Differences-in-differences analysis shows Tesco's security measures reduced shoplifting in Greater London supermarkets, suggesting a role for private actors in crime prevention.
This paper investigates the effectiveness of private actors in contributing to crime prevention. We leverage well‐publicised increases in security measures, including additional security guards and tagging of goods, by Tesco, a large UK supermarket chain. Utilising geocoded administrative crime data and address information of supermarkets in Greater London, we compare streets near a Tesco supermarket with two control areas in a differences‐in‐differences design. Results suggest that Tesco's security enhancements led to a significant decrease in shoplifting. We also investigate crime displacement to other major supermarkets and other shops.
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Braakmann et al. (2025) studied this question.
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