NCJ Number
64951
Date Published
1971
Length
25 pages
Annotation
APPREHENDED SHOPLIFTING CASES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN 1963, 1965, AND 1968 WERE SELECTED TO EVALUATE VICTIM DECISIONS TO REPORT OFFENSES TO THE POLICE.
Abstract
OFFENDER NAMES AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS WERE OBLITERATED FROM RECORDS OF THE 30-PERCENT RANDOM SAMPLE OF STUDY CASES. THE EXTENT TO WHICH VICTIMS REFERRED SUSPECTS FOR PROSECUTION WAS STUDIED IN TERMS OF SUSPECT'S AGE, SEX, AND RACE AND TOTAL RETAIL VALUE OF STOLEN ITEMS. MEAN VALUES OF STOLEN ITEMS IN 1963, 1965, AND 1968 WERE $3.06, $3.31, AND $3.39, RESPECTIVELY. RETAIL VALUE OF STOLEN ITEMS WAS MORE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH VICTIM DECISIONS THAN SUSPECT'S AGE, SEX, AND RACE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT APPREHENDED SHOPLIFTERS AND SHOPLIFTING ACTS PERTAINED TO TOTAL NUMBER OF STOLEN ARTICLES, TYPE OF STOLEN GOODS, TIME OF DAY WHEN SHOPLIFTING OCCURRED, AND DAY OF WEEK ON WHICH SHOPLIFTING TOOK PLACE. PREDICTIVE ATTRIBUTE ANALYSIS OF THESE VARIABLES SHOWED THAT RETAIL VALUE OF STOLEN ITEMS WAS MOST STRONGLY RELATED TO SHOPLIFTER INTERPRETATION INTERPRETATION REFERRAL-NONREFERRAL. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE EMPHASIS PLACED ON THEFT BY STORE PERSONNEL IS IMPORTANT IN MODERATING THE PROBABILITY OF REFERRAL TO THE POLICE. SINCE STORES REPRESENT A SPECIAL CLASS OF VICTIMS (CORPORATIONS ECONOMICALLY DEPENDENT ON SHOPPERS WHO MAY BE POTENTIAL SHOPLIFTERS), THEY MAY VIEW THEMSELVES AS ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE TO LITIGATION. FURTHER, THE VOLUME OF SHOPLIFTERS APPREHENDED BY STORES MAY MAKE EMPLOYEE RELEASE TIME FOR COURT APPEARANCES TOO COSTLY FOR STORES TO PURSUE A VIGOROUS PROSECUTION POLICY. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO ASSESS FACTORS IN DECISIONS OF INDIVIDUAL VICTIMS TO REPORT OFFENSES TO THE POLICE AND SEEK PROSECUTION. FOOTNOTES, SUPPORTING FIGURES, AND TABLES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)