NCJ Number
80172
Date Published
Unknown
Length
87 pages
Annotation
Findings are presented from a survey that examined the relationship of organized criminal activity to theft losses incurred by Indiana industries.
Abstract
The five primary industries examined in the study were construction, manufacturing, transportation, wholesaling, and retailing. Credit card and insurance companies were surveyed for additional and substantiating information. The information requested was for calendar year 1971. The questionnaire sought information on (1) perceived seriousness of the theft problem, (2) actual amount of the theft loss, (3) nature of the theft loss, and (4) linkage of the theft problem to organized criminal activity. A total of 423 firms responded from 1,135 sent questionnaires, with 405 questionnaires being suitable for use. The total theft loses reported for the 405 respondents ranged from $2,237,237 to $4,211,000. The amount of this loss attributable to organized theft was between $841,850 and $1,644,060. The total projected loss across the 1,135 firms in the primary industries surveyed ranged from $9,625,677 to $117,631,970. The theft loss due to organized crime across all 1,135 firms surveyed was projected at between $4,470,441 and $38,848,441. These figures do not include indirect losses due to theft or other losses resulting from labor racketeering, takeovers, bankruptcy frauds, infiltration of legitimate businesses, monopolistic and coercive competitive practices, or other organized criminal activity which affects the business sector. Survey findings are broken down by types of businesses. Tabular data, footnotes, and 22 bibliographic listings are provided. (Author summary modified)