We know that your week can get busy, and the time you have to catch up on the news from around the retail loss prevention industry is often stolen away by other things. That’s why the LPM team sifts through headlines from all over the country to bring only the most relevant LP news to you here, in our special weekly news round-up—the perfect bookend to a productive week.
Here’s What You May Have Missed
NYT Asks Whether Shoplifting Is Really Surging
This week the New York Times asked if the US is really in the middle of a shoplifting wave. The outlet argues that the increase in shoplifting is limited to a few cities, and that in most of the country, retail theft has been lower this year than it was a few years ago.
DC Residents Debate ACT Now Crime Bill
Major changes could soon be coming to policing Washington, DC in response to rising crime rates. The ACT Now crime bill aims to give officers more tools to reduce crime and hold criminals accountable. Under ACT Now, ORC would become a felony.
Retailers Have a Crime Problem—It’s in the Numbers
Any in-depth research into retail theft reveals a definite problem. Namely, it’s unclear how much of a problem it is or how much it’s rising, if it’s worsening at all, reports Retail Dive.
Customer Struck in Face with Mug Attempting to Stop Shoplifter
A shopper attempted to stop a shoplifter at a Marshall’s store in Maryland when the shoplifter struck them in the face with a mug. The shoplifter then fled the store with the stolen merchandise.
There’s Been a Noticeable Pushback Against Shoplifting This Year
It is peak shopping season, which means it’s also peak shoplifting season. In a survey by the NRF, 70 percent of retailers said theft was a bigger priority for them than last year. As NPR’s Martin Kaste reports, those complaints have led to new efforts to try to roll back the wave of retail theft.
Best Buy Combatting Theft with Higher Staffing Levels in Stores
A surge in retail theft across the US over the past few years has led many businesses to take drastic measures to curb shoplifting in stores, but Best Buy has had success in minimizing shrink with a simple solution: more manpower.