FREEZE!!

I know that this may be hard for everyone to believe, but I am not a professional blogger, maybe one day.

See I have a different career, I have been a retail store manger for the past 21 years, Tough job, for sure but I guess someone has to do it.

I am not here today to give you my Bio. But i feel that the 21 years are relevant to what I want to talk about.

Here is a scary fact, There are approximately 27 million shoplifters (or 1 in 11 people) in our nation today. More than 10 million people have been caught shoplifting in the last five years. You read that right 1 in 11 people shoplifts.

One thing that I learned early in my career was, its not who you think it is. Let me explain this, a little bit. See when most people think of a shoplifter, there is a image that pops up in their minds. Well let me tell you what I have discovered over 20 years. Its normally not them.

Thats right, its not them. Although everyone first impression would be that its them. But see There are 2 types of shoplifter, the dumb ones and the smart ones. Trust me when I say the smart ones out weigh the dumb ones. Here is what the smart ones look like, and they are tricky, you know the ones that go to your church or you see walking their dog.

Yep, dressed up like she just got off from her corporate american job. Its all a trick. See they know that you arent looking for this type of shoplifter. So since your out keeping an eye on the ones that LOOK like they maybe a shoplifter, little Miss 9am To 5pm is robbing you blind.

They come in all shapes, sizes and age, remember its 1 out of every 11 people.

Here is another scary fact.
Approximately 25 percent of shoplifters are kids, 75 percent are adults. 55 percent of adult shoplifters say they started shoplifting in their teens.

So if its 1 out of every 11, then you would think that everyone has seen or know someone who shoplifts. Is it just becoming the norm. Is it the reason more and more retail business are closing or going to online sales only. Makes you think about it, doesn't it.

Here is the last and most important fact, Shoplifting affects more than the offender. It overburdens the police and the courts, adds to a store’s security expenses, costs consumers more for goods, costs communities lost dollars in sales taxes and hurts children and families.

Thanks for stopping by, remember your neighbors, one of them shoplifts.

Follow me @raybrockman