Surprising Theft Class Statistics

Often when I teach a theft class, I'm a little shocked at how many people don't know how prevalent shoplifting is in our society. Obviously my students learn a lot of this information in our course. Here's just a snapshot of some of the most relevant shoplifting and theft statistics.

• More than $13 billion worth of products are taken from retailers anually. That adds up to more than $35 million every day.
• There are approximately 27 million shoplifters (or almost 10% of people) in our nation today. More than 10 million people have been caught shoplifting in the last five years..
• 1 in 4 shoplifters are kids, 75 percent are over 18 55 percent of shoplifters who are adults say they started shoplifting before they turned 18.
• Lots of shoplifters buy something at the same time they steal something. they usually steal something worth less than $200 each time depending upon the type of store and item taken.
• Shoplifting is infrequently a crime which is premeditated. Three out of Four of adult and juvenile shoplifters didn't plan to steal in advance.
• Shoplifters say they are caught an average of only once in every 48 times they steal. They are turned over to the police 50 percent of the time.
• Approximately 3 percent of people who shoplift are "professionals" who steal only for resale or profit as a business. These include people on drugs who steal to buy more drugs, professional thieves who steal to make a living and international shoplifting gangs who steal for profit as a business. "Professional" shoplifters make up one in ten of the total shoplifting activity.

If you want to learn more, I highly recommend that you sign up for an online theft class!