Shoplifting hurting Local Businesses

As Zanesville police continue to deal with the ongoing problem of shoplifting, one local man is speaking out on the toll it’s taking on his business.

Shoplifting has been a long time issue for businesses. However, it’s extremely detrimental to small businesses and the owner of the Winerak, Mike Alfman said it’s time that someone spoke up.

“A lot of store owners don’t like to talk about shop-lifting it’s sort of sweeped under the rug. We take it on as a cost of doing business but, in small business it’s a big cost, and it effect everyone in the business. It effects the employees, the profitability of of the store to be able to do things in the community, it effects the whole business in a lot of different ways,” said Alfman.

Alfman said they prosecute between 6 to 10 people per-year, however in the attempt to lower the amount of shop-lifting at the Winerak they have become more observant and beefed up their security camera system which cost a minimum of 10-thousand dollars.

“As a business owner if we don’t deal with these issues they just continue and continue and you have to stop the problem. I would like to see people get help and treatment rather to go into small businesses and shop-lift to take care of their problem,” said Alfman.

Alfman says 99% of Winerak’s customers are wonderful, It’s just the 1% that is causing the problem toward his business.