SHOPLIFTING RISE HURTS RETAILERS

Electric toothbrushes and razor blades have become hot tickets in the
booming Red Deer shoplifting market.

And with the Christmas shopping season near full swing, retailers expect
the pilfering rate to increase, said Steve Woolrich, head of corporate
security for Central Alberta Co-op Ltd.

Woolrich said that last year there were about 700 reports of shoplifting in
Red Deer.

That number was about double through the first nine and a half months of
this year.

The Retail Council of Canada reports that in 2002, "shrinkage" accounted
for 1.75 per cent of sales. That accounts annually for about $3 billion in
lost retail sales in Canada.

Shrinkage, Woolrich said, is internal and external theft, administration
error and vendor dishonesty.

Internal theft still accounts for the largest loss at 40 per cent of the
total while external or shoplifting is 35 per cent. Administrative error is
18 per cent and vendor dishonesty seven per cent.

He said the notion that shoplifting is a "victimless crime" is false.

He said the consumer suffers because a business may be forced to increase
prices to cover stolen goods.

Woolrich, who also chairs a Stop Theft association for retailers, said
there's been a large increase in the amount of organized shoplifting. The
council said organized theft rings account for 20 per cent of thefts.

Woolrich said it's not uncommon for theft rings to move up and down Hwy 2
between Calgary and Edmonton with a stop in Red Deer.

"These figures are disturbing," Woolrich said.

He said electric tooth brushes and men's expensive razor blades have been
favourite targets.

They are joined by expensive cuts of meat, perfume, small electronic goods,
clothes and other health and beauty items.

Much of the shoplifting can be attributed to the growing drug problem.

In Red Deer court recently, a woman pleaded guilty to shoplifting two
expensive steaks.

She was going to give the steaks to a man to purchase drugs.

Other small, expensive goods are also used to barter for drugs. If not
bartered they are sold and the money used to buy drugs.

Woolrich said larger businesses are turning more to technology to stop thefts.

The Co-op has a digital system tied into all its Central Alberta outlets.
Woolrich can monitor from his Red Deer office any video camera located in
the stores. But thieves have also gone high tech.

Woolrich said authorities are monitoring people who travel around with
equipment that can print fake store receipts. Someone will steal an item
then get the bogus receipt and take it back to the store for a refund.

Large retail stores and grocers are relying more on technology such as
video cameras and information sharing to limit thefts.

Security personnel around the province are also sharing information.

Woolrich said even small businesses, which don't have the resources to
combat shoplifting, can employ preventive measures to stop thieves.

The first step is developing a zero tolerance to any theft.

Woolrich said retailers can take a few simple measures to prevent theft at
Christmas.

. Providing the best customer service possible will detract thieves.

. Merchandise that's most often stolen should be displayed in areas where
there is good visibility.

. Employees should be aware and report any suspicious activity to a
department manager or store personnel.

He said employers must realize their employees are their front-line defence
in the battle.

He said each Co-op employee receives four hours of training to prevent theft.

Veena, who wished her last name remain anonymous for security reasons, said
that in 17 years of loss prevention work, thieves display less regard for
authority all the time.

She is head of security for The Bay and runs a business contracting out
security staff.

"We're very busy. I don't want any more work," she said.

"In past years you could walk up to someone who had taken something and
they would come back with you to the store.

"Now you can almost expect a fight or to be confronted by more than one
person."

She said thieves are becoming more violent.

"You might follow a person out the door who has taken something and are met
by another person or a car full of people. The potential for violence is a
lot higher," Woolrich said.

He said the Stop Theft program has a meeting set for Nov. 25 at the south
Wal-Mart store at 1 p.m.

Any business can join. For more information, telephone Woolrich at 357-9309.