University Daily Kansan, December 7,1982
Holidays encourage shoplifting, control
By TIM PARKER Staff Reporter
After examining a color television, a customer at TG&Y picked up the set and began walking to the cash register. But before he reached the counter, he nonchalantly opened a back exit and bolted into a nearby south Lawrence neighborhood.
"It's that time of year again," said Laurie Forck, who witnessed the recent theft while working at the service desk of the 2xrd Street department store.
The stolen TV will be just one of hundreds of items taken from stores during the shoplifting epidemic that snowplays every Christmas.
FORTY PERCENT of all shoplifting occurs in the fourth quarter of the year — the holiday season — according to the National Coalition to Prevent Shoplifting. And Lawrence businessman say that figure is "in the ballpark" for this area, as stores become crowded with Christmas shoppers.
The yuletide larceny spree is a national trend.
"When you've got five times the traffic, you're going to have five times the shoplifting," said Marvin Smith, manager of Gibson's Discount Center, 2538 Iowa St.
The exact monetary loss due to Christmas season shoplifting is impossible to estimate, Smith said, because there is no way to determine the amount of bookkeeping errors and internal pilferage.
Although no one knows how much the thieves get away with, everyone agreed there were more thieves in the stores during the holiday season.
"MORE PROFESSIONAL shoplifters come out between Thanksgiving and Christmas," said Mark Brothers, Lawrence Police Department crime analyst.
Kathy Harms, owner of Carousel Women's wear, 711 W. 23rd St., agreed.
"They scout around in November and then come back in December," she said.
Students who work part time as sales clerks said the rise in thefts and attempted robberies were a result of
"It definitely increases," said Forcik, Kansas City, Kan. senior. "Sometimes they'll know that I saw them slip perfume into their pockets, so they put it back real fast."
HARMS SAID the Christmas season shoplifting increase in her stores was
"We prosecute everyone we catch," she said.
Most businessman also participate in Operation Alert — a 60-store telephone network in which all cooperating stores are stored of stolen credit cards or bad checks.
Debi Moore, Chamber of Commerce office manager, said the network was used more heavily during the Christmas season.
"Prevention creates less headaches," said Smith. "But for those people who force us to catch them — we will prosecute."
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