Survey: Shoplifting apprehensions up 7.4% in 2014

Wesley Chapel, Fla. -- More than1.2 million shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2014 by just 25 large retailers who recovered over $225 million from these thieves, according to the 27th Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by loss prevention and inventory shrinkage control consulting firm Jack L. Hayes International. The participants were made up 25 large retail companies with 23,250 stores and over $700 billion in retail sales (2014).



"In 2014, the number of apprehensions and recovery dollars were up again for both shoplifters and dishonest employees. Shoplifting apprehensions rose 7.4%, while dishonest employee apprehensions rose 1.7%. The dollars recovered from apprehended shoplifters and dishonest employees also rose, 7.5% and 18.1% respectively," said Mark R. Doyle, president of Jack L. Hayes International.



The increases, follow similar increases reported the previous three years.



Highlights from annual theft survey include:



• Apprehensions: 1,272,560 shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2014, up 7.1% from 2013.



• Recovery dollars: Over $225 million was recovered from apprehended shoplifters and dishonest employees in 2014, up 10.4% from 2013.



• 1,192,194 shoplifters were apprehended in 2014, up 7.4% from 2013.



• Over $159 million was recovered from apprehended shoplifters in 2014, an increase of 7.5% from 2013.



• 80,366 dishonest employees were apprehended in 2014, up 1.7% from 2013.



• Over $66 million was recovered from employee apprehensions in 2014, up 18.1% from 2013.



• One out of every 38 employees was apprehended for theft from their employer in 2014. (Based on over 3.0 million employees.)



Full survey results at www.hayesinternational.com.