The nature of shoplifting in Iceland

This paper investigates the nature of shoplifting in Iceland for the period 1977–1980. Data was collected from police reports. There were a total of 103 incidents reported to the police in the greater Reykjavik area for the four-year period studied. Most incidents were reported on Fridays and Wednesdays, and in December. Fifty-nine per cent of the subjects were between the ages of 11 to 14 years and only 6.9 per cent were above the age of 50 years. Young females tended to shoplift more frequently than males whilst in the company of their contemporaries. Females commonly stole clothes intended for personal use, wheras males most frequently stole books which they intended to sell for cash. Shoplifting represents a very small proportion (about 1.3%) of all theft offences reported to the police in Iceland. Cases were invariably dealt with out of court and although a large proportion of suspects admitted to previous shoplifting it was very rare that people were re-apprehended.