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Getting charged for theft, receiving a $200 fine and having a black mark on your permanent record because of two cookies, valued at 50 cents each, may seem ridiculous. But when those two cookies are added to roughly $50,000 dollars worth of stolen merchandise annually from both the Marketplace and the Bookstore, the legal action is more than justified, according to University of Maine Public Safety Director Noel March.
“The $2 worth of cookies are part of a $50,000 problem,” March said. “Prices are much higher to UMaine students and visitors because of these situations.”
One such situation is that of Sarah Cady, a 21 year-old UMaine student who was recently tried in court following her removal of two wrapped cookies from the Marketplace on Oct. 14 of last year. On Jan. 26, she was found guilty of theft and now bears a mark on her record. Despite the outcome of her trial, Cady still adamantly claims innocence.
“I had no intent of shoplifting even though evidence indicates that I did,” Cady stated in a recent e-mail. “While I readily admit things I do that are wrong I can’t admit to what I don’t do, and I won’t have a chance to explain the actual situation to all who would see mention of the case in the paper.”
Regardless of guilt or innocence, March said that Cady’s case is just one example of a person who got caught in an act that happens far too often.
“We’re not just picking on one student,” March said. “[We're] trying to change a culture that thinks the Marketplace and the Bookstore are okay places for theft.”
In an effort to implement change March helped develop a three-fold plan.
“Our plan is this: education, environment and enforcement,” March said.
This plan is being put into action through a general education campaign to encourage students not to steal. One part of this will be the production of signs for the Marketplace that will read: “Pay up before you chow down.” Manager of Retail Services, Melissa Lewis, said that employees of both the Bookstore and the Marketplace have recently attended a training workshop.
“Our employees were put through training with Deb Mitchell,” Lewis said. “They were told what to look for – certain behavior, concealment.”
Improving the environment in the two locations will be accomplished through better use of video cameras in the Bookstore, greater awareness by employees and the general public and the re-arrangement of merchandise, according to March.
“The positioning of some items may make them more susceptible to theft. We’ll identify this and change it to make a better environment,” March said. “Most people will steal something if the chance of getting caught is minimal. We’ll change this.”
The final step is to enforce shoplifting laws. This will be accomplished through the use of an undercover officer in the Bookstore and by having other officers on hand.
“If you’re caught shoplifting, you’ll be arrested and brought to jail,” March said.
The exact amount stolen each year is not known, according to both Bookstore Manager Bill Hockensmith and Lewis, what March offers is an estimate.
In the past year, only Cady’s case has gone to trial with a guilty outcome. According to Hockensmith, this elevation in theft prevention is not due to an increase in shoplifting.
“Shoplifting is an issue that occurs at all retail establishments. UMaine is not an exception by any means,” Hockensmith said. “We’re just at a point where we want to start focusing on loss prevention.”
Although the bookstore hasn’t caught anyone actually stealing, Hockensmith said that he knows it happens and is ready to deal with it when it does.
“Our attitude is not if, but when we catch someone we will turn them over to UMPD,” Hockensmith said. “We’re not going to take a soft approach.”
While both Hockensmith and March acknowledge that it is nearly impossible to stop all shoplifters, they say it is still important to try.
“When an individual shoplifts, they’re taking away money that would benefit this campus,” Hockensmith said.
Hockensmith went on to describe a variety of donations that the Bookstore has made to various clubs and departments that would not be able to occur if theft got to be too high.
“We bought sousaphones for the marching band,” Hockensmith said. “We want to be able to keep doing things like this.”
While the Marketplace does not generally make such large-scale donations, Lewis said the UMaine community as a whole is still affected by every theft that occurs there.
“We really do want to give products at a reasonable price,” Lewis said.
Ed Nase, director of Dining Services, said that if theft occurs, generally it is the consumer who must make up for it.
“Theft costs everyone,” he said.
Lewis said there are many forms of theft that some may not recognize. Some may eat prior to paying and forget about the product they ate, even if it is not intentional. She also said that products with a price determined by weight cannot be consumed prior to purchase.
“When you consume, there’s no evidence of concealment, the product is just gone,” Lewis said. “The truth is it needs to not happen.”
Lewis encourages students to recognize the proper entrances and exits to avoid appearing suspicious.
“We can’t determine if someone has already paid and I don’t like approaching people and asking if that’s paid for, we just like to see people exiting and entering the Marketplace appropriately,” she said.
March said he acknowledges that theft at these two locations may not be wiped out entirely, but he wants to encourage all members of the community to realize that it comes at a price.
“The word is out that [the Marketplace and Bookstore] are an easy mark for theft,” March said. “This will change.”
