The study was based on a convenience sample of 289 consumers selected using systematic sampling
method from retail stores across Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana. The study revealed a high
percentage of shoplifters (38.9%) among the study sample who were predominantly males and with
about three out of every ten within the age range 32-38 years and 36% without any income and 36%
earning below P3000.00 (US $ 375) per month. Lack of money and peer pressure ranked highest among
the factors that encourage shoplifting. A multivariate binary logistic regression analysis reveals that
consumers who agree that shoplifting is a serious crime against business are about 1.3 times more
likely to have ever shoplifted than those who disagree, and those who agree that shoplifting can force a
retail business store out of business are about 1.4 times more likely to shoplift than those who disagree.
In addition, although the presence of shoplifting preventive devices does not bother most of the
consumers, yet they affect negatively their choice of which store they shop from. The presence of
cameras in retail stores is shown to be of least discomfort to the consumers, while locked display cases
in the stores, dressing room checkers and magnetic detectors caused the consumers the highest
discomfort and are therefore highly recommended to curb shoplifting.