Although shoplifting does not appear to be a dramatic problem in Ames, businesses are not taking any chances.

Second-guessing customers is something most store owners can’t risk when searching for shoplifters in their stores.

Craig Burr, assistant manager of Wal-Mart, 3015 Grand Ave., said preventing the crime presents many obstacles.

“We ourselves do not have alarms on certain products or alarmed doors because the systems are too expensive, and cash is a big problem,” Burr said.

Burr said instead of installing technological equipment, management constantly keeps an eye out for potential perpetrators. He said security officers often patrol the store undercover.

Dave Fergusson, director of the Loss Prevention Security Program for Younkers in North Grand Mall, said he could not reveal much about Younkers’ security programs.

However, he said the store pays a great deal of attention to the problem.

“Shoplifting is a significant problem for us, as it is for most retailers,” Fergusson said. “We focus a lot of attention on it.”

Brad Niland, manager of Musicland in North Grand Mall, said the store has encountered some theft, but that it is difficult to track how much crime actually takes place in the store.

“We’ve had about five to 10 shoplifters caught over the past year. On the other hand, there is at least one suspect a week that we know we don’t catch,” Niland said.

He added that shoplifting cases have nearly doubled since last year.

He estimated the average offender ranges in age from high school to college students.

New security systems have been installed in some stores, however, and businesses are hoping to alleviate the problem.

Musicland is spending money on new security and alarm systems in hopes of decreasing its number of offenders, Niland said.

He said mall security is notified immediately when a shoplifting suspect is spotted.

Businesses that catch suspects shoplifting then notify the Ames Police Department.

“Store security will call us if they have apprehended a suspect, and we take them from there,” said Sgt. Randy Kessel of the Ames Police Department.

“The consequences of shoplifting depends on the value of what was stolen,” he said.

If the theft of the property does not exceed $100 value, the crime is deemed a simple misdemeanor and fifth-degree theft; it is punishable through imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or a fine of $50 to $100, Kessel said.

Stolen property valued from $100 to $500 is fourth-degree theft, a serious misdemeanor resulting in fines from $250 to $1,500.

In addition, courts may order imprisonment of up to one year.

Minors, however, suffer different consequences, Kessel said.

“If the offender is a minor, then they technically are not arrested. They are given juvenile referral and released to a parent or guardian at the scene or police department,” Kessel said. “Their punishment is entirely up to the juvenile courts.”

Kessel was uncertain which Ames stores have encountered the majority of shoplifting problems, but he said the Ames Police Department receives frequent calls from convenience stores.

“Any store that would handle small conceivable items such as cigarettes, that are easily concealed, are a target,” he said.

But John McFarland, manager of Kum & Go convenience stores, said theft has not been a top concern.

“We’ve only had one case of shoplifting over the past year,” McFarland said. “We turn our shoplifting problems over to a security company that deals with it for us.”