Shoplifting not a victimless crime: ISME
Retailers from whom items are shoplifted increase the cost of goods to try to make the lost money back - so shoplifting ends up costing the consumer, according to the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME).
ISME estimates that shoplifting over the Christmas period will cost businesses up to €40m.
Chief executive of ISME Mark Fielding said: "The retailers have to try to get the lost money back somehow. Sometimes they'll put it back on the cost of goods, so it's the consumer that pays for it," he said, adding that shoppers end up paying as much as 3% more on products.
He also said many small shops do not have insurance to cover shoplifting and "just take the hit themselves. It can be the difference between profit and loss for many businesses because they're on such tight margins.
"Shoplifting is not a victimless crime."
