Shoplifting Statistics
The Problem With Shoplifting and Employee Theft
The problem of shoplifting and employee theft is much larger than most imagine. Consider the following shoplifting statistics:
- Shoplifting accounts for $33.8 billion in losses to retailers each year globally, which is 1.33% of total sales. (Source: Centre for Retail Research)
- In the United States, the average cost per shoplifting incident is $559, with the total cost estimated at $17.6 billion annually. (Source: Centre for Retail Research)
- Shoplifting is responsible for approximately 35% of retailers’ total inventory shrinkage, or $42 billion globally. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- Retailers pass on the cost of shoplifting to their customers through higher prices, which can be up to 10% higher than they would be otherwise. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- The rate of shoplifting incidents increases during economic downturns, with losses estimated to increase by 10-20% during a recession. (Source: Centre for Retail Research)
- The most commonly stolen items are high-value goods such as alcohol, tobacco, electronics, and fashion items, which account for 66% of all thefts by value. (Source: Centre for Retail Research)
- Shoplifting is a common crime committed by first-time offenders, accounting for 70% of apprehensions. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- The average value of a stolen item during a shoplifting incident is $151, with 75% of all incidents involving theft of items worth less than $200. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- About 57% of retailers say that organized retail crime (ORC) has increased in the past year, with ORC responsible for 96% of their losses. The average loss per ORC incident is $719,000. (Source: National Retail Federation)
- ORC groups often target specific geographic areas or retail sectors, such as drugstores or supermarkets, with losses in some areas reaching $30,000 per day. (Source: National Retail Federation)
- The holiday season is a particularly busy time for shoplifters, with retailers experiencing a surge in theft from November through January. Losses during this period can reach $3 billion. (Source: National Retail Federation)
- Retailers use a variety of strategies to prevent shoplifting, including CCTV cameras, staff training, and electronic article surveillance. The average cost of implementing these measures is 0.5% of sales. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- The average shoplifting apprehension rate is about 1 in 48 incidents, with a recovery rate of 20-30% of stolen merchandise. (Source: Centre for Retail Research)
- Shoplifting and retail crime in general are often linked to other forms of criminal activity, including drug abuse and violent crime. (Source: Centre for Retail Research)
- Approximately 35% of shoplifters are repeat offenders, with the average repeat offender stealing $755 worth of merchandise per incident. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- In the United States, retailers lose $9.9 billion per year due to theft by employees, which accounts for 5.4% of their total sales. (Source: Centre for Retail Research)
- Employee theft accounts for approximately 75% of all inventory losses in the retail industry, with the average loss per incident being $1,264. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- The most common form of employee theft is stealing cash from the till, which accounts for 29% of all incidents. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- Employees who steal from their employer are often motivated by financial problems or a sense of entitlement, with some also stealing to support drug or alcohol habits. (Source: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners)
- Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to employee theft, with losses estimated at $40 billion annually. (Source: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners)
- In addition to the financial cost of employee theft, it can also have a negative impact on workplace morale and employee trust. (Source: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners)
- Retailers who invest in employee screening, such as background checks and reference checks, are less likely to experience losses due to employee theft. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- Approximately 64% of retailers use surveillance cameras to monitor employee theft, while 53% use point-of-sale data monitoring. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- The cost of employee theft prevention measures, such as surveillance cameras and background checks, is estimated at 1.5% of total sales. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
- The majority of employee theft cases are discovered through tips from other employees or customers, rather than through internal audits or monitoring systems. (Source: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners)
- The average duration of an employee theft scheme is 16 months, with the average loss being $1.2 million. (Source: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners)
- The longer an employee has worked for a company, the more likely they are to steal, with 58% of employee theft cases involving employees who have worked for the company for more than 5 years. (Source: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners)
- The retail industry is one of the most heavily impacted by fraud and economic crime, with losses totalling $30 billion annually. (Source: PwC)
- Retailers who invest in cybersecurity measures, such as data encryption and secure payment processing, are better equipped to prevent fraud and cybercrime. (Source: PwC)
- The impact of shoplifting and employee theft extends beyond financial losses, affecting consumer confidence and the overall reputation of the retail industry. (Source: National Retail Security Survey)
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