Major U.S. Retailers Are Seeing Unprecedented Levels of Theft, Rampant Crime in Their Stores

Retail crime increased in 2022, leading to a loss of $112.1 billion in inventory, a jump from $93.9 billion the previous year, according to the National Retail Federation. The rise caused retailers to adapt: many heightened security measures, increased employee training against violence, and modified store operations. A notable reaction was Target’s decision to close nine stores. This escalation in theft and associated violence has alarmed the retail industry nationwide.