Here's a list of the most popular items stolen during the holiday season

As the Christmas and New Year's eve days approach, retailers and shop owners get ready to deal with a common occurrence that increases over the holidays: shoplifters.

Is not a secret that the influx of traffic at stores tends to be overwhelming on Christmas season. Everyone wants to get last minute gifts, and while most people obtain them the right way, there are other kinds of "shoppers" dreaded by every store owner.

Thieves take advantage of the large crowds and distracted workers to commit their crimes. And most of the time, they can get away with it. According to a study from the Loss Prevention Research Council, "thieves focus their attention on popular, easily concealable items, that are difficult to trace, easy to transport and resell."

And while some shoplifters steal for their personal use, the professional crowd of thieves sells the goods to individuals, small businesses and in the past years, they have added websites such as Amazon, eBay, and Craiglist to their list of buyers.

Here is a list of the most commonly targeted items by shoplifters on Christmas season:

1. Smartphones and other electronics

The higher the popularity and demand of a product, the higher the chances of it being a target for thieves. Apple's iPhones, iPads and other electronic accessories such as the Beats headphones, are usually some of the most sought-after items for thieves. And that is why these items are kept behind locked shells.

2. Designer clothes and accessories

High-end brands such as Fendi, Dior, Michael Kors and more are usually targeted. From clothes to belts, handbags, and shoes, there have been cases in which the thieves load up a cart with several items and simply walk out of a store. the use of foil-lined “magic bags” has increased the theft on this kind of stores too.

3. Athletic and casual footwear

Nike, Puma, and Adidas are the classic targets, However, a brand could become a target depending on the popularity at the time if it's being endorsed by a celebrity or an athlete and the demand for it is high on the market.

4. High-end cosmetics

These are some of the most common targets because of their size. They are easy to conceal and even easier to sell on the market at a lower price because some women want to have expensive brands at a lower cost.

5. Alcohol and tobacco

No matter the time of the year, there is always a high demand for these articles. However, the demand increases even more on Christmas, reason why thieves tend to go for these items when shoplifting. Alcohol theft can badly affect a business' numbers, so most show owners have opted to keep bottles behind locked displays, even if it hurt the sales to legitimate shoppers.

6. Common household goods

From dish soap to shampoo for babies, these products are more of a need in some homes, but can also be quite expensive for some people. So, thieves that steal this kind of good usually used them for their own benefit.

So, if you are a shop owner or know one, remember to be alert and have certain protocols established in case you happen to catch a thieve.