The 1999 New Zealand Survey of Retail Theft and Security, by the University's Centre for Retail Research and Studies, is based on responses from 84 retailers representing 458 shops throughout the country. The study confirms that retailers are losing a lot of money and that there is a massive cost to the country as a result of retail crime. We also wanted to give retailers useable information on security systems capable of enhancing their effectiveness in retail crime prevention, and to provide accurate national data for policy makers and law enforcers on the incidence and scale of retail theft. The 1999 survey follows on from a similar survey in 1996 on retail theft and security, the first major study of retail crime in New Zealand. Security staff and electronic surveillance are the next most relied upon form of prevention.
Retailers spend more on surveillance and alarm systems annually than they do on training staff.
Dr Guthrie says it is encouraging that retailers appear to be acknowledging the existence and size of employee theft and that they are becoming much more proactive in adopting crime prevention methods. The 1999 New Zealand Survey of Retail Theft and Security was funded by a University of Otago Research Grant, with the assistance of Advanced Camera Technologies Limited and the Warehouse Limited. The New Zealand Retail and Wholesale Merchants Association supported the project. The New Zealand Centre for Retail Research and Studies was formed in 1995 and is based in the University of Otago's Marketing Department. The group undertakes research projects on retailing and publishes industry reports based on these studies.