Abstract
Shoplifting is one of the most frequent crimes in the United States, yet there is no agreement about effective prevention procedures. Since most prevention strategies are aimed at either increasing public awareness of the severity of the consequences or increasing the threat of detection, procedures that contain these elements were evaluated. Posting signs around a department of a department store pointing out that shoplifting is a crime, etc., partially reduced shoplifting rates. When merchandise that was frequently taken was identified by signs and stars, shoplifting decreased to near zero. Publicity campaigns to inform the public of consequences for shoplifting may produce desirable results, but identifying likely shoplifting targets, which may increase the likelihood of detection, effectively reduces shoplifting rates.
Keywords: shoplifting, prevention techniques, information systems, multiple baseline, community psychology, crime control, recording and measurement techniques
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Azrin N. H., Wesolowski M. D. Theft reversal: an overcorrection procedure for eliminating stealing by retarded persons. J Appl Behav Anal. 1974 Winter;7(4):577–581. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1974.7-577. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Briscoe R. V., Hoffman D. B., Bailey J. S. Behavioral community psychology: training a community board to problem solve. J Appl Behav Anal. 1975 Summer;8(2):157–168. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1975.8-157. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Burgess R. L., Clark R. N., Hendee J. C. An experimental analysis of anti-litter procedures. J Appl Behav Anal. 1971 Summer;4(2):71–75. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1971.4-71. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chapman C., Risley T. R. Anti-litter procedures in an urban high-density area. J Appl Behav Anal. 1974 Fall;7(3):377–383. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1974.7-377. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Everett P. B., Hayward S. C., Meyers A. W. The effects of a token reinforcement procedure on bus ridership. J Appl Behav Anal. 1974 Spring;7(1):1–9. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1974.7-1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Geller E. S., Farris J. C., Post D. S. Prompting a consumer behavior for pollution control. J Appl Behav Anal. 1973 Fall;6(3):367–376. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1973.6-367. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hermann J. A., Montes A. I., Domínguez B., Montes F., Hopkins B. L. Effects of bonuses for punctuality on the tardiness of industrial workers. J Appl Behav Anal. 1973 Winter;6(4):563–570. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1973.6-563. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jones R. J., Azrin N. H. An experimental application of a social reinforcement approach to the problem of job-finding. J Appl Behav Anal. 1973 Fall;6(3):345–353. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1973.6-345. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kohlenberg R., Phillips T. Reinforcement and rate of litter depositing. J Appl Behav Anal. 1973 Fall;6(3):391–396. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1973.6-391. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pierce C. H., Risley T. R. Recreation as a reinforcer: increasing membership and decreasing disruptions in an urban recreation centre. J Appl Behav Anal. 1974 Fall;7(3):403–411. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1974.7-403. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Powers R. B., Osborne J. G., Anderson E. G. Positive reinforcement of litter removal in the natural environment. J Appl Behav Anal. 1973 Winter;6(4):579–586. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1973.6-579. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]