America’s Shoplifting Problem – Newsweek

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Shoplifting in the US has increased by 93% in four years, according to a report.

The The Impact of Retail Theft and Violence Studywhich was conducted by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Loss Prevention Research Council and sponsored by Sensormatic Solutions, found that the figure increased dramatically between 2019 and 2023.

The study also found that 91% of those surveyed noticed an increase in violence from shoplifters during this period.

Why it matters

The report noted that the increase in shoplifting occurred at a time when inflation was the highest in 20 years. Economic hardship has been linked to an increase in shoplifting.

In 2021, 2022, and 2023, the average inflation rates were 4.7 percent, 8 percent, and 4.1 percent, respectively.

What to know

Barbara C. Staib, director of communications for the National Association for Theft Prevention (NASP), said Newsweek that “Anything that makes people feel threatened or insecure in their ability to take care of their families, themselves, their homes, etc. will have an impact on shoplifting. We saw it in the housing and banking crisis of 2008-2009.

“When people fear loss of income or financial security of any kind, real or imagined, they are susceptible to behavior they would not normally engage in.”

In one example of a violent robbery during the four years, a 77-year-old woman was pushed to the ground and knocked unconscious by a shoplifting suspect in September 2022 at a Barnes and Noble in New York. The man was running from security, according to authorities, when he pushed the woman.

Partly because of concerns around an increase in shoplifting and other crimesCalifornians voted on November 5 Proposition 36, law that increase penalties for repeat theftsclassifying it as a crime.

This “tough on crime” proposal, which also created tougher penalties for drug use, was supported by Californians who saw the bill as a vote for safer communities.

It was opposed by social justice advocates, who believed the proposal would hurt low-income people more than it would actually catch organized crime leaders.

What people are saying

Ernesto Lopez, Senior Research Specialist for the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ). Newsweek: “It is important to understand the nature of the report released by the National Retail Federation. This publication is a survey of senior loss prevention and security executives in the retail industry, so findings are not based on incidents reported to law enforcement.

“The Council on Criminal Justice analyzed shoplifting in a sample of 23 large U.S. cities and found that by the end of 2023, the rate of shoplifting was 10 percent lower than in 2019. This finding is based on incident data reported to the police and is obviously in stark contrast to the retailer survey figures.”

However, Lopez noted that there was still an increase in shoplifting in 2024 according to CCJ calculations. According to the CCJ, the first half of the year saw an average shoplifting rate 24% higher than in the same period in 2023.

He added: “It is difficult to say how much of the increase in shoplifting is due to more crime and how much reflects higher levels of reporting to law enforcement.”

“Also, as retailers have focused on retail theft and implemented additional security measures, they may improve their ability to detect theft, leading to a possible increase in rates.”

“When violent, ‘smash and grab’ incidents occur and grab headlines, they influence public perception and suggest that such episodes are common. This is not the case, but no level of violence is acceptable, and business owners, law enforcement, and local leaders should continue to work together to ensure the safety of their employees and the community.”

Staib: “We have to recognize that even with anomalies and events like COVID, the current situation has been a long time coming. COVID has just opened Pandora’s box; this did not happen overnight. Moreover, it will take as long or longer to reverse it. But we have to start somewhere, we have to start the long process of retraining citizens and society, especially those prone to anti-social acts and petty crimes, that they can and will be held accountable.”

What happens next

The NRF supported the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, introduced at Congress in 2023.

Staib said: “NASP supports all efforts to restore real accountability for all theft, but particularly for ORC (organized retail crime) and the nefarious gangs and groups that perpetuate this insidious and often violent type of theft. Additionally, NASP applauds the NRF Act as well as all efforts to improve coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement.”

However, Lopez said the bill “would probably have little effect.”

“In 2022, the federal prison population accounted for approximately 13% of all US incarcerated persons. Currently, approximately 9 percent of the entire federal prison population is incarcerated for a property crime,” he added.