BUTLER TWP — In 2019, retail businesses across the nation reported $67 billion in stolen merchandise.

One of every 11 people has shoplifted, and one of every 48 employees has stolen from his or her employer.

Butler Township police Det. Max Wittlinger shared those alarming statistics Monday with a group of owners of small and large retail stores who will get help from the Butler County Chamber of Commerce to curb retail theft as the holiday shopping season ramps up.

Township Commissioner Dave Zarnick invited Jordan Grady, chamber executive director, to join the meeting and help retailers share information about shoplifters.

Grady said businesses in any area of the county can send names and photos of people caught shoplifting in their stores, and the chamber will make a list of them and share the list with other businesses. Photos can be obtained from the county prison after a suspect has been processed into the prison, social media or surveillance footage.

Owners and managers of David's Hallmark Shop in Butler Township, Playthings Etc. in Clay Township, Walmart and Target in Butler Township, Hobby Express in Cranberry Township, and other businesses attended the informal meeting to discuss retail theft and learn about the assistance offered by the chamber.

“With the holiday season coming up, theft tends to rise in the area,” Wittlinger said.

Mary Etzel, district manager for Hallmark, said the information presented at the meeting served as a reminder of tips to prevent theft.

“I think it helps employers not to be afraid to call police,” she said after the meeting.

She said the surveillance system in the Hallmark store has helped reduce theft, which increases around the holidays.

Employees are asked to get the license plate number of a suspect's vehicle before checking the in-store surveillance footage to identify the suspect for police.

Nadine Shingleton, owner of Playthings, said businesses in other parts of the country share retail theft information and she supports the chamber providing that service locally.

“I've seen other areas that do it,” she said.

Harry Schmiedel, owner of Hobby Express, said he has seen people taking instructions over their cellphones about which merchandise to steal from a store. He said he relies on his surveillance system and supports information sharing.

The value of the stolen merchandise and the number of retail theft convictions a person has on their record determines whether a suspect will be charged with a summary, misdemeanor or felony, Wittlinger said. A third retail theft offense is a felony, he said.

Schmiedel asked about the consequences of tackling a shoplifter in the parking lot and fighting with the suspect.

Wittlinger said that suspect could be charged with burglary because they used force to take merchandise.

Instead of tackling a suspect, he recommended that staff approach the person, ask if they plan to pay for the merchandise and call 911 if they don't pay.

“We don't want this to turn into a robbery. We don't want this to turn into violence,” Wittlinger said.

To help prevent retail theft, Wittlinger recommended stores have surveillance systems that cover the entire store and produce high-quality images, make aisles at least 36 inches wide, install bright lighting, remove clutter from the entrance and exit, track inventory and keep expensive items near the checkout. He said cameras should be placed at eye level at the entry door, so photos show faces.

Staff should try to get a good look at a shoplifter, so they can provide police with a description and get the registration from the license plate of the vehicle in which a shoplifter leaves, he said.

Employers should tell staff that they can call 911 if they suspect someone is shoplifting, he said.

Employees can speak up in other ways if they suspect theft. As an example. Wittlinger said if someone comes to a checkout with a TV with a $2 price tag, the cashier should ask the person about the tag and the merchandise.

He said 75% of retail thefts are committed by adults, and 35% are committed by juveniles. Males and females commit thefts in equal numbers, he added.

Other tips he offered included requiring that people show identification when returning merchandise and limiting the number of items people can take into dressing rooms.

Stores can ban shoplifters caught by store personnel by getting them to sign a trespass letter in which they agree not to return, he said.

To prevent employee theft, owners should check the background and references of employee candidates. He said the state's public Unified Judicial System portal website allows people to check if a person has been charged and convicted of crimes in specific counties. State police conduct background national checks for a fee, he said. Employers can also use social media to look into a potential employee.

Other ways to stop employee theft include requiring employees to enter and exit through specific doors, restricting access to keys, conducting random cash register checks, not letting staff ring up their own transactions, encouraging anonymous tips and not leaving large amounts of cash in the store.