The shopping experience in Dallas is starting to change, as retail theft increased by 73% in the first six months of this year, according to a report released last Tuesday.
Dallas and Los Angeles, where shoplifting increased 109%, had the most reported retail thefts in the first half of this year, according to an analysis of 24 major cities by the nonpartisan Criminal Justice Council.
This data helps explain the new situation around Dallas.
At a Walmart in northeast Dallas, flashing lights show cameras above an aisle lined with locked cases containing men's underwear, socks and wallets. You'll see a warning that says “Security camera is in use.” The electric toothbrush is also in a locked case. The electric razor is behind a lock and lock on a nearby target.
Kroger has installed security gates at some Dallas stores to prevent shopping carts filled with laundry detergent and other consumables from leaving quickly. Tide and OxiClean are behind a newly locked case at the Kroger on Mockingbird Lane. The box asks shoppers to press a button if they need help. Uniformed and armed security guards have become more visible at stores and shopping malls in Dallas.
Many cities have seen a drop in shoplifting during the coronavirus pandemic as more stores have closed. That's not the case in Dallas, where shoplifting rates remained flat during the pandemic but started rising last November and December, said Ernesto Lopez, a research expert and co-author of the City Council report.
“Going into 2023, we will start to see a steady increase in shoplifting in Dallas,” he says.
Shoplifting incidents reported to the Dallas Police Department so far this year have increased 56.1% through Nov. 5 compared to the same period last year.
But the trend may be changing, and some efforts by retailers may be paying off.
Shoplifting incidents reported to the Dallas Police Department decreased in the most recent month compared to the previous month and the same month last year.
Lopez said it's unclear whether the increase in shoplifting statistics is due to more incidents, more calls to police, or both. “Shoplifting, particularly episodes of 'smash and grab' caught on video, have received widespread attention from the media and policy makers, leading retailers to close stores and place merchandise in locked cases. They have raised concerns about theft.
He said better data is needed from law enforcement and the retail industry “to better understand shoplifting trends.”
But Dallas retailers wouldn't make sacrifices like adding locking cases or increasing security guard hours if they didn't have a theft problem, Lopez said.
Kroger said the new safety measures are in response to an increase in theft.
“With these new safety measures in place, we believe we can continue to provide access to fresh, affordable food and essentials,” Kroger spokesman John Votava said in a statement. “We are dedicated to serving the Dallas community and appreciate your understanding and support in this effort.”
Walmart spokesman Josh Havens said the company is “constantly looking for ways to protect products, keep prices low and keep products in stock for the millions of customers we serve each week.” .
Some products “are subject to additional security, and that decision is made on a store-by-store basis,” Havens said.
Gary Huddleston, a grocery industry consultant with the Texas Retail Federation, says this is more than just shoplifting. Texas is experiencing an increase in “organized retail crime,” or the organized theft and resale of goods for profit by criminal groups.
Huddleston said that based on national estimates, Texas retailers lose more than $2.5 billion annually. The National Retail Federation said total downsizing in the U.S. last year – losses from employee theft, shoplifting, mistakes, vendor fraud and damages – exceeded $112.1 billion, up from $93.9 billion in 2021. estimated.
Huddleston said retailers are installing security gates because “organized thieves are often stuffing items into baskets and running out the front door.” “Due to the criminal nature of these thieves, retailers train their employees not to chase or arrest them. ”
“The best thing we can do is set up high-definition cameras to capture video of the thief and the vehicle,” he said.
Retail stores in the Washington, D-FW area say they are sharing information and videos of thieves with each other and with law enforcement to help catch and convict thieves. Internet sites have made selling stolen goods an easier and more lucrative business.
“In this case, the theft was not for personal consumption by the perpetrator, but rather to sell the product and obtain cash,” Huddleston said. “Many retailers attempt to monitor these sites to identify and report stolen products to law enforcement.”
Shoplifting incidents in the 24 cities listed in the report increased by 16% in the first half of 2023 compared to a year ago. From before the pandemic to mid-2023, New York state had the largest increase in shoplifting cases, with a 64% increase, followed by Los Angeles, with a 61% increase. Since mid-2019, Dallas has increased 20%, ranking fourth behind New York, Los Angeles, and Virginia Beach.
Among the cities surveyed, San Francisco, where so many alarming videos were released last year and high-profile store closures occurred, saw a 35% drop in shoplifting in the first half of 2023. Similarly, Seattle had his biggest decline at 31%. This report is based on data from his two sources. One is incident-level data obtained directly from law enforcement or city he websites, and the other is data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System.
Asked if inflation had led to an increase in shoplifting cases, Lopez said inflation was one of the first things considered, but shoplifting is the lowest-value property crime. Therefore, he added that he did not think there was a correlation.
“If this was due to inflation, you would expect to see an increase in other property crimes, especially other types of theft,” Lopez said. “Other property crimes have greater economic benefits.”
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