It's cheese, but why? It would probably surprise you to learn that the No. 1 shoplifted food item in the world is not a pocket-sized sweet or high-end liquor but rather everyone's favorite burger topping: cheese.
Cash is still the number one item burglars are looking for. Even though according to the ABS, Australians now only use cash for about 30% of our transactions, most of us still have it lying around in drawers, wallets or purses and burglars know this and where to look for it.
Alcohol is one of the most commonly shoplifted items due to its high cost and easy concealment. Many shoplifters steal alcohol to either consume it themselves or sell it to others for a profit.
The least common stolen items are fuel, cameras, and their house keys (1%).
At least 5 percent of customers shoplift. The frequency of the offense is greatest for boys between 10 and 18 and for girls between ages 12 and 20. Despite myths to the contrary, women are not overrepresented among shoplifters, although relatively more women are caught.
Almost one in five Australians steal from supermarkets by using dishonest behaviour at self-serve checkouts, according to a recent survey.
Where are stolen items sold? Burglars and thieves usually steal valuables to turn a profit. Pawn shops are the most common places to recover stolen items. But online listing sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are increasingly popular places to sell stolen goods.
General Australian Home Crime Statistics
70.8% of break-ins in Australia result in theft, the majority of these thefts lead to personal items being stolen and other items such as money, wallets or purses being stolen.
The Mona Lisa
The criminal, Vincenzo Perugia, was a handyman working at the Louvre, where the painting is displayed. In 1911, he hid in a closet until the museum closed and then took off with it with two other handymen.
An astonishing 4 percent of the world's cheese ends up stolen, making it the world's most stolen food (via Time).
Alarm Systems or Sirens — A Useful Burglar Deterrent
Burglar deterrent audio or sound would scare away those thieves. Burglars hate attention. That's the main reason why burglar alarms and sirens are effective on deterring thieves.
1. The Central Bank of Iraq Robbery – $920 million. Baghdad holds the infamous record for the largest bank heist in history. The mastermind was none other than Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Shoplifting FAQ
There are several reasons why people shoplift. This includes the need to buy essential items (such as food or baby products), peer pressure from friends, and psychological disorders that make the urge to steal feel impossible to overcome.
Burglars and thieves usually steal valuables to turn a profit. Pawn shops are the most common places to recover stolen items. But online listing sites like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are increasingly popular places to sell stolen goods.
Woolworths reported its sales totalled $36.4 billion, which means theft could account for between $364 million and $1 billion.
The offence of stealing/larceny carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment. However, stealing/larceny is an offence sometimes dealt with pursuant to section 10 of the Crimes (Sentence Procedure) Act, meaning no conviction will be recorded, there is no other penalty, and you will have no criminal record.
"Professional shoplifting" is on the rise with Australian retailers joining forces to stem billions of dollars in losses annually. It comes as a 23.7 per cent increase in retail theft was recorded in NSW in the 12 months to December 2022, according to the latest Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data.
Refrain from distractions like personal phone calls while on the sales floor. Provide adequate staff. The most vulnerable times for shoplifting occur early in the day, during lunch, and near closing, especially on Fridays or holidays. It is important to have enough staff to provide adequate coverage during these times.
Lying and stealing are more common in boys than girls, and happen most often in children ages 5 to 8 years.
Who is most likely to shoplift? There isn't a typical shoplifter, despite what some might think. Men and women shoplift at similar rates, and although kids are often assumed to shoplift more often, the reality is that around 75 percent of shoplifters are adults.