Shoplift-related crimes in the U.S.’s three biggest cities – New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago – have stayed consistently high, outpacing pre-pandemic figures, according to a study by the impartial research organization, Council on Criminal Justice. This significant escalation in retail thefts has sparked widespread concern, particularly with public officials attempting to tackle mounting issues of public safety within their areas. Since the year 2020, when the rise of smash-and-grab videos became prevalent on social media amidst the spread of COVID-19, a significant portion of the U.S. population has voiced their fears regarding the escalating criminal activities. Survey results indicate that while there’s been some improvement in public apprehension recently, most U.S. citizens still trumpet the current crime rate as surpassing previous years.
A total of 14 legislative measures aimed at combating retail theft were enacted in 2024 across eight states – namely, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New York, and Vermont, as reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures. These legislative changes include reclassification of retail crimes, revision of penalties, introduction of cross-county accumulation of theft charges, and fortification of protections for retail employees. Numerous major retail companies have retorted to the rising crime wave since 2020 by implementing a variety of measures such as securing merchandise in locked displays, enhancing security camera systems, engaging the services of private security corporations, and in extreme cases, shutting down operations.
However, retail theft persists as a tenacious issue, the study suggests. In Chicago specifically, retail theft surged by 46% from January to October 2024 in comparison to the same timeframe a year prior, even though the rate stayed below pre-pandemic levels throughout 2023. Los Angeles experienced a shocking 87% increase in shoplifting in 2023 compared to the statistics from 2019. Shoplifting rates in New York climbed by 48% from 2021 to 2022; they did see a slight downswing the following year although the rate was still 55% higher in 2023 than it was in 2019.
In 2024, the rate of shoplifting rose by a small margin of 3%, comparing figures from January to September of the current year and the previous year. It’s worth mentioning that shoplifting generally sees an uplift during November and December, coinciding with the peak holiday shopping season. However, data gathered from 23 sample U.S. cities has shown a higher surge in the earlier half of 2024 as compared to the figures from 2023. It’s surprising, researchers note, that the increase occurred despite increased efforts by retailers to combat theft. This could potentially point towards improved reporting rather than an actual rise in crime.
On a recent early afternoon, the streets and malls near downtown Chicago were bustling with prospective consumers searching for holiday gifts. A trend emerged between 2018 and 2023, with most incidents of shoplifting reported in the city center, as well as certain neighborhoods like Old Town, River North, and Lincoln Park. In an effort to curtail this, the county that houses Chicago lowered the felony retail theft charge threshold from $1,000 to $300, thereby aligning it with the state law.
Across the nation, retail businesses express growing concern over organized theft. The National Retail Federation’s report points out that 36% of approximately $112.1 billion worth of lost merchandise in 2022 stemmed from ‘external theft,’ which encompasses organized retail criminal activities intended to resell stolen goods. Typically, desirable items such as baby formula, laundry detergent, and electronic goods become key targets for such actions. Consequently, an increasing number of retailers adopted a “non-confrontational policy,” as highlighted in a 2023 survey where over 41% of respondents stated that they have no authorized employee to attempt to thwart a shoplifter.
In response, several state governments have enhanced punishments for shoplifting. An example being California where the Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, signed a collection of 10 bills designed to address retail theft into law in August. Furthermore, in November, voters approved a proposal to ramp up penalties for certain drug-related and theft offenses. Likewise, a bipartisan bill in New Jersey has been introduced. This bill, if enacted, would bolster penalties for leading a shoplifting ring and permit longer sentences for repeat offenders.
In Maryland too, lawmakers contemplated a similar bill defining organized retail theft and elevating it to felony status. Thorough and accurate reporting from retailers is vital to truly grasping shoplifting trends and their broad impact. This becomes even more crucial given the fact that some retail-associated felonies are remarkably underreported. Achieving a clear measurement of crime across legal boundaries can be a challenging task, and various reports have noted conflicting trends in the FBI’s national crime reporting methods.
All differences and variances in shoplifting levels across the country considered, it remains critically important for retailers to report these incidents. This not only enhances understanding but also helps law enforcement to allocate resources where they are needed most. While the challenges are many, the efforts made by various stakeholders in addressing this burgeoning issue are hopeful signs that a more secure retailing environment is possible. As we move forward, legislation, enforcement, and retailer vigilance will all be key in curbing this stubborn problem and ensuring the safety and security of both merchants and customers.