Nationwide Shoplifting Soars 93% Post-COVID, Yet Arizona Sees a Decline

By Matthew Holloway |

The National Retail Federation (NRF), in collaboration with the Loss Prevention Research Council, has revealed a dramatic rise in shoplifting across the United States, soaring 93% since 2019. Compared to 2023 alone, incidents have surged by 26%. According to their report, “Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2024,” retailers averaged 177 shoplifting events daily in 2023, with some days witnessing totals exceeding 1,000. Alarmingly, 73% of surveyed retail outlets reported that shoplifters are increasingly violent and aggressive since 2019.

NRF’s vice president of asset protection and retail operations, David Johnston, commented to FOX Business on this alarming trend. He noted a shift in shoplifting dynamics, stating, “This isn’t what we were used to. This isn’t the shoplifting I was apprehending 30 years ago.” Johnston emphasized the role of organized retail theft, where stolen goods are often sold in bulk to various organizations, rather than just sold individually at local markets.

In contrast, Arizona presents a different picture. According to the Department of Public Safety, shoplifting incidents in the state decreased from 41,519 in 2019 to 34,587 in 2023, marking a drop of approximately 17%. Preliminary data for 2024 indicates a further decline to 29,832 incidents. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell noted that her office received around 600 reports of organized retail theft in 2023, while highlighting a troubling upward trend.

Mitchell stated, “Arizona, specifically Maricopa County, will not tolerate this type of offense that is driving retailers to close stores, to hurt the communities that the stores are located in, and driving people out of business.” The NRF’s findings revealed that retailers equipped to monitor organized theft saw a 57% increase in such cases from 2022 to 2023. To address this issue, the organization is pushing for the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, aimed at enhancing collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.