Book store shoplifting

Last updated

Book store shoplifting is a problem for book sellers and has sometimes led stores to keep certain volumes behind store counters.

Contents

Shoplifters at book stores may be thieves who want the book, or thieves who want to make money by selling the book. Those with systematic resale in mind usually target high-priced books and books that are easily resold, such as academic textbooks. Overall, most books are stolen by people who steal books occasionally, but professionals may steal more books in a single visit. Disaffected young white males [ citation needed ] may be over-represented among thieves who steal for reasons other than the book's immediate resale value.

In addition to shoplifting, book stores suffer from pilfering by shipping personnel and from burglary (theft that happens while the store is closed). Book stores also are victimized by thefts of non-book merchandise and other items.

Effects on business

Owners of small, independent book stores find shoplifting particularly bothersome. According to Paul Constant, a Seattle book-store employee, "I know a few booksellers who have literally been driven a little bit crazy at the thought of their inventory evaporating out the door, and with good reason: An overabundance of shoplifters can put bookstores out of business. One local bookstore owner can famously talk about shoplifters with total strangers for hours, with the detail and passion that some people reserve for sexual conquests." [1]

"Shoplifting is a particular problem," said Patricia Van Osdol, owner of Wellington Books in Portland, Oregon. "It can be disastrous in a small store like this." [2]

Some bookstores report multiple attempted thefts each week. [3]

Books frequently stolen

Certain books, or books by certain authors, are much more likely to be stolen than others, although there are no centralized statistics on the subject. [4] Generally speaking, whatever is popular or trendy is at risk for being stolen. [5] The size of the book also matters, because a small book is easier to conceal than a large one. [5]

In 2017, Canadian book thieves were targeting relatively high-brow works, such as those by Haruki Murakami. [5]

Ron Rosenbaum, an author and New York Observer columnist, wrote in 1999 that Barnes & Noble had a list of these authors whose books are the most frequently stolen from that book-store chain (or perhaps the Union Square store in the chain, where his source, "a helpful clerk", worked): Martin Amis, Paul Auster, Georges Bataille, William S. Burroughs, Italo Calvino, Raymond Chandler, Michel Foucault, Dashiell Hammett, Jack Kerouac, Jeanette Winterson, but none more frequently than books by Charles Bukowski. [6] [7]

In the United Kingdom, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides was the most-shoplifted book in 2007. [8]

St. Mark's Bookshop (which closed in 2016) in the East Village of Manhattan, like Barnes & Noble, used to move frequently-stolen titles behind the counter. At that bookstore, as of late 2009, the books behind the counter included works by Amis, Bukowski, Burroughs, Raymond Carver, Don DeLillo and Jack Kerouac. Sometimes the staff moves books back to the shelves with the idea that a book's popularity with thieves may have lessened over time. "Amis went out and came right back," a store manager told a writer for The New York Times. [4]

In 2008, Constant gave this list, which he called "pretty much the authoritative top five, the New York Times best-seller list of stolen books": Bukowski, Jim Thompson, Philip K. Dick, and Burroughs, along with "any graphic novel". Constant wrote that other popular targets are books by Hunter S. Thompson and the Beats, Chuck Palahniuk, Haruki Murakami, and Mark Z. Danielewski, and the most-stolen books tend to be a steady group with little variation over time. [1] As of late 2009, Danielewski's House of Leaves was the most frequently stolen book from Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, California, according to a store manager there. [4]

In addition to graphic novels, comic books may be targeted by thieves. [9] [10] [11]

In bookstores at universities, students may steal textbooks, especially at the start of the school year. [3]

In comparison with books stolen from public libraries

Public libraries have a much different set of frequently stolen books. In the United States, how-to books are more often the targets of thieves, as are books about witchcraft, the occult, UFOs or astrology, according to Larra Clark, a spokeswoman for the American Library Association, who asked members which books were most often stolen. Of the 70 libraries across the United States who responded to her query in 2001, none mentioned books by Charles Bukowski. An official from a prison library responded that dictionaries and poetry were the most frequently stolen types of books at that institution. [7]

The social and emotional difference between stealing from a business and stealing from a public library can feel significant. Thefts from a small business reduces the owners' income, but thefts from a library can affect many people throughout society. [12]

Book thieves

According to Rosenbaum, "[I]f you look at who's actually doing the shoplifting, they're not really down-and-out, lower-depths types but like to pose as being down and out, and shoplifting is part of the aura." [7] Constant wrote, "[F]iction that young white men read, and self-satisfied young white men, the kind who love to stick it to the man , are the majority of book shoplifters." [4] [1]

Some book thieves are drug addicts. [13] [14] Others, apparently well-off people, seem to steal books for the thrill of it. [13]

Jon Hamm said that he repeatedly stole books from a local bookstore when he was 14 years old. [15]

Theft for profit

According to Tom Cushman, a New York book-store manager interviewed in 2005, factors influencing book thefts included high resale value and whether or not the book was displayed in an area difficult for the store clerks to watch. When Harry Potter books were new and popular items in book stores, they were among the top targets of thieves, he said. [7]

Brian Zimmerman, associate general manager at the San Francisco State University book store, said thieves there were much more likely to be students, but professional thieves took more books and targeted volumes with higher prices. [16] Thieves have been known to take whole stacks of books at once. [7] According to a 1991 article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, studies showed that the "casual thief", defined as "not a professional but more than a one-timer", accounted for 70 to 75 percent of shoplifting. [17]

In 1992, the Los Angeles Times reported that thieves were so brazen in New York City that just outside St. Mark's Bookshop, "sidewalk peddlers openly ply books – many of them still bearing St. Mark's telltale stamp – at half off the prices inside the store." [18]

In the early 1990s, book store owners in New York and California accused second-hand book stores of organizing theft rings to shoplift titles for resale. Drama Book Shop in Manhattan lost 533 books with a total sales price of $10,873 from January 1 to May 8, 1991. One thief told store officials that a ring organized by a second-hand store had been assigned to steal books from the Drama Book Shop, according to Rozanne Seelan, co-owner of the victimized store. [17] An individual serial thief may steal thousands of dollars' worth of books over multiple visits to a store. [14] A team of thieves has been known to steal 100 books in a single day. [13] In previous decades, organized groups of thieves might try to steal books that would be sold through their own or a specific bookstore. With the democratization of online selling platforms, more stolen books may be sold online instead. [13]

Countermeasures

Book stores at San Francisco State University and City College of San Francisco train their employees who are examining books being returned or sold to the stores to look for price tag stickers, books that don't seem to have been used, and anyone offering to sell multiple copies of a single title.

As with any retail store, some anti-theft measures, such as security cameras and greeting patrons, can reduce theft and help sellers identify thieves. [9] When store employees approach customers to ask whether they need help, that action discourages theft. [16] [19] Stores may also move frequently stolen items to the back of the store or to areas that are easier for staff to watch or areas that have more cameras. [3] [13]

In addition to reporting crimes to the police, in some places, it is possible to ban suspected thieves from entering the stores or to recover certain expenses through non-criminal legal action. [20]

Reactions of authors

Jeffrey Eugenides and Paul Auster both laughed when journalists asked them about being some of the authors whose books are most shoplifted. "It's one of those things authors argue about" among themselves, Eugenides said, adding that he and Auster had discussed their status as authors of frequently stolen books. [4] [8]

Abbie Hoffman wrote Steal This Book in 1970 and published in 1971. While largely about rebelling against authority, it includes a section on shoplifting.

Non-book thefts

Thieves steal more than books from bookstores. At Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, California, someone attempted to steal a security camera. At the Boulder Bookshop in Boulder, Colorado, prints hung in the bathroom, and plants, have been stolen. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theft</span> Act of taking anothers property without consent

Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word theft is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as larceny, robbery, embezzlement, extortion, blackmail, or receiving stolen property. In some jurisdictions, theft is considered to be synonymous with larceny, while in others, theft is defined more narrowly. A person who engages in theft is known as a thief.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motor vehicle theft</span> Theft of vehicles

Motor vehicle theft is the criminal act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle. Nationwide in the United States in 2020, there were 810,400 vehicles reported stolen, up from 724,872 in 2019. Property losses due to motor vehicle theft in 2020 were estimated at $7.4 billion. There were 505,100 car thefts in the EU in 2019, a 43% decrease from 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoplifting</span> Theft of goods from a retail establishment

Shoplifting, shop theft, retail theft, or retail fraud is the theft of goods from a retail establishment during business hours, typically by concealing a store item on one's person, in pockets, under clothes or in a bag, and leaving the store without paying. With clothing, shoplifters may put on items from the store and leave the store wearing the clothes. The terms shoplifting and shoplifter are not usually defined in law. The crime of shoplifting generally falls under the legal classification of larceny. Shoplifting is distinct from burglary, robbery, or armed robbery. In the retail industry, the word shrinkage can be used to refer to merchandise lost by shoplifting, but the word also includes loss by other means, such as waste, uninsured damage to products and theft by store employees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art theft</span> Stealing of paintings or sculptures from museums

Art theft, sometimes called artnapping, is the stealing of paintings, sculptures, or other forms of visual art from galleries, museums or other public and private locations. Stolen art is often resold or used by criminals as collateral to secure loans. Only a small percentage of stolen art is recovered—an estimated 10%. Many nations operate police squads to investigate art theft and illegal trade in stolen art and antiquities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Retail loss prevention</span> Practices to reduce loss of goods in retail stores

Retail loss prevention is a set of practices employed by retail companies to preserve profit. Loss prevention is mainly found within the retail sector but also can be found within other business environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fence (criminal)</span> Person who knowingly buys stolen goods in order to later resell them for profit

A fence, also known as a receiver, mover, or moving man, is an individual who knowingly buys stolen goods in order to later resell them for profit. The fence acts as a middleman between thieves and the eventual buyers of stolen goods who may not be aware that the goods are stolen.

Property crime is a category of crime, usually involving private property, that includes, among other crimes, burglary, larceny, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, shoplifting, and vandalism. Property crime is a crime to obtain money, property, or some other benefit. This may involve force, or the threat of force, in cases like robbery or extortion. Since these crimes are committed in order to enrich the perpetrator they are considered property crimes. Crimes against property are divided into two groups: destroyed property and stolen property. When property is destroyed, it could be called arson or vandalism. Examples of the act of stealing property is robbery or embezzlement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horse theft</span> Crime of stealing horses

Horse theft is the crime of stealing horses. A person engaged in stealing horses is known as a horse thief. Historically, punishments were often severe for horse theft, with several cultures pronouncing the sentence of death upon actual or presumed thieves. Several societies were formed in the United States to prevent horse theft and apprehend horse thieves. However, horse theft continues to occur throughout the world, as horses are stolen for their meat, for ransom, or in disputes between their owners and other persons. Horse theft today is comparable to automobile theft, a crime punishable by felony jail time.

Organized retail crime (ORC) refers to professional criminal enterprises ranging from regional gangs to international crime rings and other organized crime focussing on retail environments. Operations include truckjacking, shoplifting, smash and grab, cargo theft, and cargo diversion. One person acting alone is not considered an example of organized retail crime. Working in teams, some create distractions while others steal items judiciously, indiscriminately or violently. Often, they are stocking up on specified items at the request of the organized crime or gang leader. It is not uncommon for the criminals to have accomplices working in the retail store or corporation.

Doris Marie Payne is an American convicted jewel thief.

For a variety of reasons, convenience stores are often popular targets for a variety of crimes, most notably shoplifting and robbery. In some cities, convenience store crime has become such a problem that special task forces have been created or some stores have been completely closed down. American convenience stores are often direct targets of armed robbery. In some areas of the United States, it is not unusual for clerks to be working behind bulletproof glass windows, even during daylight hours. Some convenience stores may even limit access inside at night, requiring customers to approach a walk-up window specifically for such situations to make purchases. The main dangers are that almost all convenience stores only have one person working night shift, most of the transactions are in cash, and easily resold merchandise, such as liquor, lottery tickets, and cigarettes are on site.

Baby Jesus theft is the theft of figurines of the infant Jesus from outdoor public and private nativity displays during the Christmas season. It is an "enduring practice" according to New York Times journalist Katie Rogers, "believed to be part of a yearly tradition, often carried out by bored teenagers looking for an easy prank." Sometimes these are stolen for resale, other times the associated pranks are more involved and include dropping it off somewhere else.

Return fraud is the act of defrauding a retail store by means of the return process. There are various ways in which this crime is committed. For example, the offender may return stolen merchandise to secure cash, steal receipts or receipt tape to enable a falsified return, or use somebody else's receipt to try to return an item picked up from a store shelf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Construction equipment theft</span>

Construction equipment theft, is the criminal act of stealing or attempting to steal construction equipment, including all type of heavy equipments. Construction equipment theft has been recognized as a significant problem in the United States and elsewhere in the world, including Canada, Australia, Europe, and Japan.

Theft from libraries of books, historical documents, maps and other materials from libraries is considered a significant problem. One study commissioned in the UK estimated the average loss rate of libraries to theft at 5.3%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GadgetTrak</span>

Until 2019, GadgetTrak was a company based in Portland, Oregon, that developed theft recovery and data protection software. The company was founded in February 2007 by Ken Westin with the launch of the first theft recovery product for USB mass storage devices, tracking stolen devices including iPods, flash drives, digital cameras and other devices when connected to a computer. The company was issued a patent for the technology on February 24, 2009. GadgetTrak's technology was featured during a special segment by Dateline on iPod theft where they tracked stolen iPods and confronted the thieves. A customized version of the technology was embedded in FLIR thermal imaging cameras as part of an exclusive licensing agreement under the name ThermaTrak utilized for both theft recovery as well as export controls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicycle theft</span> Theft of bicycles or bicycle parts

Bicycle theft is the crime of stealing a bicycle. It is a common crime due to the relative ease of reselling bicycles, which have a large second-hand market. This makes the crime attractive to those needing to obtain currency quickly, such as people with substance addictions. Bicycles are also easily accessible, often being locked up outside in public places in urban areas. Despite the developed market of bicycle locks, it is estimated that millions of bicycles are stolen every year. Thieves use a variety of methods to bypass locks, including taking advantage of bicycle owners' poor locking practices. Bicycle owners can take action to reduce the chances of theft, including utilising facilities such as bicycle lockers and parking racks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 California Proposition 47</span> Reduction of some crimes to misdemeanours

Proposition 47, also known by its ballot title Criminal Sentences. Misdemeanor Penalties. Initiative Statute, was a referendum passed by voters in the state of California on November 4, 2014. The measure was also referred to by its supporters as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act. It recategorized some nonviolent offenses as misdemeanors, rather than felonies, as they had previously been categorized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Tillmann</span> Canadian art thief

John Mark Tillmann was a Canadian art thief and white supremacist who, for over two decades, stole over 10,000 antiques and art objects from museums, galleries, archives, and antique shops mainly in Atlantic Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proplifting</span> Practice of taking discarded plant material and propagating new plants from them

Proplifting is the practice of taking discarded plant material and propagating new plants from them. Some proplifters engage with the hobby as a form of self-administered horticultural therapy.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Constant, Paul, "Flying Off the Shelves: The Pleasures and Perils of Chasing Book Thieves", The Stranger , February 26, 2008, retrieved December 20, 2009
  2. ↑ Federman, Stan, "Book Shop Like Candy Store to Its Owner", article, The Oregonian of Portland, Oregon, April 9, 1992, retrieved December 20, 2009
  3. 1 2 3 Leon, Madeline (2018-05-29). "Approximately $60,000 in Merchandise Stolen Annually from UCSD Bookstore on Average". UCSD Guardian. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rabb, Margo, "Steal These Books", essay, The New York Times Book Review, December 20, 2009, retrieved same day
  5. 1 2 3 Kean, Danuta (2017-01-09). "Stolen good books: why Canadian thieves outclass the British". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  6. ↑ Rosenbaum, Ron, "Shoplift Lit: You Are What You Steal", column, The New York Observer , September 26, 1999, retrieved December 20, 2009
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Book Stealing" Archived 2010-06-13 at the Wayback Machine , segment transcript, On the Media , December 23, 2005, retrieved December 20, 2009
  8. 1 2 Brown, Mick, "Jeffrey Eugenides: Enduring love", The Telegraph, January 5, 2008, retrieved December 20, 2009
  9. 1 2 "Actor Ray Buffer Accused of Stealing Comics, Store Says It's on Video". TMZ. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  10. ↑ "Salmon Arm bookstore catches man on camera allegedly stealing Marvel and DC comics". INFOnews. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  11. ↑ Padilla, Ishshah (2022-04-22). "Caught on camera: Man seen stuffing comics down his pants in Clovis". KMPH. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  12. ↑ Bythell, Shaun (2020-11-27). "Passing sentences … what's the worst kind of book thief?". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Rosen, Judith (2004-05-17). "Literary Thugs And Book Thieves". Publishers Weekly. 251 (20): 19–20.
  14. 1 2 Evans, Holly (2022-10-29). "Serial thief jailed after stealing £2,000 worth of books at London Waterstones". MyLondon. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  15. ↑ Williams, Owen (27 October 2022). "Confess, Fletch Star Jon Hamm Used To Shoplift Fletch Books – Exclusive". Empire. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  16. 1 2 Codd, Nathan, "Theft an ongoing issue for bookstore" Archived 2010-07-01 at the Wayback Machine , SFXpress, September 16, 2009, retrieved December 20, 2009
  17. 1 2 Romano, Carlin, "The Problem of Catching and Booking the Book Shoplifters", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 26, 1991, retrieved via Newsbank.com, December 20, 2009
  18. ↑ Rivenburg, Roy, "Thieves Rip Off Book Stores in Growing Volume", Buffalo News, "Lifestyles" section, p E1 (story reprinted from The Los Angeles Times), October 25, 1992; retrieved via Newsbank website, December 20, 2009
  19. ↑ Dake, Janet (2017-09-18). "Campus police arrest serial shoplifter". The Louisville Cardinal. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  20. ↑ Rosen, Judith (24 May 2004). "Fighting Back Against Theft." Publishers Weekly, Vol. 251, Issue 21.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.