Six employees worked in the cash office and were offered as the only possible suspects who could be responsible. However, when investigation cleared each one of involvement, suspicion turned to a janitor who emptied garbage in the office. He later confessed to all the thefts from the safe, explaining that he could only steal when the safe was open and the clerks were busy with other tasks. The group should be small enough to manage, but large enough to include the thief. Evaluating the Universe With the suspects identified, an analysis of background characteristics can narrow the focus of the investigation.
Thieves have characteristics that correlate statistically to the theft activity.
From research into theft activity, a number of common high-risk categories have been identified. A study by Service Merchandise of employees terminated for dishonesty over a ten year period. Anecdotal truths derived from hundreds of theft investigations. To identify the person involved in a mysterious disappearance of cash or merchandise the investigator proceeds on the assumption that the more high risk categories one belongs to, the higher the probability of one's involvement in the act under investigation. Inc. The following categories help identify the person responsible for the mysterious disappearance.