Chamber to host loss prevention seminar

    HOULTON — It all started with a phone call from Walt Huffman, loss prevention specialist for all Marden’s stores in Maine. The first thing he said after introducing himself to Jane Torres at the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce was, “The shoplifters all know each other, but as business owners we don’t know these people. I think we should change that.”
    Huffman met with Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin and proposed a breakfast meeting with local merchants to have an open discussion about shoplifting and employee theft. The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention says that 27 million people or one person in 11 is guilty of shoplifting or stealing from an employer. Of this amount 25 percent are children and 75 percent are adults.
    When asked, 73 percent of adults who admitted stealing said it was an impulse. Habitual thieves say they shoplift items 1.6 times per week.
    Shoplifting may seem like a victimless crime to the one participating but the ramifications are far reaching. Lost revenue means increased cost to the consumer through loss of goods and lost time to the merchants if they decide to prosecute. Unfortunately the easy thing to do is to have the thief leave the store and never come back, but this means they just move on to the next store.
    On Thursday, June 21, the Chamber of Commerce will host an informal meeting at the Houlton Higher Education Center on 18 Military St. at 7:30 a.m. Huffman and Asselin will be present to answer questions and share information on the topic of Loss Prevention. Coffee, tea and pastries will be provided. Please call Torres at 532-4216 if you are interested in attending.