Psychological Factors Related to Employees' Theft in the Convenience Store Industry

Four studies are presented that examine various aspects of theft in the convenience store industry. Study 1 was a survey of both managers' ( n = 24) and retail clerks' ( n = 54) opinions on how and why convenience store employees steal. Results showed that the most frequently used theft techniques involved various ways of stealing cash from a register. Major reasons for employees' theft included financial need, low wages, revenge, and thrill-seeking. Major perceptions about why some employees never steal included fear of apprehension and personal honesty. Study 2 ( N = 61) showed that convenience store employees with more tolerant attitudes toward theft and violence, as measured by a pre-employment psychological test, the Personnel Selection Inventory, were more likely to engage in theft and other types of counterproductive behavior. Study 3 showed that the use of the inventory for 19 months by a 30-unit convenience store chain, for the purpose of screening out potential employee thieves and other counterproductive employees, was reliably more effective in reducing company shrinkage than a pre-employment polygraph procedure that was used for 23 months. Finally, Study 4 showed that the inventory had no adverse impact upon any protected group. Implications of these findings are discussed.