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In recent years, a surge in retail theft, highlighted by viral videos of smash-and-grab crimes, has stirred public frustration and concern. However, a recent shift has emerged among law enforcement and retail loss prevention experts to adopt proactive solutions.
In an interview with NPR, Tony Sheppard, who is the vice president of retail risk solutions for ThinkLP and has decades of experience in the industry, noted positive developments such as the passage of the INFORM Act. This federal law mandates platforms like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp to collect more information about high-volume sellers, aiding in identifying those involved in fencing stolen goods.
Moreover, interagency task forces in states like California are actively combating organized retail crime rings. The California Highway Patrol, for instance, has significantly increased its spending on investigations, leading to a doubling in size of the organized retail crime task force in the Los Angeles area.
“I’d like to think that we can hopefully start getting back to normal,” CHP Captain Jeff Loftin told NPR.
Lotftin leads the organized retail crime task force, which collaborates with local agencies across the state.
“Shoplifting is always going to be a thing, but hopefully it won’t be so brazen, where people feel comfortable,” Loftin added.
Law enforcement experts believe there is a sense of impunity, fueled by videos of thefts, that has contributed to the rise in retail theft. In addition, they believe the COVID-19 pandemic may have played a role in exacerbating property crimes, as many jurisdictions were less likely to jail suspects. To reverse the trend, police say they need to get tougher on shoplifters and let them know there will be consequences.
In Bellevue, Washington, for instance, officers have started conducting “labor-intensive and time-consuming” stakeouts near stores with chronic shoplifting problems.
Sergeant Casey Hiam explained the meticulous process, likening it to duck hunting, where patience is crucial. Officers are stationed outside stores in unmarked cars, awaiting alerts from the security staff inside. If the staff see someone leave without paying, they text the officers the word “green” so they can move in on the suspects as they leave.
Hiam noted the importance of jailing suspects for their crimes in order to discourage them and others from shoplifting. “Humans talk about experiences, criminals talk about experiences,” he said. “And hopefully they’re communicating back to each other that, ‘Well, don’t go to Bellevue because they’re proactively out there, and if you get caught, you are going to jail, even if you do steal just a pair of shoes.’”
Despite anecdotal perceptions of worsening retail theft, hard numbers are difficult to assess due to variations in how stores respond to and report theft. A survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF), however, suggests a growing concern among store managers, with 78% of respondents viewing organized retail crime as a higher priority than the previous year.
The question of responsibility becomes complex, with retail groups pointing to understaffed police departments, while police suggest that retailers could do more to protect their inventory.
“I’m like, ‘You haven’t called the police in three months, and you’re saying you’re getting pillaged all the time, but I don’t have any case reports for you guys!’” Hiam said, recalling interactions with retailers. “So how can I go and pay attention to your parking lot or your store if you’re not calling us?”
Some retailers also discourage staff from stopping thieves, fearing violence and liability. According to the NRF survey, 41% of companies that participated said their employees were prohibited from stopping shoplifters.
However, this has sparked internal disputes, such as the recent strike by Macy’s workers in the Seattle area. Employees demanded higher pay and increased security measures, expressing concerns about their safety and the company’s response to theft incidents.
“We have these ‘Chanel girls’ that come in and steal thousands of dollars in Chanel,” complained Jeanne Peterson, a Macy’s employee. “They will show their pepper spray or they will spray you. What we’ve been trained to do is to let them come behind the counter and let them take what they want to take.”
The debate underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to address retail theft, combining law enforcement efforts, legislative measures and enhanced security measures by retailers. As stakeholders collaborate, the hope is to create an environment where theft is deterred, and retailers and their employees feel secure in their workplaces.
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