Shoplifters and Dishonest Employees are Apprehended in Record Numbers by US Retailers

Wesley Chapel, FL — Shoplifters and dishonest employees stole over $6.0 billion in 2008 from just 22 major retailers, according to the 21st Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by Jack L. Hayes International, the leading loss prevention and inventory shrinkage control consulting firm. These 22 surveyed retailers apprehended a record 904,226 shoplifters and dishonest employees in 2008 and recovered more than $182 million from these thieves.
"For the 3rd consecutive year, both the apprehensions and recovery dollars from shoplifters and dishonest employees rose; up 7.26% and 21.64% respectively,” said Mark R. Doyle, President of Jack L. Hayes International. “While shoplifter and dishonest employee apprehensions increased 7.65% and 3.01% respectively, the increase in recovery dollars from these apprehensions was up an amazing 30.24% for shoplifting and almost 10% for dishonest employees. It should also be noted that employee theft apprehensions and recovery dollars increased for the 5th straight year.” Mr. Doyle added, “With the downturn in the economy, we have seen an increase in theft, which is having a detrimental impact on retailers’ bottom-line profits. These losses drive consumer prices higher and can force unprofitable stores to close.”

Highlights from this highly anticipated annual theft survey include:

  • Participants: 22 large retail companies with 19,151 stores and over $570 billion in retail sales (2008).
  • Apprehensions: 904,226 shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2008, up 7.26% from 2007.
  • Recovery Dollars: Over $182 million was recovered from apprehended shoplifters and dishonest employees in 2008, up 21.64% from 2007.
  • Shoplifter Apprehensions: 832,106 shoplifters were apprehended in 2008, up 7.65% from 2007.
  • Shoplifter Recovery Dollars: Over $113 million was recovered from apprehended shoplifters in 2008, an amazing 30.24% increase from 2007. An additional $37.2 million was recovered from shoplifters where no apprehension was made, up 9.08% from 2007.
  • Employee Apprehensions: 72,120 dishonest employees were apprehended in 2008, up 3.01% from 2007.
  • Employee Recovery Dollars: Over $69.8 million was recovered from employee apprehensions in 2008, up 9.9% from 2007.
  • One in every 30 employees was apprehended for theft from their employer in 2008. (Based on over 2.1 million employees.)
  • On a per case average, dishonest employees steal a little over 7 times the amount stolen by shoplifters ($969.14 vs $135.81).

Jack L. Hayes International, Inc. has been in the Loss Prevention/Shrinkage Control consulting business for over 30 years, and is recognized on an international level as the foremost loss prevention and inventory shrinkage control consulting firm in the world.

Jack L. Hayes International, Inc.
27520 Water Ash Drive-Suite 100
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544


TOTAL RETAIL THEFT

SURVEY PARTICIPANTS
  • 22 Large Retail Companies
  • 19,151 Stores (representing an excellent cross-section of the United States)
  • $571,906,927,011 in Annual Retail Sales (2008)
TOTAL RETAIL THEFT APPREHENSIONS Difference
  2007 2008 #/$ Pct.
Apprehensions 842,997 904,226 61,229 7.26%
Recoveries $150,366,460 $182,904,246 $32,537,786 21.64%
Avg. Case Value $178.37 $202.28 $23.91 13.40%



Retail Theft Apprehensions Breakdown

SHOPLIFTING Difference
  2007 2008 #/$ Pct.
Apprehensions 772,982 832,106 59,124 7.65%
Recoveries $86,769,861 $113,009,555 $26,239,694 30.24%
Avg. Case Value $112.25 $135.81 $23.56 20.99%
Hours Per Apprehension*
(*9 companies reporting)
70.96 60.37   (14.92%)
Recoveries
(No Apprehensions Made)
$34,171,515 $37,273,037 $3,101,522 9.08%

 

DISHONEST EMPLOYEES Difference
  2007 2008 #/$ Pct.
Apprehensions 70,015 72,120 2,105 3.01%
Recoveries $63,596,599 $69,894,691 $6,298,092 9.90%
Avg. Case Value $908.33 $969.14 $60.81 6.70%



Source: Jack L. Hayes International
27520 Water Ash Drive-Suite 100, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
Telephone: (813) 991-5628 - Website: www.hayesinternational.com
 

For additional theft survey results, please click-on areas of interest from menu on left.

 
For more information about Jack L. Hayes International, Inc., please select and click on the below areas of interest:

Home Inventory Shrinkage
Control / Loss Prevention
Security, Fraud &
Emergency Preparedness
Safety and
Risk Management

Theft Surveys Clients Services / Products & Newsletter Contact Us


Additional information is available by calling (813) 991-5628; Fax: (813) 991-5682;
or Mail to: 27520 Water Ash Drive-Suite 100, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

or E-Mail: operations@hayesinternational.com
©2009 Jack L. Hayes International
All rights reserved.