While in-person shopping is back to feeling close to the way it did before the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been at least one change since the pandemic era: a spike in shoplifting.
This week, the National Retail Federation revealed data that indicates there was a 93% increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents per year in 2023 compared to 2019, the year before the pandemic hit. Along with that spike, there has been a 90% increase in dollar loss due to shoplifting over the same time period, per “The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2024” report from NRF.
This survey was conducted online among senior loss prevention and security executives in the retail industry June 10 through July 12, the NRF said. It includes results from mid-size to large retailers across 164 retail brands. Overall, it accounts for $1.52 trillion in annual sales in 2023 or 30% of total retail sales.
“The brands represent a variety of retail sectors including specialty and luxury retail, home improvement, mass merchandise, grocery and pharmacy,” the NRF explained.
It’s not the only research that has found an increase in shoplifting. In July, Audacy reported on an analysis of crime trends by the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ). That analysis indicated that rates of shoplifting rose an average 24% during the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period last year.
Some have linked increased self-checkout options with an increase in retail theft. Audacy reported in May that the Retail Theft Prevention and Safety Act in California’s state legislature aimed to mitigate theft losses related to self-checkout kiosks.
Heading into the holiday season, shoplifting has also been making headlines across the country. WBBM Newsradio reported in late November on how the pursuit of a shoplifting suspect resulted in a crash and standoff in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook. Audacy station 1010 WINS in New York reported on a new task force in Suffolk County. In California, KNX Newsradio reported that deputies arrested dozens of suspected shoplifters in Ventura County this month.
“The retail industry continues to deal with a significant increase in theft and violence, presenting a major challenge for businesses of all sizes and types,” said the NRF report. “Organized retail crime, which involves the coordinated distribution and selling of stolen goods, is making the situation even worse. These crimes not only affect retailers financially but also put employees’ and customers’ safety at risk.”