Current numbers from the Buy Safe America coalition serve to dramatize the retail crime threat picture today.
At the website Buy Safe America, a coalition of retailers, consumer groups, manufacturers, intellectual property advocates and law enforcement officials, it refers to “professional shoplifters” and said, “these criminal rings are growing more brazen and violent, putting the safety of customers and store employees in jeopardy.”
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Retail Crime Data Center (RCDC), organized retail crime, also referred to as organized retail theft, is the coordinated theft of merchandise by individuals and groups for the purpose of reselling those goods by passing them off as legitimate goods to unsuspecting buyers, typically online.
Many of these thefts become violent, and innocent consumers, employees, local communities, and business owners and shareholders bear the costs of rising retail theft, said the RCDC.
On its website it wrote, “According to the National Retail Federation’s 2022 Retail Security Survey, 8 out of 10 retailers reported increased incidents of violence and aggression this past year.”
Big box sees more of this but independents should be aware and have a plan in place.
Crime deterrents
Karp talked about what he instructs his hardware store team members to do in a retail crime situation.
“California law is on the side of the shoplifter. We can’t accuse anyone of stealing until they have stepped out of the store, and then it’s too late,” the owner said.