Retail thefts, which are most often petty thefts, are extremely harmful to shopkeepers as well as to the whole trade sector. During 2018, the police recorded almost 46,000 thefts. The perpetrator was caught in 35,000 cases.
The trade sector estimates that the total cost of these crimes is about 5.5 million euros.
Shoplifters include a lot of young people and children. Chief Superintendent of National Police Board Jyrki Aho states over 2,400 under 15-year-old shoplifters, over 1,600 15–17 years old shoplifters and over 2,700 18–20 years old shoplifters were entered to the police record last year.
If the caught shoplifter is underaged, the police makes a child welfare notification.
– A great variety of reasons can lie behind making a child welfare notification and investigating the need for child welfare services. These reasons are related to the child’s need for care, circumstances endangering the child’s development, or the child’s behaviour. The action and its consequences are an unpleasant surprise for many parents, says Aho.
Aho states that in most cases the caught shoplifter is fined. The police conduct has been that if a person is fined six times in a similar manner during one year, the case is submitted to a prosecutor for consideration of charges. In these cases the court can order a fine and if the collection of the fine fails, the perpetrator shall be ordered to imprisonment in lieu of the unpaid fine.
Always notify the police if you suspect a crime
The number of reported thefts was 6000 reports lower than last year.
Jyrki Aho ponders the reasons for this.
– Does this mean that crimes against property have declined or that people do not report crimes to the police in the same way that they used to. Has reporting a crime become more difficult? Is the police harder to reach? Do people feel that reporting is useless or that they do not want to disturb the police?
In any case, Jyrki Aho instructs the injured parties or victims of crimes to always report actions that they suspect of being criminal.
Receiving information is essential for the success of police work. Please, report all suspected crimes to the police. In an emergency, call 112. Tips and hints can be given online (https://www.poliisi.fi/crimes/police_tip_line_numbers).
