Retail Crime

New Data Shows 22,000 Arrests and $150 Million in Recovered Stolen Goods Across California | $81K ULTA Theft Suspect Arrested After Worker Sees News Report | Ex-Employee Accused of Stealing Over $90K From Georgia Resort

AI voice cloning is emerging as a powerful tool for retail fraud, allowing scammers to impersonate authority figures and manipulate employees through realistic, emotionally convincing phone calls.

Retailers are increasingly unifying fraud and asset protection teams to combat evolving threats more effectively, reduce losses, and build stronger, cross-functional defenses.

2 Men Accused of Stealing Over $140K in Walmart Theft Scheme | Shoplifting Surges 20% to Two-Decade High in England and Wales | Armed Portland Man Hides in Target Store Rafters After Confrontation with Security

Strategic cargo theft is a growing, global threat exploiting supply chain vulnerabilities, demanding stronger collaboration and updated protections.

Retailers can combat organized retail crime more effectively by using unified security systems and digital evidence management tools to streamline investigations, enhance data sharing, and strengthen collaboration with law enforcement.

Judiciary Witnesses Call for Congressional Action on ORC | 16 Facing Charges for $2.6M Money Order Scheme at Walmart Stores | Victims of Gift Card Scam Sue Target Alleging the Retailer Profited from Fraud

The adaptive, predictive, and networked behavior of dragonflies offers a striking parallel to how organized retail crime groups assess risk, communicate, and evolve—especially through tools like social media—to exploit weaknesses in retail systems.

Despite official crime stats suggesting retail theft is down, new research shows it's actually rising—underreporting, shifting policies, and strained police resources are masking the true scale of the problem and fueling a misleading public narrative.

Retailers face rising teen-driven disruptions fueled by social media, prompting calls for stronger security, community partnerships, and balanced policies.