GIFU, Jul. 8 – The Gifu Prefectural Police began taking measures based on a science called Shikakeology to prevent rice shoplifting at retail stores. At a supermarket in Gifu City, prefectural police officers placed cards featuring cat’s eyes and a “Security Measures against Shoplifters Running” alert near price tags as well as floor signs that read “Security camera is watching here,” indicating that the security camera’s focus is here. These measures are designed to make people conscious of being watched and prevent them from committing a crime.
Shikakeology is a science that studies small psychological triggers (shikake in Japanese) to change people’s behaviors. In an experiment in January through March 2023, the Aichi Prefectural Police placed tags on the handles of bicycles left unlocked at four bicycle parking lots in Aichi to notify that a bicycle theft prevention experiment is in progress. Then it confirmed that simply placing such tags effectively reduced the number of bicycle theft cases by 80%.
According to the police, more than 10 rice shoplifting cases were reported in five months from January to May this year. “It is unusual for shoplifters to steal rice because they are heavy. The rise in rice prices may be one of the factors behind these thefts,” it said.
The police want to expand these measures if they are found to be effective in the experiment at the supermarket. “The number and locations of triggers (shikake) are important to change people’s behaviors, ”Naohiro Matsumura, a professor in the Graduate School of Economics at Osaka University who studies Shikakeology, said. “I’m looking forward to seeing successful results,” he added.
Police officers placing a “Security camera is watching here” sign on the floor in front of the rice shelf. (In Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, photo by Gifu Prefectural Police)
“Security Measures against Shoplifters Running” cards placed near rice price tags. (In Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, photo by Gifu Prefectural Police)