Eleven people in Phoenix have been arrested on suspicion of taking part in an organized retail shoplifting ring that targeted 76 stores at seven Valley malls over the past six years, a multi-agency coalition said Wednesday. The shoplifters were highly organized and used two to five people who would enter the shopping mall and target certain retail stores. Shockingly, the theives would sell their stolen items for 10% of the value of the item to re-sellers.
The biggest issue that theives believe is that they aren't really hurting anyone by stealing. Who will complain if your stealing from a big box store like Target or the GAP? Big retailers end up cutting jobs due to profit lose and shoplifters don't really care. Some do it for a high, others do it for survival. In the case of this Phoenix crime, the theives were likely not making much money from the robberies, and did it as a negative means of survival.
Theft and shoplifing classes are an excellent way to help reduce the amount of theft by educating potential theives about the consequences of stealing which also teaching coping skills to better handle the impulse to steal.
