What does internal theft refer to?

Internal theft specifically refers to the act of employees stealing company assets. This could include physical items such as office supplies, merchandise, money, or intellectual property. Internal theft is particularly concerning for businesses as it involves a breach of trust and can significantly impact the organization's financial health and morale among other employees. Such activities can undermine workplace integrity, lead to losses in revenue, and necessitate costly investigative and remedial actions.

In contrast, the other options refer to different types of misconduct or theft. Theft occurring in a public area generally pertains to shoplifting or external theft, while the purchase of unneeded supplies may indicate mismanagement or waste, rather than theft. Unauthorized access to computer systems relates to cyber crimes, which, although serious, do not fall under the definition of internal theft as it doesn't necessarily involve the physical assets of the company being stolen by employees.