While U.S. retailers have long complained about shoplifting hurting their bottom lines, it seems like companies’ theft exaggerations may be the true crime of the story.
According to a new study examining police data, shoplifting reports actually decreased 7% between 2019 and 2023.
Before the report’s release, retail lobby the National Retail Federation had characterized shoplifting as responsible for “nearly half” of retailers’ inventory losses in 2021.
With retail crime proven to be on the decline, retailers’ pointing the finger at organized crime for their operational inefficiencies may need to take a long, hard look in the mirror.
