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The National Association For Shoplifting Prevention (NASP)
is a private nonprofit tax-exempt [501(c)(3)] organization
whose mission is to raise public awareness about the harmful
effects of shoplifting on youth, families and communities,
unite public opinion toward constructive solutions, deliver
needed programs and services and engage community action in
prevention efforts to improve the lives of those affected
and reduce the number of people who become involved.
The National Association For Shoplifting Prevention conducts
research and offers communities technical assistance, training,
education, prevention and rehabilitation programs with self-help
and support services.
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- Educate the public about the harmful effects of shoplifting
in order to reverse the perception that shoplifting is “no
big deal” or a "victimless" crime.
- Empower communities with the knowledge and the tools
to take an active role in prevention efforts.
- Engage schools and community organizations in shoplifting
prevention efforts for youth.
- Encourage individuals caught up in the problem to seek
help.
- Encourage the criminal and juvenile justice communities
to include secondary prevention programs as an additional
sanction for offenders.
- Support a National Shoplifting Prevention Coalition and
act as the catalyst for community action, nationwide.
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- Shoplifting is not a “victimless” crime.
It raises costs to consumers, takes tax revenue away from
communities, forces companies to go out of business, burdens
law enforcement and the courts and hurts the lives of individuals
and families.
- The temptation to shoplift or “get something for
nothing” does not discriminate; it is prevalent in
all neighborhoods among all ages, races, religions and social
classes.
- A person’s ability to resist the temptation to
shoplift is enhanced or diminished by the attitude of their
community-at-large.
- At any age, shoplifting can be habit-forming or addictive
and needs to be addressed like other addictive behaviors
with appropriate programs and support.
- Community apathy about shoplifting sends a message to
the public that "crime pays."
- Addressing the issue of shoplifting and its prevention
fosters and builds honesty, integrity and character in our
youth.
- The most important factor in determining if a person will
shoplift again, is their experience the time before.
- Shoplifting prevention must be more than locks, security
cameras, sensors and guards. Effective prevention must include
community awareness, education and action.
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A nation in which communities embrace shoplifting prevention
as an important social issue and work together in taking action
to significantly reduce its occurrence.
Specifically, NASP's vision is to achieve a society where
. . . parents talk to their children about it; schools address
it; kids say no to it; consumers resist temptation to do it;
retailers actively pursue it; law enforcement willingly responds
to it; courts effectively sentence it; mental health professionals
understand it and people engaged in it, seek help to stop.
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