Thefts in retail – features and possibilities for prevention

In recent years, retailers have made significant efforts to reduce increased theft, the amount of which has a direct impact on the company's merchandise losses and has become a serious problem. In this context, the aim of the present work is to clarify the nature and characteristics of theft prevalent in the retail, and on this basis to reveal the possibilities for their clampdown in a digital world and constant technological innovation. The types of theft in the retail sector are presented, divided into external, internal and those committed by suppliers. Attention is paid not only to the positive effects of reducing theft, but also to the adverse consequences reflected in the user experience and the requirement of additional funds on the part of the company. Data on shoplifting in the USA, UK and Bulgaria were briefly analyzed. At the end of the paper, specific measures that retailers can apply in practice to prevent theft are presented.