"The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2024"
Shoplifting Incidents Jump 93% Since Pre-COVID, According to New Industry Study
Retailers reported a 93% increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents per year in 2023 versus 2019 and a 90% increase in dollar loss due to shoplifting over the same time period, according to a new study released today by the National Retail Federation. Conducted in partnership with the Loss Prevention Research Council and sponsored by Sensormatic Solutions, "The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2024" examines how theft and violence have evolved since before COVID and how retailers are combating today's retail crime landscape.

"Retailers continue to navigate a rising retail theft landscape that has evolved significantly over time," NRF Vice President for Asset Protection and Retail Operations David Johnston said. "Protecting store associates and customers, coupled with reducing today's levels of violence and retail crime, requires a whole-community approach and collaboration across all stakeholders."

According to the study, retailers surveyed experienced an average of 177 shoplifting incidents per day in 2023. However, that number can reach over 1,000 depending on the retail sector.

Violence remains a major concern for the retail industry. About three-quarters (73%) of those surveyed say that shoplifters are exhibiting more violence and aggression than they were a year ago, and 91% say that shoplifters are exhibiting more violence and aggression compared with 2019. Still, retailers continue to take measures to keep those within their retail environments safe. Compared with their last fiscal year, 71% of retailers have increased their budgets to support employee training related to workplace violence.

Multi-person theft incidents are also on the rise, with 62% saying that two to three individuals working together to steal multiple items is more of a concern than it was a year ago. Those incidents that are conducted in a coordinated effort under organized retail crime (ORC) groups continue to permeate the industry. Seventy-six percent say shoplifting connected to ORC is more of a concern than it was one year ago. Furthermore, retailers with the capability to track such incidents specifically saw a 57% increase on average in ORC incidents from 2022 to 2023.

"Retail crime is a complex and sophisticated challenge, with trends that continue to metamorphose," University of Florida Research Scientist and Loss Prevention Research Council Executive Director Dr. Read Hayes said. "The retail industry is working in lockstep with the research community and solutions providers to develop, test and improve the next generation of asset protection tools and strategies in the ongoing battle against ORC."

Retailers view federal legislation as a necessity to effectively combat organized retail crime. Nearly all (94%) respondents believe federal legislation is needed to effectively combat this issue. NRF continues to advocate Congress to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, which would enhance coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement.

View "The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2024" study here. nrf.com
 

Threats to Retail Employees Grow
'There's always going to be an inherent element of risk'
A recent survey conducted by an independent research firm for security tech company Motorola Solutions found 57% of retailers in the U.S. felt unsafe heading into the holiday season. More than 1,000 retail managers and staff reported an increase in crime over the past year, with more than half expressing concerns about hostile customer interactions and store theft.

A review of suburban reports over several months indicates that attacks on retail workers have become more common, with crimes ranging from minor confrontations to fatal encounters raising concerns about the safety of both workers and customers in light of bolder retail thefts.

A 2023 report from the National Retail Federation found retail theft has become more brazen and organized, a reality Sahouri said was evident at Jawahir Jewelry. He said he believes the men planned the heist, as they knew exactly what to steal, where the most valuable items were and how the buzzer access system functioned.

Two recent studies by the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonprofit think tank, found shoplifting in Chicago from January to October 2024 was 46% higher compared to the same period in 2023. Reported shoplifting in the first 10 months of 2024 surpassed the total for all 12 months of each of the previous six years, the report found.

"Being in business has always been a risk, and it will always be a risk," Sahouri said. "Whether it's a jewelry store or a gas station or a cellphone store or a restaurant, you can get robbed at any given moment, and there is nothing you can do to prevent this from happening ever again, other than taking the precautions and doing what you can to make sure that you don't get chosen."

Some action has been taken on the legislative side and by law enforcement agencies to help curb retail crime rates.

Advocates for retailers, such as Rob Carr, CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, say to engage in de-escalation techniques when confronted with potentially dangerous altercations, and to lean on law enforcement. chicagotribune.com


State Legislation to Fight ORC Criminal Rings
NJBIA Supports Bill to Combat Organized Retail Crime
NJBIA is supporting legislation that would combat organized retail crime by targeting the professional criminal rings that have been moving quickly through stores and then across state lines causing billions of dollars in losses for businesses.

The bill, A-4755 sponsored by Assemblymen Joe Danielsen (D-17) and Alex Sauickie (R-12), would increase penalties for leading retail theft rings, repeated shoplifting, assaulting a retail worker and attempting to sell stolen goods. The bill is also strongly supported by the New Jersey Food Council, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, and other groups.

In a recent op-ed published in NorthJersey.com and other Gannett newspapers across the state, Rutherford Police Chief and NJSACOP President John Russo noted that retailers faced an estimated loss of $112.1 billion nationwide from organized retail crime. New Jersey loses an estimated $200 million in sales tax revenue because of these thefts, Russo said.

"Police departments across New Jersey continue to expend precious resources responding to organized theft, as retail crime rings regularly steal baby formula, over-the-counter medication and other high-demand items from store shelves and then sell them on the gray market," Russo wrote in his op-ed. "The problem is evident at your local store, where everything from razors to cosmetics are now displayed behind lock and key."

"Our association's leadership strongly supports the bill because it specifically targets professional theft rings that methodically move throughout New Jersey and beyond state lines," Russo wrote. "Police chiefs are also pleased to see the proposed bill will help curtail gift card fraud, another expensive crime that pulls resources from law enforcement to investigate."

Other states, including New York and Pennsylvania, have already passed legislation to toughen penalties for organized retail theft, which has made New Jersey a more vulnerable target for thieves.    njbia.org


The Growing Cost of Retail Crime Worldwide
Cost of retail crime up 40% over two years, Australian research shows
A new retail crime study has revealed escalating challenges for the retail sector, with shoplifting, employee theft, fraud and customer aggression rising to record levels.

The 2024 ANZ Retail Crime Study by Griffith University's Professor Michael Townsley found almost 2% of turnover was lost in the 2024 financial year, costing $7.79 billion in Australia alone.

Customer theft, dominated by concealment and opportunistic strategies, remained the largest driver of external losses, however employee theft cost millions annually, with insider knowledge amplifying its impact.

Professor Townsley said it was alarming to see all facets of retail crime increasing with such speed.

"Before COVID, crime was slowly rising, but when a lot of shops closed due to lockdowns, we saw a bit of a pause and crime went down," he said.

"Since then, it just got picked up again, and with added cost-of-living pressures, police-recorded instances of shoplifting and employee abuse have gone through the roof."

Shockingly, Professor Townsley said there had been an increasing trend among small businesses to buy stolen goods. phys.org

 
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Mount Laurel, NJ: NJ store hit by $10,000 shoplifting spree as thieves get away in luxury car
Police in the Burlington County township need the public's help identifying people who shoplifted thousands of dollars in merchandise from a sporting goods store. On Friday, Dec. 13, patrol officers from the Mount Laurel Police Department responded to Dick's Sporting Goods in the East Gate Square Shopping Center, 1300 Nixon Drive, at approximately 4:45 p.m. for a shoplifting report. A surveillance photo released by police showed a man walking out of the store holding an armful of clothing and other items. They said four other masked males were involved in the shoplifting spree.  nj1015.com


West Covina, CA: Retail theft suspects grab merchandise from Dick's Sporting Goods
Two shoplifting suspects were captured on video taking merchandise from a Dick's Sporting Goods store in West Covina recently. Surveillance footage was uploaded to the West Covina Police Department's Facebook page on Saturday. The video showed what appears to be two women standing next to a display table and then running out of the store with their arms full of merchandise.  ktla.com


Atlanta, GA: Lululemon shoplifting spree ends in arrest
A shoplifting suspect was pulled over by police in Atlanta and what they say he stole from a Lululemon clothing store was found in the car. Officers said they pulled over a car on Nov. 30 that they believed was in a recent theft at the Lululemon store on Howell Mill Road. Police said the driver, Demario Brown, is a known larceny suspect and was accused of recently stealing over $2,000 items of clothing from the location. They said Brown was detained, smelled of alcohol, and officers found an open container of alcohol under the driver's seat.  wyff4.com


Snohomish County, WA: Thief Targets Thrift Store Twice in 3 Weeks
A $1,200 gold ring with a Freemasonry symbol and ruby was stolen last week from Bella's Voice, a thrift store in Lynnwood. On December 12, the thief was caught on surveillance video trying to open a locked jewelry case. Bella's Voice Executive Director Jordan Hoffman-Nelson says the man asked an employee to see the ring, then took it and started to walk away. "He's all, 'I'm going to go buy it right now' - but instead of walking to our registers, he walked to the door and the supervisor was standing in between the door and him and she said 'hey give me back our merchandise' and he started yelling at her not to touch him and he said 'don't touch me, don't touch me' and shoved her out of the way and then ran," said Hoffman-Nelson. She says employees later realized the same guy was in the store three weeks earlier, going behind the same jewelry case, which at that time was unlocked, and grabbed a $1,100 locket, then calmly walked out seconds later. "He got away with it because no one caught him and that's why he was able to come in the second time," said Hoffman-Nelson. It's a tough loss for Bella's Voice, which recently moved to a new location, raising money to help rescued animals and the non-profit's pet food bank.  kiro7.com


Wilmington, DE: Delaware budget director accused of serial shoplifting. Gov. Carney's 'trusted adviser' arrested for alleged Home Depot thefts

Central, SC: Group shoplifts items from South Carolina Walmart, goes on to commit other crime