Employees steal more than customers

Australian retailers are losing more of their stock from employee theft than from shoplifters, according to the inaugural Global Retail Theft Barometer. Compiled by the Centre for Retail Research in Britain, it analysed retail “shrinkage” and crime in 32 countries, including Australia, Thailand and the US, reports Inside Retailing.

The study found that retailers globally caught almost six million store thieves in 2007, of which 87.5% were customers. North American retailers were most successful at catching employee thieves, while Australian retailers spent the greatest proportion on retail security of any country.

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