Theft Costs Retailers $100 Billion a Year

Shoplifting has always been a problem, but it is getting worse. Theft is costing American retailers $100 billion a year as organized gangs develop ever more sophisticated plans to rip off major retailers.

One survey from the National Retail Federation found that retailers lost $90.8 billion to thieves in 2020 and $94.5 billion in 2021. The final numbers for 2022 are expected to be around $100 billion, while the final number for 2023 is expected to be well over $100 billion.

Target executives recently announced that they expect to lose $500 million to organized crime this year. Walmart executives are shutting down 17 stores in crime-ridden areas to make up for losses.

Organized networks: The National Retail Federation also found that shoplifting is growing in scope and complexity. Organized gangs are deliberately targeting general consumer goods that are easy to miss at large retailers. These goods are generally less well guarded than luxury items, which makes them an easy target. This is forcing retailers to hike prices on everyday items by 3 to 5 percent.

Rising lawlessness: American Founding Father John Adams wrote in 1787, “The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. If ‘Thou shalt not covet’ and ‘Thou shalt not steal’ were not commandments of heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society before it can be civilized or made free.”

Yet today, criminals steal grocery store goods to obtain things they cannot afford, just like governments steal from productive citizens to obtain votes from the unproductive. This is a surefire way to bring about anarchy and tyranny.

Learn more: Read our free booklet The Ten Commandments.