VIDEO. Pants, Shirts, Shoes, Skirts: What Are Being Stolen from Stores

A pair of pants, two shirts, a pair of shoes, or a skirt. These are typically the items stolen from stores. Employees of the Main Department of Criminal Police have analyzed thefts from shops in shopping centers in Yerevan and obtained the following picture: Between 2012 and 2019, the total damage caused to businesses amounted to 22.6 million drams, of which 15.5 million has been recovered.

This year, a summary of such thefts has not yet been compiled; however, as of today, there have been 90 recorded cases, with 78 solved.

The following is an interesting pattern when analyzed by year: In 2012-2013, only one criminal case was initiated for thefts from malls; in 2014, it rose to 24; in 2015, it reached 48; in 2016, it was 61; in 2017, it increased to 68 cases. In 2018-2019, those numbers started to decrease, with 63 and 46 respectively.

Moreover, out of the cases sent to court, only nine resulted in imprisonment. In most cases, amnesty was applied, or victims refused to file a report, and in many instances, courts imposed fines instead. Perhaps this humanitarian approach is one reason why such crimes do not sharply decrease.

Since 2012, a total of 370 criminal cases related to thefts and robberies at shopping malls have been investigated against 369 individuals, of whom 269 are men and 100 are women. Considering the enticing nature of the stolen goods, the number of women involved is not very high. In 39 cases, the thefts were carried out in groups.

The purpose of working in groups is clear: typically, one person distracts the seller's attention while another steals the product. Generally, such thefts are only possible under conditions of the seller's negligence.

To eliminate this deficiency and prevent new occurrences, and following the police's recommendations, almost all stores have been equipped with surveillance devices that cannot be easily distracted. In addition, the police continuously patrol crowded areas and their vicinity, and malls are precisely such locations.