Get Our Email Newsletter

Could a Shoplifting Ring Be Tied to Human Trafficking?

Organized retail crime is a pervasive problem in the retail industry. When merchandise disappears off the shelves and is resold by sophisticated criminal groups, retailers understandably feel frustrated and angry.

But what about when the criminal behavior of a shoplifting ring is actually connected to something even more ominous than a high shrink rate? What about when it’s tied to human trafficking?

[text_ad use_post=’120744′]

- Digital Partner -

This is exactly the question posed by Tom Meehan, CFI, LPM contributing writer, in a feature article for the August 2018 issue of LPM Online. The connection is there: the New York Daily News wrote about it last January, according to Meehan. He’s also seen some of the real dangers between shoplifting ring activity and human trafficking as an investigator. From the article:

A group of women ranging in age from fourteen to 48 were arrested as a part of a large credit‑card fraud ring operation in Queens, New York. It turned out that they were buying goods with stolen credit cards by day and were forced into prostitution at night. I personally interviewed one who told me, “I thought America was going to be safer than anywhere else in the world. I was wrong.”

Meehan goes on to talk about ways by which ORC investigators might be able to detect victims of human trafficking during interviews. Read “How ORC Fuels Human Trafficking” for the full story.

If you’ve missed any of our previous LPM Online editions, go to the Archives. Be sure to become an LPM digital subscriber, so you are the first to know when new issues are available. If you haven’t already, sign up on the SUBSCRIBE NOW page. If you would like a free subscription to our award‑winning print magazine, go to LPMsubscription.com.

Loss Prevention Magazine updates delivered to your inbox

Get the free daily newsletter read by thousands of loss prevention professionals, security, and retail management from the store level to the c-suite.

What's New

Digital Partners

Become a Digital Partner

Violence in the Workplace

Download this 34-page special report from Loss Prevention Magazine about types and frequency of violent incidents, impacts on employees and customers, effectiveness of tools and training, and much more.

Webinars

View All | Sponsor a Webinar

Whitepapers

View All | Submit a Whitepaper

LP Solutions

View All | Submit Your Content

Loss Prevention Media Logo

Stay up-to-date with our free email newsletter

The trusted newsletter for loss prevention professionals, security and retail management. Get the latest news, best practices, technology updates, management tips, career opportunities and more.

No, thank you.

View our privacy policy.