Have you ever thought about shoplifting? It turns out, a lot of people haven’t just considered it, they’ve actually done it. According to a new survey from Lending Tree, nearly a quarter of American adults (23%) have shoplifted. And about one in 20 have done it within the last year.
The personal finance site’s survey of 2-thousand adult consumers also reveals:
- More than half (53%) of those who’ve shoplifted were older than 16 when they did it.
- Shoplifters tend to hide items on their bodies (55%), or in their purse or bags (36%), but 25% have just walked out of the store with their loot in plain view.
- Why do they do it? Nearly all (90%) of recent shoplifters say they steal because of inflation and the current economy. A third (34%) shoplift because they can’t afford the prices, 30% do it to help make ends meet and 27% say they steal to save a few bucks.
- Shoplifters are more likely to steal from big chain stores (52%) than small mom-and-pop shops (28%).
- They say it’s easiest to get away with in grocery stores (46%), department stores (36%) and convenience stores (26%).
- The most commonly stolen items are food and non-alcoholic drinks (45%), clothing, accessories or jewelry (39%) and makeup or cosmetics (21%).
- While 52% of shoplifters have gotten away with it, 48% have been caught in the act.
- After being busted, 33% only got a warning, 24% were arrested and 22% were banned from the store.
- But not all shoplifting is intentional, 41% of Americans have accidentally taken something without paying for it. Nearly half of them (45%) felt guilty and 32% were embarrassed, but 51% didn’t bring it back to the store to pay for or return it.
Source: USA Today