Shoplifting in Small Stores: A Qualitative Case Study in Perth, Western Australia (original) (raw)

In Australia, it is estimated that there were 1.3 million incidents of shop thefts in 2011 (Smith, Jorna, Sweeney, & Fuller, Counting the Costs of Crime in Australia: A 2011 Estimate, Research and Public Policy Series No. 129, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra, 2014). The literature highlights a number of situational factors, which can facilitate shoplifting including store layout, security devices and guardianship (Beck, Amplifying Risk in Retail Stores: The Evidence to Date on Making Shop Thieves Think Twice. Brussels: ECR Community, 2016). However, few studies have explored how these are used/perceived by small retail businesses in the Australian context. This chapter presents qualitative research findings from semi-structured interviews with a small sample of six retailers in Perth, Western Australia. This research explores their experiences and perceptions of shoplifting within their stores and their understanding of crime prevention through environmental design/sit...