Dishonest employee theft accounts for an $1177 million black-hole of retail shrinkage in Australia, with shoplifting (retail shrinkage) accounting for $2.8 billion per year.
According to The Smart Cube’s Global Retail Theft Barometer 2013-2014, published by Checkpoint Systems, more than $145 billion globally was lost to shrinkage in 2013.
Shrinkage spans employee theft, shoplifting, supplier fraud and administrative errors.
In Australia, dishonest employee theft accounted for 42.5 per cent of the losses, costing $1177 million to the retail industry, while customer shoplifting accounted for 30 per cent or $831 million.
Administration errors and non-crime related losses accounted for 19.1 per cent ($529 million) and vendor/supplier fraud accounted for 8.4 per cent ($233 million).
Among other rising costs for retailers, Australian consumers are also impacted, paying $192 per year in ‘honesty tax’: an increase in prices in order to compensate for retail loss.
The report also found that adults 18 to 30 years of age accounted for 42 per cent of shoplifting, commonly stealing items that are small and of high value. Most common items stolen in Australia include:
- Fashion accessories
- Batteries
- Mobile phone accessories
- Wine and spirits
- Perfumes and fragrances
Checkpoint Systems Australia and New Zealand MD Mark Gentlesaid that this is the first time the report has highlighted a clear distinction between age and theft.
Australian retailers focused heavily on loss prevention technology, such as security tags and RF EAS (radio-frequency article surveillance) equipment or staff training in 2013, with 56 per cent of retailers planning to implement source-tagging in the near future.
According to the report, loss prevention solutions are shifting from staffing more personnel to investing in Radio Frequency Identification technology.
Australian apparel brand, Ubermen is one of the first major retailers in Australia to implement Checkpoint Systems’ new RFID technology, which allows the retailer to manage inventory automatically through a unique code.
This automates the tracking of garments from the distribution centres to the stores, avoiding any possible packing mistakes in quantity, model, size or colour.
“RFID technology means that a retailer can also better manage inventories with detailed information of what has been stolen including the value of the merchandise. This allows for improved ordering so the shoppers have the merchandise they came in to buy available on the shelf when they want it,” Gentle said.
Gentle said that with the holiday season approaching, and more products available in store, it is important to train employees accordingly as 57 per cent of Asia-Pacific retailers reported that a high level of theft happens during this season.
“There’s not just one silver bullet for preventing theft. Retailers need to have the right systems, procedures and technology in place, in order to effectively reduce shrinkage."