Repetitive shoplifting is not a minor crime
Former inspector Tony Gallagher reports on his visit to Ireland’s North Leinster area and the matters raised by retail managers, this particular area stretches from North County Dublin to Monaghan, including Meath, Louth and Cavan
Print17 October 2024
In the September edition I wrote about the shoplifting issues in Dublin City Centre but described it as a national epidemic, what I said in that article has been borne on my visit to North Leinster and from my engagements with retailers in that area.
I was giving a presentation to a group of area managers and one of the questions I asked: “Do you think there is a correlation between beggars outside your premises and shoplifting”, everyone in the room answered: “Yes”.
I listened intently to the accounts that were given by each store manager, many of them stated that the persons that were engaged in shoplifting were the same persons repeatedly stealing from their stores.
Offender profiles
The category of persons was again, the young juvenile offenders swarming into the stores and taking as much as they can on each visit, in many cases, store managers know them or can identify them.
The addiction issue category of offender, this offender will steal from the off-license section, a single visit can result in a stock loss of up to €50 and this activity is repeated, again the offender can be identified by the retail staff.
Then there is a certain profile of beggar that takes up a position at the entrance to a retail shop, staff have not given them permission and are afraid to engage with them, the same profile of beggar engages in firstly taking cups from the hot drink counter to facilitate a collection from customers and throughout this time they then audaciously walk in to the store, help themselves with hot drinks and whatever pastry or confectionery is near the counter, the same beggars are known shoplifters and have in many instances shoplifted inside the very store where they beg from.
I am pointing out a reality and the feedback from the store managers and staff, there are some genuine persons in need of aid, but they tend to go to the areas where there is provision of assistance and meals from reach out groups.
‘Certain view’
There is a view amongst retailers that the Gardaí do not take a determined enough approach on this youth crime, retail staff see the continuous theft and managers count the stock shrinkage at the end of the month, it is demoralizing for the managers and staff.
I recently worked with a store in North Dublin where there was an approximate loss of €4,000 worth of stock in a year quarter, in confectionary and soft drinks stock, two staff members were also assaulted and others were threatened each time that a juvenile gang swarmed on a store to shoplift.
In this situation the Gardaí provided an excellent response, an undercover operation was put in place for a few hours on three evenings, the offenders were identified and there was follow up, it stopped the spate of shoplifting at this store.
This model can work, it is possible to identify the prolific offenders, if the determination is reached to collectively tackle the issues it would potentially lead to a significant reduction in theft by area.
Garda Siochana’s Operation Táirge
The Garda Siochana’s Operation Táirge commenced in December 2023, it is an operation that supports operational activity aimed at detecting and preventing organized retail crime. Operation Táirge works on a nationwide basis, focusing on reducing organized retail crime and one of the methods is supporting those working in retail to report a crime.
Ashtree Risk Group work closely with the retail industry, we are a frontline support to retailers and advise on risk mitigation. I am the risk, security & event manager and the areas that I advise on are.
- Identify the Workplace Risks & Stock at Risk
- Create Risk Awareness
- Apply the Controls – physical (Locks)
- Evaluate the Controls
- Identify New Risks
I do advocate the reporting of crime by the Garda On-Line Declaration system, theft up to the value of €1,000 can be reported on this system, it serves as a record and reference point.
It is necessary again to highlight the issue of begging as a concern for retailers and to call for enforcement of this offence, if enforced it will create the perception of a safe environment for shoppers.
It is an offence to engage in begging at or near the entrance to a business premises where members of the public are likely to be deterred from entering the premises.
Section 3(3) Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2011
I do wish An Garda Siochana well with the continued excellent work of Operation Táirge, on a smaller area scale I would hope that there is encouragement to be taken from the North Dublin example approach that was taken and that the same engagement can take place with retail and the Gardaí in each area.
Read more: Retail theft is not a victimless crime
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