Shoplifting : analysing motives, trends, and preventions

Abstract

This dissertation aimed at answering the researcher's questions regard shoplifting, which is: who commit shoplifting and why do they commit shoplifting instead of any other crime. What are the trends related to this crime and what type of preventions are normally used by shop owners to protect their shops from this type of crime, what other measures can be used to stop or diminish shoplifting? Apart from covering all these points, the dissertation also has a section where it treats the local scenario, which involves the collection of statistical data from the Malta Police Force. The statistical data regard the number of times shoplifting happens in Malta, who commit the most shoplifting, if is it a male or a female and also which particular age is more involved in shoplifting, which localities are more likely to be targeted for shoplifting and why which type of items are the most shoplifted. The obtained data was compared and contrasted with the literature review and conclusions were made.