Retailers are pushing for tougher laws and putting goods under lock and key as they look to combat shoplifting.
Shoppers come into stores to browse, touch products, try on fashions, read the fine print on skin creams and, if they connect, buy something and leave with the goods. But that openness has been working against merchants in this post-pandemic world as more people come to pick up product, but leave without paying.
This summer Michelle and Kenneth Mack pleaded guilty to grand theft and conspiracy in an operation that law enforcement dubbed “ “We are heartbroken about what happened to Mark,” a Walmart spokesperson said. “Violence like this is unacceptable, and the safety of our associates is a top priority.” That could be “anti sweep” shelfs, where products need to be removed one at a time, or display boxes that are empty but let shoppers look at all the product details.
While shoplifting isn’t getting as much attention in the media as it was a couple years ago, the issue has not faded from retail. According to the ICSC, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, New York, Vermont, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., have enacted a total of 13 laws targeting retail theft networks this year.President-elect Donald Trump has at least toyed openly with the idea that violence could be, in addition to being part of the problem, part of the solution.
“It’s important to keep in mind people have constitutional protections and so whatever policy practice would still have to be in line with those protections,” said Ernesto Lopez, senior research specialist at the Council on Criminal Justice. “When it comes to a lot of extreme tactics — and I would call a really ‘rough day’ an extreme tactic — our research doesn’t do well at the extremes, because we don’t measure the extremes.
Los Angeles reported that shoplifting was down so far this year, but that it is likely being undercounted due to a new reporting system. The crime was up 87 percent in 2023 compared with 2019. “The most important thing is retailers are still being targeted and are still experiencing a high level of theft,” said David Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations at the
“We don’t know yet,” Johnston said. “It’s kind of like the tip of the iceberg. We know that there’s an iceberg because of what we’ve seen above the water, but we have no idea as of yet how big it is below the surface. “Sophisticated organized retail theft operations are putting frontline retail workers at risk and reselling stolen goods on online marketplaces, and we’re taking new steps to end this chaos,” Hochul said.
Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at The National Cybersecurity Alliance, said this is a vulnerable time for retailers.
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