NCJ Number
63376
Date Published
1979
Length
269 pages
Annotation
THIS PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR RETAIL SECURITY INVESTIGATORS AND STORE OWNERS AND MANAGERS OUTLINES A SCIENTIFIC METHOD FOR DETECTING, APPREHENDING, AND INVESTIGATING SHOPLIFTERS AND EMPLOYEE THIEVES.
Abstract
THE METHOD IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT PEOPLE ARE PREDICTABLE AND THAT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR FOLLOWS PATTERNS THAT CAN BE ANTICIPATED IN ORDER TO CALCULATE STRATEGIES FOR APPREHENSION, DETECTION, AND EVIDENCE COLLECTION. TO BE ABLE TO USE THE METHOD WELL, THE INVESTIGATOR MUST HAVE GOOD POWERS OF OBSERVATION, GOOD JUDGMENT, AND PATIENCE. THE INVESTIGATOR SHOULD WATCH UNOBTRUSIVELY HOW CUSTOMERS ARE DRESSED (LARGE EMPTY HANDBAGS, UNSEASONABLE OR BAGGY CLOTHES SHOULD CAUSE SUSPICION) AND STUDY SHOPPING HABITS. A POCKET NOTEBOOK, BINOCULARS, A TAPE RECORDER, AND ULTRAVIOLET DETECTION EQUIPMENT ARE NECESSARY; AN OFFICE AND CONCEALED OBSERVATION TOWER ARE ALSO IMPORTANT. SUGGESTIONS FOR DETECTING SHOPLIFTERS AND DISHONEST EMPLOYEES ARE PRESENTED AND ILLUSTRATED WITH EXAMPLES. FOR INSTANCE, INVESTIGATORS SHOULD WATCH FOR TYPES OF BEHAVIOR RATHER THAN TYPES OF PERSONS. WHEN TRACKING SHOPLIFTERS, THEY SHOULD USE PERIPHERAL VISION TO KEEP SUSPECTS CONSTANTLY IN SIGHT. INVESTIGATORS MUST BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY BOTH THE SUSPECTS AND THE ITEMS STOLEN BEFORE APPREHENDING SHOPLIFTERS. INVESTIGATING EMPLOYEE CRIME IS MORE COMPLEX AND REQUIRES COPIOUS FACTFINDING AND RECORDING. METHODS FOR INTERVIEWING BOTH COOPERATIVE AND UNCOOPERATIVE EMPLOYEES ARE GIVEN, AS ARE STEPS FOR FOLLOWING THROUGH AND PREPARING A CASE. OTHER TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE TECHNIQUES FOR WATCHING AND TRAPPING THIEVES AND FOR CONDUCTING UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATIONS. A GLOSSARY AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED.