U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

SHOPLIFTING FIVE TIMES A DAY - A FIELD EXPERIMENT TO COLLECT DATA ON INFORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL

NCJ Number
20375
Journal
Kriminologisches Journal Issue: 6 Dated: (1976) Pages: 224-232
Author(s)
A ABELE; W NOWACK
Date Published
1976
Length
9 pages
Annotation
ON THE BASIS OF SEVERAL INSTANCES OF FAKED SHOPLIFTING, THE AUTHORS INVESTIGATED THE ATTENTIVENESS OF THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO WARN THE SHOPKEEPER IN CASE OF THEFT.
Abstract
THE STATUS OF THE THIEF AS EXPRESSED THROUGH DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLOTHING, THE PRESENCE OF OTHER CUSTOMERS IN THE SHOP, AND THE ESTIMATED AGE OF THE CUSTOMER WERE TESTED. RESULTS INDICATE THAT 75 PERCENT OF THE ATTESTERS NOTICED THE SLOPPILY DRESSED 'THIEF' AND WARNED THE SALESGIRL. THE ELEGANTLY DRESSED 'THIEF' WAS ESPECIALLY NOTICED BY THE CUSTOMERS UNDER 25 YEARS OF AGE. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT THE DETECTION OF A CRIME IS PARTLY INFLUENCED BY FACTORS UNRELATED TO THE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR ITSELF. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. --IN GERMAN

Downloads

No download available

Availability