Despite ongoing efforts and numerous preventive measures to enhance retail safety, retail crime remains a persistent national concern. According to a July report from the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), while most crime rates have decreased in the first half of 2024, shoplifting has surged by 24 percent. This significant rise highlights an escalating problem that affects not only retailers but also the safety and well-being of employees and customers across the country.
This data also reveals a troubling trend: While shoplifting is on the rise nationwide, the response to this crisis is often insufficient. The problem is not solely about the frequency of reported incidents but also about the frustration stemming from the lack of coordination between store teams, law enforcement, and prosecutors. Frequently, a cycle of blame-shifting, finger-pointing, or simply not responding exacerbates the situation.
At the store level, many teams lack confidence in the local criminal justice system’s ability to handle retail crime incidents effectively. This lack of confidence often causes retailers to hesitate in reporting incidents, driven by the belief that law enforcement will not take appropriate action and that offenders will not be held accountable. This skepticism is not unfounded; retailers often feel that their concerns are not addressed with the urgency they warrant, further complicating the issue.
From the law enforcement perspective, the challenges are significant. Our experience in establishing local partnerships has revealed that communication between store teams and law enforcement is often disjointed. This lack of streamlined communication impedes efforts to address issues effectively and achieve better outcomes. Additionally, retail crime cases are often dismissed due to the absence of victim representation in court, leaving offenders without consequences and adding to the frustrations of those involved in the criminal justice process.
Stores can become desensitized to retail crimes, including thefts and disruptions. Workers should not be blamed for perceived complacency; instead, there’s a need to address the root causes of these issues to improve worker safety. Additionally, based on what we have seen while working with our community partners, there’s a direct correlation between retail crime in-store incidents and employee safety. According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2023 National Retail Security Survey, the number of violent shoplifting events rose by over one-third in the last year, with 88 percent of retailers saying that today’s shoplifters are more aggressive than in the past. Concerns about well-being and safety are among the leading causes of high turnover rates, which can negatively impact brand reputation, reduce customer satisfaction, and lower employee morale.
Implementing Strategies that Connect Communities
The Loss Prevention Research Council’s (LPRC) 5 Zone model focuses on building relationships with neighboring businesses, law enforcement, and local municipalities to create a comprehensive and interconnected community strategy to combat retail crime. Retailers can collaborate and share resources to enhance security infrastructures and monitor local organized retail crime and repeat offenders. This approach is vital in creating a robust framework for in-store incident management and last-mile asset protection strategies because it brings every stakeholder involved in the retail crime problem to one place by enhancing the communication and coordination from the initial incident report to holding offenders accountable and ensuring consequences for their actions.
In my experience over the last several years, addressing this problem effectively requires more than just technological solutions; it demands improved communication and stronger collaboration among all stakeholders—retail stores, law enforcement, and prosecutors. Data alone is insufficient without actionable accountability strategies. We must work together in partnerships to ensure that retail environments are safe for everyone, protecting those who work in and visit these spaces.
A Broader Lens on Retail Crime
Retail crime is not only a financial issue but a significant national concern that demands urgent attention. When quality-of-life crimes are allowed to persist without consequences, criminals become emboldened, leading to more frequent offenses and further threats to store safety. Protecting the safety of retail employees and shoppers must be a top priority, and addressing these crimes effectively requires tackling the core problems with a multifaceted approach rather than simply reacting to the symptoms.
As part of the retail asset protection solutions industry, I believe that the problem of retail crime must be viewed through a broader lens. It’s not just about shrinkage; it is about community well-being. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the complex issues of retail crime and business disruption. However, achieving success requires an effective management process, from the occurrence of a retail store incident to taking action or advocating for consequences for those who disrupt the safety of store personnel. This must be guided by cooperation and a commitment to community safety. Together, we can create a safer and more secure retail environment for all.