---
title: What can be done about shoplifting — and how bad is it, actually?
description: Confusion reigns as stores scramble to keep employees — and merchandise — safe.
---

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# [What can be done about shoplifting — and how bad is it, actually?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/what-can-be-done-about-shoplifting-and-how-bad-is-it-actually)

 Written by [Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/juliet-bennett-rylah) | Jun 7, 2023 11:53:14 PM

Two Atlanta-area Lululemon employees were fired for confronting shoplifters. It sparked a lot of discussion, but CEO Calvin McDonald has [doubled down](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lululemon-ceo-stands-decision-sack-154036262.html) on the decision, citing the store’s strict safety-first, no interference policy.

“It’s only merchandise at the end,” McDonald told *CNBC*, clarifying that employees may call police, but should step back and let cameras gather evidence.

#### **Shoplifting is on the rise…**

… or is it? We’ve seen the locked cases at grocery stores and pharmacies, but what’s actually happening is a bit murky.

In retail, [shrinkage](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shrinkage.asp) refers to loss of inventory, whether that’s due to theft, human error, or damage. Per the National Retail Federation’s annual [survey](https://cdn.nrf.com/sites/default/files/2022-09/National%20Retail%20Security%20Survey%20Organized%20Retail%20Crime%202022.pdf), retailers saw an average shrink rate of 1.4% in 2021, accounting for $94.5B in losses.

- But shrink has consistently hit ~1.4% for the last 10+ years, [per](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/18/business/retail-shoplifting-shrink-walgreens/index.html) *CNN*.
- Yet retailers cited a 26.5% increase, on average, in organized retail crime (pro shoplifters who steal to resell); 80% claimed an increase in violent or aggressive incidents.

**Also interesting:** In San Francisco’s central district, larceny theft was up 88% in 2021 — compared to 2020, when stores closed for months. Compared to 2019, larceny theft was *down*, [per](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/12/shoplifting-holiday-theft-panic/621108/) *The Atlantic*’s Amanda Mull, who tried unsuccessfully to coax more specific data from retailers.

So, essentially, the numbers are hard to parse. Could it be that shoplifting *hasn’t *increased, but more brazen incidents — those more prone to go viral — have?

#### **What can be done?**

Confronting shoplifters can be dangerous, even deadly.

Last week, the California state senate [passed a bill](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/chamber-commerce-reacts-california-bill-140727177.html) that would stop retailers from asking staff to confront shoplifters, in line with Lululemon’s prioritization of employee safety.

Retailers are instead turning to tech, including:

- AI that monitors checkouts for barcode switching or other irregularities
- [Self-service cases](https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurendebter/2022/04/02/stores-locking-things-up-rising-theft/?sh=1be24f6f11ca) that customers unlock with personal info
- [RFID tags](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/retailers-take-theft-hands-online-readers-rcna16223), which track specific items
- Robots

**For example:** Philadelphia Lowe’s stores are piloting security bots. But they’re [much cuter and much less intimidating](https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/2023/04/03/robot-security-guards-at-lowes-other-stores-could-soon-be-everywhere/70045172007/) than RoboCop.

[View full post](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/what-can-be-done-about-shoplifting-and-how-bad-is-it-actually)

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