Shoplifting In America- The Silent Crime Nobody Wants To Talk About

theft (1)According to the National Association for shoplifting prevention, shoplifting has become one of the most prevalent crimes in the U.S. Averaging 550,000 incidents and 35 million in losses daily.  The silent crime that affects people in all walks of life. Shoplifting not only affects the business and people involved, but as a nation we loose million of dollars in uncollected taxes hurting the local and national economy.  According to the Association for Shoplifting prevention, 1 in 11 Americans shoplift today, and even with all the security measures and technology retailers invest in, shoplifters are only caught once for every 49 times they steal. For more news about this topic, read more by following the links below.


Shoplifting Cop Charged on Two Counts of Retail Theft

On Wednesday Jan. 8, a New Jersey cop was caught shoplifting over $200.00 worth of gun accessories at a Cabela’s sporting goods store in Pittsburgh, Penn.

According to the Associated Press, State Trooper William Carvounis, 35, was arrested after paying for a few of the items, but attempting to steal the remaining merchandise in his pockets.

A Tilden officer reported the crime after discovering that the trooper had a concealed pistol magazine and handgun grips in his possession.

According to Chief William McEllroy of Pennsylvania, at the time of questioning Carvounis implied special treatment from the police officers, which was “more or less one cop asking another cop for a break multiple times.”


The Shoplifting Problem In The Nation

Shoplifting is our nation’s “silent crime”. Parents don’t want to believe it, schools don’t address it, retailers don’t want to talk about it, police don’t want to respond to it, courts don’t want to deal with it and the people who do the shoplifting either rationalize it as “no big deal” or are too ashamed or too afraid to admit it.

As a result, shoplifting has become one of the most prevalent crimes in the U.S., averaging about 550,000 incidents per day resulting in more than $13 billion worth of goods being stolen from retailers each year. That is more than $35 million in losses per day. Current estimates are as high as 1 in 11 Americans who shoplift in our nation today.

Even with all the advances in security measures, shoplifters are only caught once in 49 times they steal and when caught, turned over to the police only 50% of the time.


3 Arrested After Home Depot Shoplifting Turns Into Assault

Three men were arrested after shoplifting from Home Depot, which turned into an assault.

According to police, the suspects filled up a shopping cart with power tools worth more than $1,000 and attempted to walk out the door. When employees tried to stop them, one of them displayed a Taser and threatened them with it.

The suspects fled in a white Crown Victoria. Officers spotted the car on Rt. 50 near Rt. 424. Officers pulled the car over and confirmed that they matched the description of the suspects.

Officers charged Tyrone Freeman and Ruston Hopson with first- and second-degree assault and theft over $1,000. The third occupant wasn’t charged with anything related to this incident but was arrested on outstanding warrants for trespassing.


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