A surge in retail crime is hitting major chains like CVS, Walmart, Home Depot, and luxury stores across the United States, with theft incidents rising sharply in 2024. According to a new report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Loss Prevention Research Council, the average number of shoplifting incidents per year increased by 18% in 2024 compared to 2023. Threats or acts of violence during these events also rose by 17% over the same period.

Organized Retail Crime on the Rise

The report, titled The Impact of Theft & Violence 2025, highlights the growing threat of organized retail crime (ORC), which involves groups of individuals stealing large quantities of merchandise from multiple stores for resale. ORC is not just a local issue; 67% of retailers reported that transnational ORC groups were involved in thefts against their stores in the past year.

Law enforcement agencies have been tracking these groups, with recent arrests revealing the scale of the problem. In a multi-state operation, two suspects were arrested for stealing goods from major retailers like Home Depot, Target, Lowe’s, and Walmart, according to ABC 11. In Boston, police are searching for two individuals who stole merchandise from a Canada Goose store at the Prudential Center, part of a broader wave of retail crime in the area.

High-profile cases have also made headlines. In California, thieves broke through a wall to steal approximately $180,000 worth of Pokémon merchandise from a collectible store, reported ABC 7. In Orange County, three suspects were arrested for allegedly stealing more than $9,000 worth of beauty products from a CVS, according to KTLA.

Debates Over Retail Crime Data

While the NRF report paints a dire picture, some experts have raised concerns about the accuracy of the data. Neil Saunders, a retail analyst, warned that the NRF’s statistics should be taken with caution, citing previous errors in their reporting. Allison McCabe of enVista also questioned the methodology, suggesting that inventory shrinkage may not always be due to theft but could be attributed to inaccuracies in inventory tracking systems.

McCabe emphasized that definitions around retail crime are often unclear, noting that inventory shortages could be due to factors like cross-channel sales and returns, rather than outright theft. ‘Inventory shrink is a measure of inventory against sales. As sales are constrained by inventory lock-ups, inventory shortage as a percent of sales will increase,’ she explained.

Retailers Fight Back with New Tactics

In response to the rising threat, retailers have implemented a variety of security measures. Some, like Target and CVS, have introduced locked shelves to prevent theft, though the tactic has drawn criticism from customers who find the process inconvenient. Retail expert Dominick Miserandino described a recent visit to a Walmart where he had to request an employee to unlock the shelves and then had his items placed in a locked container.

According to a report by Security Management, a publication of Asis International, 63% of retailers increased training for management on handling threats or violence, while 60% boosted workplace violence prevention training for employees. Other measures included enhanced threat identification processes and global threat training.

Experts like Mark Ryski, a retail author and consultant, argue that organized retail crime presents a different challenge compared to individual shoplifting. ‘There’s nothing a store team can or should do to stop this — risking their lives isn’t worth the $15 per hour on average these workers earn,’ he said. Even security guards are often outmatched by groups of violent criminals who can walk out with armfuls of merchandise.

Adam Dumey, a retail technology expert, believes there is no one-size-fits-all solution. He noted that retailers are balancing the need for security with customer experience, suggesting that both physical deterrents like visible security tags and more discreet technologies like radio-emitting threads in garments can be effective.

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, the fight against organized retail crime is likely to intensify. With more resources needed from law enforcement and clearer definitions from the industry, the battle for store security is far from over.