Published: Monday, May 20, 2020
Published: May 20, 2020
by Annie Pilon
In Small Business News
Small businesses in the U.S. are being threatened by an increase in incidents of shoplifting.
Fox Baltimore reported that Baltimore County Police were called to the same Towson block where the now-closed Walmart was over 300 times in 2023. This is a 149 per cent increase between 2021-2024.
Mohsin A. Ali, owner of APlus Convenience Store, Towson told Fox Baltimore: “We must be mentally prepared for everything.” You don’t have to fear fighting someone all the time as a businessman.
In many other cities the story is similar. Business owners report organized groups of youths or people who simply take items and leave quickly.
Lisa Sorin, President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, and spokesperson for the Five Boro Jobs Campaign, told The City that “the problem is widespread.” Small businesses are afraid of customers, particularly young adults.
New York City launched a pilot program to combat the increase in shoplifting. People caught stealing will receive trespass warnings. If they return to that store, they could be arrested. Many business owners in Queens say that even though 329 people were served with notices by 312 businesses participating in the initiative, it is still not enough.
According to statistics gathered from 24 metro areas, the Council on Criminal Justice found that New York City saw the biggest increase in shoplifting. NYC saw a 64 percent increase in that period, while Los Angeles was close behind with 61 percent.
Capital One Shopping’s research shows that retail theft will cost businesses $121.6 billion in 2023. According to projections, shoplifting will cost retailers more than $150 billion by 2026.
Some areas have become so bad that business owners resort to using social media as a last resort to shame shoplifters.
Shoplifting has become a complex problem that cities, first responders and government officials must address. This is not a problem that can be solved by business owners alone. It is an unfortunate reality for many businesses in this niche. Businesses in this niche, and those who are thinking about starting one, should be aware of the challenges and find ways to advocate positive change in their community.
Image: Depositphotos
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Annie Pilon has been with Small Business Trends for over 12 years as a Senior Staff writer. Annie Pilon covers features, community news, and expert-based, in-depth guides. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Marketing Communications from Columbia College Chicago.
Source: SmallBizTrends