# Boosting is a Business

The film explores the life of a professional shoplifter, known as a "booster," who has honed his skills over years, making shoplifting a lucrative business. A city detective is shown battling against these thieves, who collectively cost retailers over $250 million annually. The film details various techniques used by boosters to evade detection, including disguises, distraction tactics, and teamwork with accomplices. Despite frequent short jail sentences, these thieves return to their criminal activities, demonstrating a cycle of crime that persists due to the low risks and high rewards involved in shoplifting. Keywords shoplifting, booster, professional thief, crime, retail loss, police, techniques, evasion, jail, cycle of crime With the Cooperation and Assistance of Berkeley, California Police Department and Berkeley Police Reserve; Addison H. Fording, Chief of Police; J.F. Hink & Son Department Store, L.W. Hink, President. Technical Assistance: Wm. P. Beall, Lieutenant; E.A. Skells, Sergeant, Berkeley Police DepartmentGeorge Jelten, Director of Visual Merchandising, J.F. Hink and Son. Director of Photography: John L. Siegle. Sound: Walter D. Porep. Narration: John E. Pedersen.

- Kind: Film
- By: Golden State Film Productions
- Genres: Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/0456BoostingIsABusiness01332620)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/0456BoostingIsABusiness01332620?play=1)