Results: Internal Theft
Published on 02/08/2016
Internal Theft is a term that is used when an employee steals merchandise, food, cash, or supplies while on the job. However, in the eyes of the law, internal theft is just theft…the elements of the crime are identical. To commit theft, the employee must “intend” to permanently deprive their employer of the value of the item stolen.
Internal theft can occur just like shoplifting by concealing merchandise in a purse, pocket, or bag and removing it from the store. It can also occur by stealing cash, allowing others to steal merchandise, eating food, and by refund, credit card, or check fraud. Internal theft can sometimes be charged as embezzlement due to the trusted fiduciary status of the employee. All of these methods lead to loss of inventory (shrinkage) and/or profit for the merchant.
Internal theft is an insidious crime because the merchant is paying a wage and benefits to the thief on top of paying for the cost of their dishonestly. Studies have shown that employees can do a lot more damage than shoplifters because they are trusted and have an insider’s knowledge of store security measures.
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
Have you ever stolen from an employer? Yes
16%
294 votes
No
71%
1318 votes
Undecided
5%
86 votes
Not Applicable
9%
171 votes
2.
2.
Do you know someone who has stolen from an employer? Yes
40%
752 votes
No
43%
805 votes
Undecided
7%
126 votes
Not Applicable
10%
186 votes
3.
3.
If you have stolen something from an employer or know someone who has stolen from an employer, did you/they get caught? Yes
16%
301 votes
No
29%
547 votes
Undecided
6%
111 votes
Not Applicable
49%
910 votes
4.
4.
If you knew someone was stealing from an employer, what would you do? Confront them
13%
243 votes
Give a sign that you know what they're up to
16%
307 votes
Report them/turn them in
21%
389 votes
Join them
2%
45 votes
Nothing
20%
376 votes
Discipline/Terminate them (you are the employer)
6%
119 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
39 votes
Not Applicable
32%
594 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.79% | 12 | |
| Depends | 0.20% | 3 |
| not sure | 0.13% | 2 |
| Depends on the situation | 0.07% | 1 |
| I don't know. I guess itd mostly depend on the person and item being stolen. If I thought speaking to them would help I'd try that, unless that might make bigger issues for me. Also if it was a big ticket item I'd go straight to management. | 0.07% | 1 |
| depends on who and what | 0.07% | 1 |
| tell the manager | 0.07% | 1 |
| could care less | 0.07% | 1 |
| I'm not sure | 0.07% | 1 |
| Don't know | 0.07% | 1 |
| Tell them to stop and if not turn them in | 0.07% | 1 |
| depends on what it is | 0.07% | 1 |
| depends on what they are stealing | 0.07% | 1 |
| It depends, is it a paper clip or a year's supply of something? | 0.07% | 1 |
| it depends on the circumstance. | 0.07% | 1 |
| depends pens who cares | 0.07% | 1 |
| say to him/her some reasons to do not | 0.07% | 1 |
| remind them that stolen items have to be paid for, usually out of bonuses | 0.07% | 1 |
| Undecided | 0.07% | 1 |
| report them unless they are a superior | 0.07% | 1 |
| I would confront them because I am the manager. They would have to be terminated. | 0.07% | 1 |
| Not certain | 0.07% | 1 |
| Depends on what they stole | 0.07% | 1 |
| advise them not to get caught | 0.07% | 1 |
| Send anonymous note to employer. | 0.07% | 1 |
COMMENTS