Wal-Mart Says Steal and Go Free

You will probably be arrested if you get caught stealing a CD from the local music store, but rip off Wal-Mart and you’re free to go. That’s the word on the street, or it will be soon.

According to internal documents outlining a policy change, Wal-Mart will no longer prosecute first time thieves unless they are between 18 and 65 and steal merchandise worth at least $25. The new shoplifting policy is a big change from the zero-tolerance policy Wal-Mart once had in place. It also allows the retail giant to focus loss prevention efforts on professional shoplifters and employee theft.

Critics believe the announcement of this new shoplifting policy will encourage more theft, while others believe the change will provide relief from the extra workload of small town police departments. What do you think?

Related:

• 4 Sources of Shrink
• Stop Shoplifting in Retail Stores
• Loss Prevention Resources
• What is Your Store's Policy?