Pilferage

Pilferage refers to the act of stealing minor items or property, especially repeatedly or stealthily, usually without force or threat of violence. It often involves taking small quantities or low-value goods and is frequently associated with employees stealing from their workplace or customers from stores. pilferage can have significant consequences, including financial losses for businesses, erosion of trust, and legal ramifications for the perpetrator. The term is related to petty theft, but often carries a connotation of a systemic or habitual behavior. This type of small theft or petty crime frequently involves the surreptitious removal of goods or resources.

Pilferage meaning with examples

• The store owner noticed a consistent decline in inventory, which led to an investigation revealing widespread pilferage among several employees. Security cameras captured multiple instances of staff members concealing small items like pens, stationery, and coffee supplies in their bags at the end of their shifts. The losses amounted to thousands of dollars annually.
• Following reports of pilferage in the breakroom, management implemented stricter security measures, including limiting access to office supplies and regularly auditing inventory. Employees expressed mixed feelings about the increased surveillance, with some seeing it as necessary to curb theft, while others felt it created an atmosphere of distrust and suspicion.
• The restaurant chain experienced pilferage of condiments and other items, which was attributed to customers taking extra supplies. As a result, they began to control access to certain items and increased staff vigilance to reduce the financial impact of the unauthorized removal of goods.
• An investigation revealed that pilferage from the warehouse was significantly higher than initially estimated, owing to a flaw in the security system. The security lapses led to a cascade of incidents, allowing unauthorized personnel to access and remove cartons and other valuables over an extended time. This uncovered negligence in protocol.