A new exhibit is joining Al Capone’s rosary, Ted Bundy’s dental molds and Charles Manson’s acoustic guitar at the Alcatraz East Crime Museum, which has debuted a temporary display focused on retail theft.
Located in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and inspired by the famous island prison in San Francisco Bay, the museum will feature Sticky Fingers, Heavy Consequences: The True Cost of Retail Crime through March 2026. The exhibit will display some of the most commonly stolen retail items, along with information on the counterfeit industry and prevention tips.
Theft, or shrink as it’s often called in the industry, is a perpetual problem for retailers, but this may be the first time it’s getting the museum treatment. The exhibit calls out the fact that in recent years retail theft has become more sophisticated and widespread, highlighting not just shoplifting but issues like cargo theft and “Flash Robs,” when an organized group steals from a single retail store.
“Though we may not think about it, retail theft impacts us all,” said Ally Pennington, Artifacts and Programs Manager at Alcatraz East Crime Museum in a statement. “It is not a victimless crime, and the more aware we are, the better we can learn ways to prevent it as both businesses and consumers.”
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