The Unspoken Holiday Custom: Thievery

As holiday gift buying peaks this week, shoppers will pack the malls, stores will load up their racks and thieves will be lying in wait.

“The more people there are at the mall, the more crimes increase, and when employees are busy, it’s easier for [thieves] to get away with shoplifting,” said David Le, a Santa Ana police officer who patrols Main Place/Santa Ana.

More than $10 billion in goods is stolen nationwide each year, or more than $27 million worth each day, according to the National Assn. of Shoplifting Prevention, a New York-based nonprofit organization that conducts research and offers support groups and education about stealing.

There’s a significant spike during November and December. “It’s more common because the shelves are full and the racks are full,” said Sgt. Steve Shulman of the Newport Beach Police Department.

Each holiday season, police and mall officials shift resources to address the problem.

Newport Beach moves some beach patrol officers to Fashion Island. Main Place has officers on horseback monitoring the parking lots.

“We recognize that it’s the busiest time of year, so we know we have to do everything to accommodate the increase in traffic,” said Brandi Friel, marketing director for Main Place. “We double everything. We’re in a heightened state of awareness.”

Brea police send officers on bicycles to patrol the Brea Mall. The team has three officers working on overtime through December.

At South Coast Plaza, police increase helicopter patrols, supporting security officers in the mall and its parking lots.

There is no profile of a typical shoplifter, according to the shoplifting prevention association, but 75% are adults. There are two types of shoplifters: Impulse shoplifters and professionals. Impulse shoplifters steal because they think the item is overpriced or they think they can get away with it, Le said. Professional thieves steal to return or resell the item for money.

“They could be a mother, a grandfather, a rich person or a student,” Le said.

He said he recently arrested a woman with a $60,000 checking account balance for stealing a $50 sweater. She stole because she thought it was overpriced, Le said.

Thieves steal “almost anything,” Le said. The most popular items include Levi’s jeans, Major League Baseball caps, and cashmere sweaters.

Not just Christmas items are being stolen. Cars -- some filled with presents -- are also taken from parking lots, police said.