The holiday gift-giving season is upon us and so is a predicted increase in shoplifting statistics. Everyone wants to be able to show up to his or her various holiday parties with gifts, or have gifts waiting under the tree for their own family. There is a lot of pressure here in the U.S. during the Christmas season to have material items to give to loved ones. However, with the current economy and so many people still on unemployment and out of work, this can prove to be a difficult task. A new study conducted by the Center for Retail Research, an independent research group in the United Kingdom, reports that retailers in the United States are expected to lose $8.9 billion during the 2012 holiday season due to shoplifting, employee theft, and vendor or distribution losses. That figure is up 4 percent from last year.
This particular report shows that shoplifters will steal about $3.8 billion worth of goods. Employees will steal $4.7 billion, while another $400 million will be lost due to vendor fraud or administrative errors. These numbers may sound astronomical, but is definitely sending the message to retailers across the country that they had better be on high alert during this shopping season.
We know that large retail chains have responded to this ever increasing problem over the last decade by installing magnetic tags, having additional undercover guards on the floor and relying more and more on camera surveillance. In fact, many cameras today are hidden so well that the consumer has no idea it’s there. The latest technology enables managers to watch what’s going on outside the store, as well as inside using something as small as a cellphone.
When all is said and done, it’s really not worth trying to steal a gift for your mother or aunt this holiday season. Consequences are severe and can really ad havoc to daily life. First of all, if caught you will be brought to the back office of the store and wait for police. If the retailer decides to press charges, you can expect spending at least the rest of the day at the courthouse. Depending on the severity of the charge, jail time, community service hours, financial retribution and theft diversion classes will come your way.
If you unfortunately get caught up in the illegal act of shoplifting during this holiday season, the one thing you can do to make your life a bit easier is to take your court mandated theft diversion class online. Yes, with technology today, distance-learning classes have become extremely popular and are readily available. Just be sure to get the consent of your judge prior to enrolling, and you are on your way to fulfilling this requirement from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a web-based computer and some free time to take the class at your own convenience. Nothing needs to be downloaded or printed out, so you don’t need to be tied to a desk or printer. Classes are available online 24/7 so you don’t have to miss any work or school to take them. Once you pass the final exam with a 70% or better, a Certificate of Completion is sent out to you to prove to the court system that you fulfilled the mandate.
Classes are also available for those who know they are on the wrong path and are looking for self-improvement measures to stop the cycle. Take an online theft class today to fulfill a court order or to learn techniques to stop the urge before you get caught!
