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National Crime Prevention Council
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Shop Theft

Learn more about how shop theft can happen and the preventive measures retailers can take to protect their premises, staff and merchandise.

Last updated on 14 September 2026
An illustration of a worried, sweating woman placing a bottle into a handbag inside a store watched over by a security camera, while simultaneously being depicted behind vertical prison bars.

How It Can Happen

  • Items were usually stolen by culprits when no one was looking at them.

  • Culprits either operate alone or in groups of two to three persons with one subject distracting the staff while the remaining person(s) steal items on display.

  • Culprits tend to try on items such as belts, clothes and accessories before concealing the items under their clothes or simply leaving without taking them off.

  • Culprits tend to make payments only for some of the items in the shopping basket and the other items were taken without paying.

Preventive Measures

  • Retailers are encouraged to set up chat groups to facilitate quick exchange of crime information and retail best practices.

  • Retailers are advised to install CCTVs around the shop front.

  • Retailers are advised to place expensive items in locked-up display cabinets and/or near the cashier counters.

Crime Prevention Posters

A close-up framing shows a person wearing a pinkish-red jacket slipping a cylindrical item—such as a tin or container—into a black backpack in a supermarket aisle, while a hanging price-tag style notice reads "7 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT IT IS NOT WORTH IT".

Shop Theft (Supermarket)

A close-up framing shows a person in a general retail store setting placing a blue garment or fabric item with a price tag into a black tote bag, with a hanging advisory tag featuring red typography that reads "7 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT IT IS NOT WORTH IT".

Shop Theft (Retail 1)

A close-up framing in a retail store or pharmacy setting shows a person wearing a blue dress slipping a small cosmetic item (such as a tube of lipstick) into a knitted white handbag, while a hanging warning tag displays bold red text reading "7 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT IT IS NOT WORTH IT".

Shop Theft (Retail 2)

A close-up framing shows a person at a self-checkout kiosk scanning or handling two canned drinks while a hanging tag prominently displays red text reading "7 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT IT IS NOT WORTH IT".

Shop Theft (Self-checkout counter)