Definition
The unauthorized taking of an organization’s physical assets, including inventory, equipment, or materials.
Context
Inventory Theft / Asset Theft is a form of fraud that commonly occurs in warehousing, production, and logistics environments. It is closely linked to weak internal controls, lack of segregation of duties, and insufficient inventory management processes.
Meaning
Inventory Theft / Asset Theft results in direct financial losses and may indicate broader control weaknesses in inventory management and oversight.
Example
An employee repeatedly removes goods from inventory for personal resale.
Sources
Suggested citation
wirtschaftsforensik.ch Editorial Team: "Inventory Theft / Asset Theft", in: Glossary, wirtschaftsforensik.ch, https://wirtschaftsforensik.ch/glossar/inventory-theft-asset-theft/, accessed April 18, 2026.