ISME PRESS RELEASE
CHRISTMAS SHOPLIFTING
RETAILERS TARGETED BY ORGANISED SHOPLIFTERS THIS
CHRISTMAS
€51 million Christmas Shoplifting spree expected, as gangs strike.
Retailers twice as likely to be targeted over festive season.
Half of all shops to be victims of shoplifters during Christmas.
Harsher penalties required to combat organised retail crime gangs.
ISME, Monday 16th December 2013
ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, has warned retailers to be extra vigilant
during the Christmas and New Year period as they are being targeted by organised gangs of
shoplifters. The Association outlined that retailers are twice as likely to be victims of shoplifting over
the Christmas, as the level of crime rises due to the greater opportunity and the recession.
The direct shoplifting cost to retailers this year will be in excess of €230m, of which €51m will
occur at Christmas alone. This does not take into account the amount spent on security, which
adds hundreds of millions on to the cost for retail businesses. It is estimated that shoplifting
alone adds up to 3% to the price of products.
While this is a significant direct cost, there is also a huge indirect and often underestimated cost of
shoplifting and crime in general to business. Disruption to business activity with poor staff morale
leading to absenteeism, and increased management time devoted to dealing with the aftermath of
shoplifting incidents. Retailers and their staff wish to serve legitimate customers, but are spending far
too much time attempting to prevent shoplifting.
ISME estimates that just over half of all retail outlets across the country will be targeted by
shoplifters over the Christmas period, with most businesses experiencing more than one
incident.
According to ISME Chief Executive, Mark Fielding “Criminals see the Christmas period as the ideal
opportunity, with larger crowds in stores, more stock on shelves and an increase in temporary
staff, who may not have the experience to identify shoplifters. We have seen an increase in
organised retail crime gangs who move from shop to shop and town to town, ‘stealing to
order’.
“Electronic goods such as tablets, smart phones and games, expensive cosmetics, clothing and food
products are the most common items targeted by thieves, causing huge financial damage to retailers
up and down the country. The temptation to buy ‘knock-off’ goods is greater as people spend a great
deal at Christmas and may be open to purchase cheaper stolen product.”
While business owner-managers have a significant role to play in combating shoplifting through
adequate security precautions, staff training and general vigilance, however, the ultimate
responsibility to prevent, apprehend, adequately prosecute and punish those responsible for
perpetrating criminal acts rests with those in charge of law enforcement.
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The Association recommends that retailers take a number of steps to combat the increased level of
crime against their business including;
Good store management, including staff communications and training.
Regular liaison with Garda Crime Prevention Office.
Good stock controls, ensuring that management are aware of stock levels at all times and are in a
position to notice ‘shrinkage’.
Adequate security measures which include CCTV and in-house security officers.
“The Association is calling for an increased garda presence in the main commercial and
shopping centres over Christmas, together with swift court action to deter retail crime and jail
the offenders, rather than the revolving door policy of prior years, which had the perpetrators
back on the streets to reoffend at the New Year sales,” concluded Fielding.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Mark Fielding
Chief Executive
Tel: 01 6622755
Mobile: 087 2519675
Note to Editors:
ISME is the only independent voice of Small & Medium business in Ireland, representing in excess of 8,750 members across all
sectors. The Association is owned and run by owner managers and is independent of big business, government and unions; the
TRUE voice of the Irish SME. www.isme.ie
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