The recent study out of Harvard University has shoplifting and the stigma associated with it in its sights. According to researchers, as the economy continues to falter, there is a growing fear among consumers, retailers, and law enforcement that a surge in shoplifting is in the works. But are these fears backed by facts?
The study conducted by the Harvard Criminal Justice Policy Program found that although a certain uptick in shoplifting is to be expected during an economic downturn, the fear of a surge is largely unfounded. The researchers looked at the numbers from 2008 during the Great Recession and discovered that overall shoplifting rates did not increase significantly from previous years. In fact, it was the availability of other goods and services that helped to offset the rising costs of shoplifting.
The Harvard researchers concluded that shoplifting is not likely to increase significantly during a prolonged recession. They noted that the burden should instead be shared among a number of different factors such as a weak economy, tight budgeting, and a high unemployment rate. They also pointed out that no single factor could be pinpointed as the cause of shoplifting.
Although the study was conducted with a focus on the United States, the findings can be applied to any country facing financial hardship. The central message is that although the overall economic picture is bleak, the fear of a shoplifting surge is largely unfounded.
The researchers believe that the shoplifting stereotype is more fear-mongering created by the media than anything else. There is no evidence to suggest that an economic downturn leads to a corresponding crime wave. Instead, the fear of a shoplifting surge is an overblown reaction to economic conditions that are out of our control.
In the end, the Harvard study suggests that shoplifting is most likely to remain relatively steady regardless of the economic climate. It is important to remember that criminals tend to go after easy targets during times of financial hardship. As long as consumers and retailers take proper precautions, the fear of a shoplifting surge should be seen as just that – fear, and not reality.
