South Africa is in the top five countries hardest hit by shrinkage, according to the latest Global Retail Theft Barometer. Matthew Dyball, MD of loss prevention firm Lodge Security, says shoplifters tend to target small items that are easily concealable, removable, available, valuable, enjoyable and disposable. Hot products typically include small items like razor blades, shaving products, vitamins, cosmetics, meat, infant formula and baby products, alcohol, DVD’s and CD’s, smart phones, USB flash drives and earphones.
Shoplifters have become enterprising in their efforts to outsmart sophisticated security measures set up in stores, with some going as far as lining their bags with tinfoil to interfere with electronic alarm signals at exit points.