemployed, with no food in his house, leaves in filthy conditions and is a serial shoplifter which he admits to do it again to fund his alcoholism. From the labeling theory perspective, the initial act of shoplifting is normal and it is the interaction with those respond to it that causes deviance. Shoplifting is brought to the notice of police only after it is detected by the staff of shop, detective or public. In Gibben's study of shoplifting from the statistics of "Larceny from Shops and stalls" of 1935-1960, it was showed that the number fluctuated between 1949 and 1955 but have subsequently increased by substantial portions; and from the information presented, he argued that with both adults and children, the numbers are largely dependent upon the arresting and charging policy of the shops and there have been changes in policy between 1949 and 1959 in particular instances.(NG Wai Yee, nd:40-51)2 The suspect admits that he will continue with his practice as it would be difficult to regain his identity and sense of self efficacy. The suspects inclusion in the society will be further outlawed leading to social exclusion which in turn will lead to more incidents of shoplifting and may be other adverse crimes to support his livelihood. Relying on the strain theory, it is evident that suspect has indulged in such acts just because of addiction towards alcoholic materials, which he has admitted.3 From the society's and community's perspective which does not support or provide support to such accused, he should be present before the court as it may do no world of good to him by not confining him. According to Charles A. Sennewald, the only person who can arrest the suspect is the one who has seen it actually happening. The process of 'stop' is to impede or interrupt the customer by the staff to inquire about the transaction and extract a satisfactory explanation. Detention occurs based only on probable cause and the duration is used to investigate the circumstances of the event in which the act has happened. Thereafter is the suspect admits his crime, its up to the manager to call the police who makes an official arrest and the case is transferred from private affair to criminal justice system.4 In some cases, manager can let go the suspect sometimes by taking back the lifted goods or by imposing fines on the lifted goods, etc. In some cases, the staff or manager tend to show sympathy towards such unhappy, unemployed, alcoholic addicted person who has make his livelihood through such felony. But again, such acts may encourage him to commit such crimes again and again which may tamper the reputation and costs of the stores and retail shops and other malls, etc. Peter Honey and Alan Mumford developed their learning styles system as a variation on the Kolb model while working on a project for the Chloride Corporation in the 1970's. The stages originated from the work of David Kolb's Learning Styles. The first stage is to have an experience, wherein people use other people's work and rely on their analysis. This style is similar to that of Accommodating Stage where people prefer to work in teams to complete tasks and actively work in the field trying different ways to achieve target. Honey and Mumford has called this style as Activist learning style. The second stage is to review the experience where the people stand back, gather data, prefers to watch rather to take any action. The people in this group are imaginative and emotional and tend to be strong in the arts. This stage has been named as Reflector correlated with Kolb's Diverging learning Style. Then next stage is of conclusion of the experience gained which is a theoretical work, which requires thinking through in logical steps, assimilate disparate facts into coherent theories, understanding wide range of information and organizing it in logical formats for better understanding. After this comes the stage where the job of pragmatists begin, where they invent new ideas, innovate new problem solving methods and decision making quickly. Their main strength relies on doing and thinking and is less concerned with people and interpersonal aspects. (Kolb Learning Styles, 2008) According to the Honey and Mumford's Learning Styles, the police personnel in the present scenario should apply Activist style while investigating the offender because such cases may be prominent in U.K, but investigating offender is evenly more important as it helps in understanding the cause and objective behind the crime. At the same time, the police should apply Reflectors style as to gather statements and data about the incident from the manager and locals present out there. This would help the police to reach to conclusion on this issue. The theorist and pragmatist styles would be helpful to the police only when he uses the experience from here and puts it down to work on some other cases, which will allow him to produce new innovative ideas to deal with such cases. As well as the police in such cases should work along guidelines set by the respective governments. After the handing over of suspect by the staff or manager to the police, it's up to the police to make further investigation in the case and file a case. The police in the present scenario have correctly searched the house of suspect under section 18 of Police and Criminal Evidence Act, 1984 which has been clearly stated in Code B of PACE, under powers conferred on Police Officers. The specific powers to search premises occupied or controlled by a person arrested for an indictable offence is also clearly stated in PACE 1984, Section 18.5 The police shall apprehend the suspect and present him before the court. Here the suspect, who has already admitted his crime and serial shoplifter, has the right to plead guilty in the court of law, where he may be sentenced to jail as he not a newcomer or fresher in professional arena. (Charles A. Sennewald, nd:12)6 The suspect is suffering from acute syndrome of larceny, for which he should be treated in medical care. The police could not free him just because he is unemployed, unhappy, leaving in unhealthy conditions, and alcoholic, etc. All this characteristics are chosen by him, as he is not the alone to be unhappy, unemployed, etc. Instead if he is freed, the police are not less occupied with crimes and criminals to keep a watch on such shoplifters. Even more, it would lead the retail shop managers to implement more security measures, more security guards, detectives, etc., to stop such miscreant acts each and every time thus increasing their cost cutting down their profit. Thus it is advisable to work along the professional guidelines set by the police, the stores or retail shops. The suspect should be arrested and presented before the court of law and let him allow to present his side. References 1. Charles A. Sennewald, Shoplifters Vs Retailers: The Rights of Both, New Century Press, 5-6 2. Frederic G. Reamer (2003), Criminal Lessons: Case Studies and Commentary on Crime and Justice, Columbia Universtiy Press, New York. 3. Kolb Learning Styles, Business Balls.Com, http://www.businessballs.com/kolblearningstyles.htm 4. NG Wai Yee, The Relevance of Labelling Theory to Shoplifting - A Critical Assessment, Dissertation, Master of Social Sciences in Criminology, University of Hongkong. 5. Police And Criminal Evidence Act, 1984 (PACE), Code B, Code of practice for searches of premises by police officers and the seizure of property found by police officers on persons or premises, 6. Robert K. 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