Shoplifting

Shoplifting

Did you know that shoplifting is stealing and stealing is a criminal act. Theft is converting to your use or the use of another person anything that deprives the owner or a person who has a special interest in it.

Did you know that a person commits theft, when with intent to steal anything, he moves it or causes it to move?

Did you know that the penalty for theft, where the value is less than five thousand dollars, is up to imprisonment for two years?

Did you know that a person can be sent to prison for ten years, if the stolen value is five thousand dollars or more?

No matter what you hear elsewhere, Shoplifting is theft and a person who shoplifts is a thief..

Many people all across Canada are arrested daily for shoplifting. They think it is a sport or a prank and do not realize how serious it is. Most people are unaware that shoplifting can result in a criminal record, even though the sentence may be fine and/or probation. That record can remain for life and it clearly says loud and clear one thing:
THIEF

Many people feel that they can not get a record. This is not true. An arrest is an arrest. The identity of the Young Offender is not made public but a police record can result. Our local court can transfert a Young Offender to Adult Court if the crime is serious enough and jail term can follow.

Many young people when arrested will say, " Why didn’t someone tell me that Shoplifting was a crime? " Ignorance of the law is no excuse and no defence againts prosecution and conviction.

Many people think that store make a lot of money and won’t miss a blouse, belt, a pair of sunglasses or a comic. This is not true and shopliting is costing stores thousands and thousands of dollars. Stores are no longer letting people off with a warning or a lecture. They are turning them over to the police. All parents of Young Offenders are notified.

Shoplifting occurs for a variety of reasons, including impulse, peer pressure, revenge, desperation, and kleptomania (rarely). The largest group of shoplifters are teenagers from middle-income families, with the majority being female. Where youthful shoplifters have motives to commit theft from peer pressure, impulse shoplifters are more likely to be first-time offender housewives. Out of desperation, shoplifting occurs by drug or alcohol addicts, vagrants, and anyone else in dire need of money.

A permanent reduction in shoplifting can only be accomplished by making citizens aware that it is a community responsability to prevent such theft. Everyone pays for shoplifting - Businesses suffer lower profits and consumers ultimately pay higher prices. More importantly, Shoplifting is stealing and stealing is a Criminal Act.

Theft of a $2.00 item from a store operating on a 10% profit margin requires the sale of $20.00 in merchandise to make up for the loss. Supermarkets and others operating on low margins of 1% must sell $300.00 in merchandise just to corner the theft of a $3.00 item. The cost to business management is in the billions of dollars.

And guess who helps to recoup these losses? That's right... we the consumers.

WHAT CAN ONE PERSON DO?

1. IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT!
You and other shoppers end up paying for what the shoplifter takes. So if you see someone shoplifting, let store authorities know about it.

2. WORK WITH CONCERNED GROUPS
Such as civic, business, school, law enforcement and religious groups, to increase public awareness. Few people are really aware of how serious the problem is.

3. ENCOURAGE HONESTY.
Be proud of being honest. Let people know how you feel. There is too much apathy as far as crime is concerned.

AN APPEAL TO PARENTS

1. EXPLAIN that shoplifting is against the law -- not a game or a joke. Emphasize that "going along with the crowd" is less mature, takes less courage than making a personal decision on honesty.

2. KNOW where your children are and what they are doing. How much money do they have? How do they get it? How do they spend it? Know what they bring into the house and where it came from.

3. SET AN EXAMPLE. Your children look up to you. Obey the law yourself (all the laws, all the time).

4. GET HELP... professional help if needed. If a shoplifting problem occurs, face it. Counseling help is available ... make use of it.

CRIME PREVENTION IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS

Not just a choosen few. Get involved. It is a great way to know your neigbours as well as other citizens in your community. For information on how to get involved, contact:

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police or a member of the Crime Prevention Committee.

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