NCJ Number
159725
Journal
Research Findings Issue: 26 Dated: (December 1995) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A commercial victimization survey in England and Wales in 1994 gathered data on crime in retail companies during 1993.
Abstract
The survey asked whether or not the crimes were reported to the police, the extent of losses suffered, and the types of crime prevention measures used. Results revealed that 8 of every 10 retailers experienced one or more of the crimes covered by the survey. Of the 8.6 million crimes against retailers in 1993, 5.8 million were incidents of theft by customers. Three percent of the retailers experienced 59 percent of the crimes. Risks and average financial losses were higher for retailers than for householders. The total cost of property stolen or damaged was an estimated 780 million pounds; this amounted to 0.7 percent of the retail sector turnover. The impact on profits was larger. Retailers with 11 or more employees were at the greatest risk of crime. Retailers of food, alcohol, or tobacco were also at higher risk. Not all crimes were reported to the police by victims. The police and insurance companies were the most common source of advice on crime prevention, followed by specialized help from security companies. Nearly all retailers had some form of security hardware, but only 58 percent had instructed personnel on dealing with incidents of crime. Figures