From Miami, Florida to Seattle Washington, police departments across the nation plan to increase police patrols and police officers around shopping malls, downtown, and most frequented shopping areas around their cities to ensure people feel safe when they come out to shop for the holidays. Another reason is also to ensure shoplifters know police officers are present and that their criminal activity will not go unpunished. Shoplifting during the holidays increases, and retailers and police departments try to mitigate it by implementing shoplifting measures that can help them keep shoplifting to a minimum.
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How does Walmart’s latest anti-theft program work?
Walmart is taking a different approach to shoplifters.
The world’s biggest retailer is using the Restorative Justice Program to help reduce theft and police calls in their stores.
Walmart is often a hotspot for crime, according to an August Bloomberg report.
It’s not only petty crimes that plague Walmart stores all across the country, more than 200 violent crimes- including murders, attempted kidnappings and shootings- have happened in the nation’s 4,500 Walmart stores this year, according to the report.
While the Restorative Justice Program aims to cut down on shoplifting specifically, less petty crime often means less violent crime.
Restorative justice by definition, is a system of criminal justice that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community.
Walmart aims to do just that.
“The program offers first time low risk offenders a second chance in order to make things right by participating in an educational course in lieu of prosecution.” said Delia Garcia, Director of Communications at Walmart.
The program launched in 2014 and is currently in effect in about a third of all Walmart stores, including in the Sacramento market, according to Garcia.
No retailer is immune to shoplifting
If you pay attention to court news, you know there’s a problem with serial shoplifters.
Many individuals are convicted of shoplifting three times or more. Sometimes, they try to steal from the same store.
In Grand Island, the majority of shoplifting violations reported this year have been at department or discount stores. That category is followed by grocery stores/supermarkets and then by convenience stores.
Businesses point out that theft translates into higher costs for customers.
A sign at Super Saver, for instance, says “To keep prices low we have installed an electronic inventory system.”
The number of thefts is probably proportional to the number of shoppers a store attracts, notes Capt. Jim Duering of the Grand Island Police Department. In other words, the greater the foot traffic, the bigger the number of shoplifters.
A Walmart spokeswoman points out that a company with multiple locations in a city will be victimized more than a single entity.
Walmart uses a multi-pronged approach to make sure the store is meeting “our customers and our associates’ expectations for a safe and enjoyable shopping experience,” says Delia Garcia.
Having a safe environment “begins with a very positive relationship with law enforcement,” Garcia said.
Mt. Juliet police increase patrols in shopping areas
Starting this week, Mt. Juliet police will increase patrols in Mt. Juliet’s retail areas for this year’s holiday shopping season.
On Thanksgiving afternoon, Black Friday and throughout the shopping season, more police officers will be concentrated near the primary shopping areas by Interstate-40, according to a release from the Mt. Juliet Police Department.
“The ultimate goal is to deter and prevent criminal activity,” Chief James Hambrick said. “We simply want Mt. Juliet’s shoppers to have a great experience at our area shopping destinations. Residents and visitors will see an increased police presence, and there will also be undercover officers that will not be easily noticed.”
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