Retailers suffer Rp 40b losses due to shoplifting

JAKARTA (JP): Shoplifting caused Rp 40 billion (US$4.6 million) in losses to 342 retailers across the country last year, the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) revealed on Wednesday as it urged law enforcers to crack down on the crime.

Association executive director Kustarjono Prodjolalito told a news gathering the amount was part of Rp 100 billion in total losses, which also included employee theft and rejected items.

"We have a fixed calculation which we call loss prevention, in which shoplifting owned the biggest part," Kustarjono said.

The association recorded Rp 20 trillion in sales last year.

Shoplifters, most of whom worked in well-organized groups, preferred to steal items including powdered milk, canned cookies, large packages of cigarettes and clothes, Kustarjono explained.

Although shoplifting accounted for only 40 percent of the total losses, he urged law enforcers to focus more serious attention to the problem and apply sterner measures to the culprits.

"If a toddler takes a chocolate bar, it's normal and our security personnel can let it go after a gushing apology.

"But if the suspect is a member of a syndicate which runs a business just like us, police and prosecutors have to do something. This is a serious crime."

He cited the recent arrest of an organized group of shoplifters, allegedly headed by a man named Teng Syan.

"Teng Syan was once jailed for the same crime in 1996, but he was released later after the court failed to prove that he was guilty of stealing merchandise from our members' outlets."

Teng Syan and 12 others, including seven women, were arrested last week for suspected involvement in a shoplifting ring which concentrated on major supermarkets in the capital.

Suspects said they worked on Teng Syan's orders.

They reportedly worked in a group of four or five people, supported by a "supervisor" assigned to monitor the surroundings and a driver of a Kijang van.

The women -- mostly laid-off workers and newcomers to the city -- were hired to commit the thefts because they were considered shrewder and more resourceful compared to the males.

In-home store

Shoplifters said they were provided with two Kijang vans and from Rp 50,000 to Rp 100,000 to "shop". Their subsequent pay was based on the number of items they stole.

The preliminary police investigation found Teng Syan ran his business by operating an in-home store, which sold the shoplifted items, during the past five years. Its average daily sales were Rp 10 million.

Inside his modest two-story house, which is located in a narrow alley in rundown Taman Sari I, Teng Syan offered a wide selection of goods, ranging from rubber sandals to expensive liquor, and razors to CD players.

Police have reportedly confiscated the merchandise to support their case against Teng Syan. His house has been sealed.

But retailers remain worried Teng Syan will receive light punishment.

They claimed goods seized from Teng Syan prior to his 1996 conviction was later returned to him. None of the goods was given back to the retailers, who were the real owners, they complained.

"The price of the merchandise is now double from last year. So, we'll try to obtain the merchandise as we're sure that the goods kept in Teng Syan's house are the property of our members," Kustarjono said.

The association will seek legal assistance to reclaim the goods.

Kustarjono said the association recently experimented with a new security system at their members' outlets in a bid to reduce thefts.

"We'll coordinate with police officers for their assistance and inside we are still processing proper security systems which can be applied to our business."

He said the retail business required more reasonable security handling from other business because it also dealt with service to consumers. (emf)