Shoplifting drops at post exchanges

High-tech electronic article surveillance systems, eagle-eyed closed-circuit television cameras and an aggressive youth shoplifting awareness campaign helped take "a bite out of crime" at Army & Air Force Exchange Service facilities last year, as shoplifting cases dropped 15.7 percent, from 7,635 in 2007 to 6,437.
The value of merchandise involved in these incidents also dropped, from $985,244 to $686,000 in 2008, AAFES officials said.
"We've been working hard to identify theft-deterrent opportunities beyond just technological solutions," said Gerald Danish, AAFES' vice president of loss prevention.
"Part of this effort has been youth shoplifting awareness briefings with dependents 14 years of age or below at exchanges around the world. These outreach efforts paid off last year, as incidents involving this age group dropped some 24 percent from the previous year," Danish said.
AAFES, which has contributed more than $2.4 billion to Air Force Services and Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs in the last decade, continues to focus its efforts on reducing theft to maximize the investment authorized shoppers make in their exchange benefit.
If shoplifting is suspected, AAFES Loss Prevention associates turn the issue over to local law enforcement. In addition to possible disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution, the Federal Claims Collection Act, allows AAFES to enact a flat, administrative civil recovery cost of $200. There may be further fees, in addition to the Civil Recovery Program, depending on the condition of the stolen merchandise.