During El Buen Fin and December shopping, small theft has become the main concern for businesses. They comment that, like any criminal practice, shoplifters are perfecting new methods of theft, even specializing in specific store profiles, able to extract products on average in 8 minutes.
To combat this problem, it is essential for businesses to implement surveillance systems to monitor customers in real time, establish efficient inventory control, and conduct periodic counts of merchandise. It is also important to train employees to manage inventory properly and motivate them with bonuses.
According to the National Alliance of Small Merchants (ANPEC), small theft has been increasing annually since the pandemic, particularly affecting those businesses that lack security measures. In 2023, the economic impact of this crime in Mexico reached 4.9 trillion pesos, equivalent to 19.3% of GDP.
Experts in private security indicate that thefts usually occur mostly between 12 and 2 PM (36%) and from 5 to 7 PM (33%). Criminals use various tactics, from hiding items in handbags to directly taking products such as clothing and shoes.
Regarding the modus operandi of small theft, criminals generally hide merchandise in their jackets, coats, or bags, and at other times, they wear the stolen items, such as clothing and shoes.
