NCJ Number
101592
Date Published
1985
Length
62 pages
Annotation
This 1984 survey of 168 retail organizations operating in just over 36,000 locations solicited information on inventory shrinkage, loss-prevention expenditures and methods, security training programs, and personnel and organizational security practices.
Abstract
The number surveyed in various retail categories were 78 mass merchants, 44 department stores, and 46 specialty stores. Average 1984 shrinkage levels increased to 1.7 percent, up 6 percent from that reported in 1983. An average of .42 percent of sales was spent on loss prevention, up 2 percent from 1983. Over half of respondents' security budgets were payroll expenses, and the proportion of the security budget for electronic tags (16 percent) was up 3 percent from 1983. High-tech security devices used by retailers include visible TV cameras, point-of-sale systems, and pin-hole video cameras. Self-teaching training manuals and videotapes were the most popular security training materials. More than 75 percent of the respondents had continuing training programs. Respondents perceived electronic tags and training programs to be the most effective means of reducing shrinkage. Other articles in this issue provide loss-prevention advice for retailers. Appended to the survey are data on food retailers.