The Cost of Unfinished Retail Crime Cases

By Esther Alcaraz, Esq. - Manager of CS & Growth at ALTO

Businesses know all too well that a shoplifter walking out the door isn’t the end of the story. What often goes unseen are the cases that never truly reach a conclusion in court. These are the “unfinished cases”, incidents where an arrest is made, but the follow-through falls short.

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Why Cases Collapse

From my years as a prosecutor, I saw it happen repeatedly: incomplete evidence, missing witness statements, or inconsistent communication between store teams, law enforcement, and prosecutors. When that happens, cases stall. Charges get reduced or dismissed. Offenders are released, sometimes the very same day. And the cycle of crime continues, often escalating.

The collapse isn’t usually due to lack of effort, it’s due to a lack of complete, consistent, and usable information. Without it, even the strongest suspicions or clearest admissions may not hold up in court.

This problem is magnified by the scale of retail crime today. The National Retail Federation reports that retail losses reached $112.1 billion in 2022, up from $93.9 billion the year prior, shoplifting incidents have nearly doubled since 2019, and according to Pinkerton organized retail crime (ORC) now accounts for roughly 36% of those losses each year.

When cases collapse, the deterrent effect collapses with them. Offenders learn that the system is overloaded, evidence is incomplete, and consequences are unlikely.

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NYC: Robberies Down 10%, Burglaries Down 4%
As Trump calls for military crackdown on crime, NYC sees record-low numbers

Citywide shooting incidents are down more than 20%, the NYPD reported.

As President Donald Trump calls for military intervention in cities across the nation, gun violence and major crime are at a record low in America's largest city, the New York Police Department announced Wednesday.

There were fewer shootings in NYC during the first nine months of the year than in the same time period of any prior year, officials said in a press release sharing third-quarter crime data. The record-low number of shootings coincided with a broader drop in crime, including in the subways, officials said.

"This is not a coincidence -- it’s the result of an unprecedented, data-driven deployment of thousands of officers to the areas they are needed most," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement.

The NYPD's announcement comes amid Trump's crackdown on crime in major American cities, deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Portland, with plans to expand to more "one by one."

Breaking down the crime data from the first nine months of 2025, the NYPD reported that citywide shooting incidents are down more than 20% (553 vs. 693) to their lowest level ever, and down 15.6% (216 vs. 256) for the third quarter.

Murders are down citywide by more than 17.7% (241 vs. 293) year-to-date and 17.5% (85 vs. 103) for the quarter, bringing them both to their second-lowest levels ever.

Burglaries dropped 3.8% (9,410 vs. 9,783) for the year and more than 9% (3,100 vs. 3,419) in the third quarter, the second-lowest level in recorded history.

Robberies declined 9.8% (11,402 vs. 12,639) year-to-date and more than 5% (4,166 vs. 4,396) for the quarter. abcnews.go.com


Another State's ORC Law Takes Effect
New Maryland law allows prosecutors to combine retail theft charges across counties

Prosecutors and retailers say the law strengthens partnerships and sends a broader message about tackling crime.

Retailers and prosecutors have high hopes that a new Maryland law in effect October 1 will deter thefts. The new law allows for prosecutors to charge thefts in separate areas as one larger crime.

Let’s say, as part of an organized theft ring, someone steals $15,000 dollars worth of merchandise from a store in Montgomery County, then the same amount in Prince George’s County. It’s charged as two, separate, often less severe crimes. This new law means it can now be charged as a more severe $30,000 crime.

Not only can they combine the value of the stolen items, but the State’s Attorney from Montgomery County can prosecute the Prince George’s County case, as long as it’s deemed organized theft occurring within a 90-day span.

Montgomery County prosecutors say they’re in close contact with retailers and other state’s attorney’s offices constantly, and expect that to be the case as they look to build these cases.

Nolan Rodman, the president of Rodman’s, a drug and grocery store in DC and Montgomery County, says he deals mainly with petty theft, but has noticed a concerted effort recently by police and prosecutors to bolster partnerships across jurisdictions.

"Reducing that kind of crime sends a bigger message about the sincerity of crime in general, which I think overall reduces the crime," said Rodman. fox5dc.com


From Australia to Canada - The Retail Crime Fight Continues

Australia Fights Retail Crime
ACT Policing launches Operation RETAIL

ACT Policing has launched Operation RETAIL, a month-long campaign to address anti-social behaviour and retail theft within Canberra’s shopping precincts.

This week, members from ACT Policing as well as retail managers, security providers and external agencies launched the operation at the Canberra Outlet in Fyshwick.

Devised by ACT Policing and retailers, the operation will focus on deterring anti-social behaviour, reducing retail theft, enhancing public perceptions of safety and improving business safety and security.

The operation has been established in response to intelligence and stakeholder feedback identifying an increase in thefts particularly of alcohol, spray paint and retail goods alongside instances of disorderly conduct. In some cases, staff are being physically assaulted and verbally abused when challenging alleged offenders.

During October, Canberrans can expect to see increased patrols of shopping centres and other retail outlets, police working with loss prevention officers, and engagement with business owners and operators to provide crime prevention advice.

Detective Acting Superintendent Anthony Brown said that the campaign launch serves as a good reminder that retail theft is a continuing issue and that criminal activity will not be tolerated. police.act.gov.au

   RELATED: Retailers calling for ACT police operation to retail crime


Retail Crime Has Escalated into a 'National Crisis' in Canada
How petty shoplifting evolved into a multi-billion-dollar organized crime

A new report exposes how retail crime has 'escalated into a national crisis, impacting profitability, employee safety, and consumer trust'

Crime is out of control at stores across Canada. A new report released by the Retail Council of Canada says the problem “has escalated into a national crisis, impacting profitability, employee safety, and consumer trust.”

The report found that the level of shrink — loss of inventory due to theft and other reasons — has nearly doubled over the past five years to $9 billion.

More than one-quarter of retailers (76.2 per cent) are reporting increased levels of violence during theft incidents, and repeat offenders account for nearly 18 per cent of arrests.

The report also exposes the “rapid evolution of organized retail crime, its financial strain on retailers, and critical gaps in law enforcement response.” flamboroughtoday.com


Trump sends troops, task force to Memphis in crackdown on crime

Memphis leaders react to Trump crime crackdown