What distinguishes internal theft from external theft?

The distinction between internal theft and external theft lies primarily in who is committing the theft. Internal theft refers to incidents where employees or individuals with authorized access to the organization steal from the business. These acts can include stealing merchandise, cash, or sensitive information by those who are part of the organization. Conversely, external theft occurs when customers or individuals outside the company engage in theft, such as shoplifting or fraud.

Understanding this distinction is critical for asset protection professionals as it informs strategies for prevention, detection, and response. Recognizing that employees are the source of internal theft can lead to the implementation of more stringent internal controls, while external theft prevention strategies might focus on surveillance and loss prevention measures targeting customers.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of the distinction between internal and external theft, as they either misidentify the groups involved or make unsupported claims about the severity or nature of the thefts. Therefore, defining internal theft as actions taken by employees while external theft involves customers provides a clear and accurate understanding of the terminology within asset protection.