Retailers Continue to Face Rising Levels of Theft & Violence

Retailers reported an 18% increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents per year in 2024 versus 2023.

Furthermore, threats or acts of violence during shoplifting or theft events increased 17% during that same time period. 

This is according to a recently released survey, The Impact of Theft & Violence 2025 from the National Retail Federation and the Loss Prevention Research Council. 

“Retailers are contending with rising levels of theft, fraud and violence, while continuing to refine security measures, utilize technologies and partner with law enforcement in efforts to curtail loss across the retail landscape,” said NRF Vice President for Asset Protection and Retail Operations David Johnston, in a statement. “While some progress is apparent, organized theft groups have expanded their scope, taking advantage of retailers’ strained resources and lagging prosecutorial support nationwide.”

The 2025 report documents a shift in organized retail crime operations, moving beyond physical store theft into more sophisticated forms. The data shows that organized groups are now diversifying their criminal portfolios, exploiting vulnerabilities across the entire retail ecosystem, the report notes.

More than half of retailers surveyed reported increases in phone scams (70%), digital and ecommerce frauds (55%), shoplifting and merchandise theft (52%), and cargo or supply chain thefts (50%) being conducted by organized retail crime groups over the past 12 months.

Organized retail crime is global in scope, with 67% of retailers reporting the involvement of a transnational organized retail crime group in thefts against their company during the past year. Limited law enforcement and retail asset protection resources and lack of prosecutors’ willingness to prosecute are the top three reasons impacting retailers’ ability to investigate or prosecute organized retail crime activities.

“Reliable, industry-wide metrics are critical to addressing these challenges,” said University of Florida Research Scientist and Loss Prevention Research Council Executive Director Read Hayes, Ph.D., in a statement. “Without shared data, it is difficult to fully understand the scope of theft, fraud and violence, or to measure the impact of prevention efforts. By establishing clear benchmarks, retailers can begin to identify the most urgent risks and prioritize resources.”

In response to the escalating threat, retailers have dramatically increased their investment in multi-layered security strategies. Exterior security, interior security and merchandise protection are the top measures retailers reported as increasing this past year. Measures include cameras, lighting, license plate readers, locking cases and changing store layouts.

Retailers are enhancing their security investments, and close coordination with law enforcement and the judicial system are essential to deter criminal actions against retailers. The majority (64%) of retailers say that they reported less than half of their store-related theft incidents to law enforcement. Lack of law enforcement response served as the primary reason.

NRF continues to advocate for Congress to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, which would enhance coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement and provide the tools necessary to tackle the transnational nature of these crimes.