Rates of Retail Crime Have Spiked
Spikes in violent theft frightening customers, damaging business of brick-and-mortar retailers
Chander Sheikher still has nightmares about three men pointing guns in his face at a Connecticut jewelry shop while they smashed display cases and beat the elderly owner. He is one of thousands of Americans victimized annually by violent crimes at retail stores. Only a handful ever see their attackers end up in jail.

Recent industry reports suggest staffing shortages, urban shoplifting trends and soft-on-crime policies have contributed to rising prices and a growing perception of danger among brick-and-mortar shoppers.

Nationally, Capital One recently estimated that retail theft losses will swell from $121.6 billion last year to over $150 billion by 2026. It noted that stores catch shoplifters 2% of the time, with police arresting the average offender just once out of every 100 incidents.

“Recent data shows that while overall crime rates have fallen in 2024 across 39 major cities, rates of retail crime have spiked,” said Tom Wickham, vice president of government affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a business lobbying group. “This makes it more crucial than ever that we work together to find solutions supporting businesses and providing a safe shopping environment for everyone.”

Mr. Wickham said companies have faced “unprecedented challenges” in hiring workers as the trend worsens. In a digital survey of 613 consumers that market researcher Premise conducted Thursday-Friday, 44% agreed with the statement, “Violent crime at physical retail stores has increased in recent years.”

That came after Texas-based communication platform Theatro reported that 78% of consumers responding to a recent survey feared for their safety and security while shopping in person at stores. Nearly half expressed frustration that understaffing makes them feel less protected from theft and violence.

Theatro makes a wearable device that retailers give their employees to report thefts and other safety issues as they unfold. washingtontimes.com


'Shrink Isn't Shrinking' - Shoplifting Up 24%
Use technology to maintain assets and reduce shrink in retail
Shoplifting rose an average 24% during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to the Council on Criminal Justice’s (CCJ) Mid-Year Crime Report. This rise in theft is forcing retailers to take extraordinary measures to ensure products stay on shelves. Walk into a store in any major city in the United States and customers will find cleaning supplies under lock and key, plastic barricades around technology devices and signs stating, “You’re on camera.” Some states in the U.S. have gone so far as to push for new legislation to protect retailers from in-store theft. These growing security challenges require retailers take a fresh look at how technology can deliver the best experience possible for their customers while maintaining their assets and reducing shrink.

Shrink isn’t shrinking

Legacy technologies to combat shrink due to theft — like magnetic security tags and security cameras — have helped retailers protect and control their inventory. But shrink continues to grow, according to a report from the National Retail Federation’s (NRF), which finds that inventory shrink increased by 13.2% between 2022 and 2023.

As retailers combat inflation, changing consumer shopping habits, and more sophisticated theft threats, there’s a need for even more advanced solutions to protect the bottom line. One way to help reduce shrink is through transparent, near real time data on inventory and stock levels. Better access to data empowers managers to identify when and where shrink is occurring, and therefore better combat it. Like a doctor, the best prescription comes after an accurate diagnosis. Going from monthly or even annual inventory analysis to real time insights can dramatically improve visibility into a retailer’s current inventory.

This is one of the many areas robotic technologies can make a significant impact. During store hours, robots can be deployed as a deterrent, providing additional security and monitoring. After hours, robots can provide real-time inventory tracking, reconciling sales with shrink and identifying areas of vulnerability within the store.

Taking a bite out of theft - Keeping track in the back - Locking it up: securitymagazine.com


PDs Using Business Surveillance Cameras
Campbell police use cameras to combat retail theft
A West Valley police department is one of the first in Santa Clara County to target organized retail theft by monitoring businesses’ surveillance cameras — just as voters decide if thieves should receive more punishment statewide.

The Campbell Police Department has launched a program that allows businesses to share their live security footage once they call 911. Businesses can also opt to share their feeds all the time. The program aims to improve the small department’s response to organized retail thefts and foster a better partnership with retailers.

Police responded to 114 organized retail thefts that cost nearly $225,000 between October 2023 and June — numbers officials say don’t indicate a crime surge, but rather more businesses reporting losses after consistent underreporting. The hardest hit areas are near big box stores along Hamilton and South Bascom avenues close to Highway 17.

The camera program, which uses Georgia-based Axon Fusus’ technology and is spearheaded by Capt. Ian White, is partially funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice and the California Board of State and Community Corrections received late last year. Officials said the police department asked for $6 million, but received a little more than $400,000. The tech costs range between $350 to $7,300 depending on its level of sophistication. Businesses then pay an annual subscription fee. sanjosespotlight.com


Anti-Theft Measures Could Cost Stores Sales
Numerator: Locked-up goods can lead to lost sales

More merchandise is being locked-up to deter theft — and shoppers are taking note.

Sixty-percent of shoppers report seeing locked-up merchandise on a regular basis, according to a report from Numerator, a data and tech company serving the market research space. And 27% said they would switch retailers or abandon the purchase altogether instead of waiting for assistance for a locked-up item.

The report, “Unlocking Shopper Reactions to Secured Products,” found that the most commonly observed locked-up items are personal electronics (58% of consumers report seeing), OTC medications (38%), physical media (36%), personal hygiene products (34%), makeup & cosmetics (33%), large electronics (32%) and accessories (29%).

The stores where consumers report seeing the most product lock-ups are mass retailers (68% of consumers), drug stores (62%), grocery stores (31%), department stores (25%) and home improvement stores (23%). Dollar stores (18%) see the lowest levels of lock-ups.

In other findings, drug stores provide better assistance accessing locked-up merchandise. At a retailer level, CVS (+16%), Walgreens (+12%) and Target (+12%) had the highest net ratings for easy assistance retrieving locked items, while Walmart (-13%) had the lowest. (Net ratings showcase the difference between the percent of consumers who say getting assistance is easy and the percent who say it is difficult.) chainstoreage.com


Shoplifting is 'Seriously Under-Reported'
UK: Shoplifting levels 'unacceptable', inquiry finds
Shoplifting is at "unacceptable" levels and not being tackled properly, a Lords inquiry has found. The crime is seriously under-reported and the problem is so urgent police forces need to take "immediate action", according to the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee.

It says retailers need to be able to report crimes more easily, more funding is needed for offender rehabilitation, and regulations should be introduced to make it more difficult to sell stolen goods online anonymously.

The Home Office said it was making assaults on shop workers a criminal offence and deploying "thousands" of police officers dedicated to tackling shoplifting. The Lords committee held an inquiry into tackling shoplifting in which it heard evidence from police chiefs, retailers and industry experts in May and September.

In a letter published today, it said there were more than 443,000 incidents of shop theft recorded by police in the year to March 2024 – the highest ever since records began 20 years ago.

But they were "a drop in the ocean" when compared with likely real figures estimated at 17 million annually – which has "devastating consequences for businesses and families".

Shop theft has evolved from "individualised offending to relentless, large-scale, organised operations accompanied by unprecedented levels of violence", it added. bbc.com
 
 
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Veterans Flock to Retail Jobs
About 200K veterans leave the military each year. Here’s why some choose retail careers.

Retail careers have much in common with the military, including striving for excellence in a people-led environment and tapping into teamwork to make it happen.

About 200,000 men and women leave the U.S. military annually and transition back to civilian life. They become one of America’s approximately 18 million veterans as of last year.

Many of them continue working in the civilian workforce after their military service ends. In 2023, about 8.39 million veterans in the civilian labor force were employed, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. Data from last year showed that 8% of veterans worked in the retail industry.

“Retailers are committed to supporting America’s veterans and creating opportunities to help them transition their careers to the private sector,” Adam Lukoskie, the National Retail Federation’s senior vice president and foundation executive director, said in emailed comments to Retail Dive.

“The skills and work ethic former service members offer make them valuable additions to the retail workforce, and high-demand skills they provide include leadership experience, a team-oriented mindset, purpose-driven mentality and strong organizational and operational skills,” Lukoskie said. People who switch from a career in the armed forces to a civilian career in retail have an opportunity to develop new professional skills, Lukoskie said, including business management, foundational knowledge on profit and loss, sales techniques and marketing. retaildive.com


Self-Checkout in Dressing Rooms
Should Dressing Rooms Have Self-Checkout?
Marks & Spencer is installing self-service checkouts in changing rooms, allowing fashion shoppers to skip the regular checkout line when trying on clothes. So far, 28 recently refurbished stores already feature the technology.

“We’d like customers to be able to walk straight into the fitting room with no queue, try on what they’ve chosen, then pay there and just walk out,” the British chain’s operations director, Sacha Berendji, told The Telegraph.

To address shoplifting concerns, staff will be “hosting” changing room areas to make sure customers do not leave without paying. The initial plan is to add one of the checkouts per changing room area, with the number to increase depending on customer demand.

Traditional payment options will remain available. Berendji said, “This is all about choice. If you want to be served by a colleague, that’s absolutely OK and you always can be. But if people want to serve themselves, they can do that instead.”  retailwire.com


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