Examining the Effects of a Low-Cost Prompt to Reduce Retail Theft

Abstract

The present study evaluated the extent to which a low-cost, antitheft intervention impacted theft and sales in a multiple baseline design across two grocery stores. Previous research has measured the impact on theft of items that have a sign indicating their high theft rate and stickers next to or on the items. In contrast, this study tracked four intervention groups: a group directly marked with a sign and ribbons, two indirectly targeted groups (sign-only and a group down the aisle from the sign-only), and a group with no intervention. Results indicated the largest decrease in theft for one of the indirectly targeted groups, from 45 total items stolen to 13, compared to a smaller decrease in theft (i.e., 64 to 40) for the directly targeted sign and ribbons products. Implications of these findings for applying behavior-based antitheft interventions in retail businesses are discussed and future research is proposed.

Keywords:

• theft reduction
• antecedent interventions
• low-cost prompts

Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge the management and employees of the research locations for their support and contributions to this project.

Notes

Sharlet D. Rafacz is now affiliated with Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia. Thomas E. Boyce is now affiliated with the Center for Behavioral Safety, San Carlos, California.