Local authorities are uncertain as to whether the current economic situation is prompting more people to steal as a way to make ends meet, but most say only time will tell.
Nationally, shoplifting and employee theft increased from 2006 to 2007, according to statistics gathered from the National Retail Federation.
This increase, said the federation's Vice President of Loss Prevention Joseph LaRocca, is determined by surveys distributed to nationwide retailers, which include clothing, food and electronics stores.
Statistics for the first half of 2008 will be compiled next month, said LaRocca.
However, based on preliminary results of the surveys and inventory calculations, it does not appear as though individual people are stealing as a result of the increasing cost of necessary items, such as food, he said.
"The types of items that are being taken are consistent with those of organized retail crime," said LaRocca.
Retailers are battling shoplifters who steal mass amounts of products with the intention to resell the items. Some of the items commonly stolen by organized groups are razors, over-the-counter drugs and new DVDs, he said.
In short, "Things that are in high demand and easily resold," said LaRocca.
LaRocca said the theft of items that are specifically targeted can be associated with the economic status of the country, however a direct correlation is difficult to make.
"The economy is just one of a number of different triggers. It is not the driving force behind it," LaRocca said. "The largest factor is always the opportunity."
LaRocca said individual acts of shoplifting, in which one or two people act alone and do not appear to be part of a larger organized crime group, are more difficult to pigeonhole.
For instance, on May 15, a 61-year-old Boston woman was arrested in Newton after police say she stole $73.27 worth of groceries from Whole Foods Market.
Just two days later on May 17, a 26-year-old Waltham woman was arrested for stealing two bottles of shampoo and two packages of razors from Hannaford Supermarkets.
The reasons behind each shoplifting crime, said LaRocca, are as different as the individuals committing them.
"There are a number of different triggers that will put someone in the position of a dishonest act," he said.
Newton Police Lt. Bruce Apotheker said consumer theft is something police departments deal with in both good and bad economic times.
"In good economic times, one person, two people can wreck havoc on the numbers," said Apotheker. "You do see these crimes committed all the time."
In Waltham, Detective Sgt. Tim King said in the past during times of economic instability, officers have dealt with an increase of individual shoplifting incidents.
"Absolutely. We've seen spikes in shoplifting of food and stuff like that when the economy gets tough," said King.
However, King said he has yet to notice a sharp increase parallel to the rising cost of gas and groceries.
"I haven't noticed that (yet)," he said. "But things are cyclical. They go up and down. There's definitely an increase in theft crimes when the economy isn't good."
During tough economic times, LaRocca said shoplifting and consumer theft only makes matters worse.
Last year, retailers nationwide lost $40.5 billion worth of merchandise due to theft.
"Those are huge staggering losses for those retailers," he said.
That monetary loss, he said, is unfortunately passed on to honest consumers who must pay higher prices.
According to National Retailers Federation, consumers pay 1.5 cents more per dollar spent because of the toll shoplifting takes on retail business.
Furthermore, when merchandise is stolen, no one is paying sales tax to the state, he said.
"It's much bigger than retailers losing merchandise," said LaRocca.
Kerri Roche can be reached at kroche@cnc.com or 781-398-8009.
