Shoplifting is on the rise even as reports of other types of crime fall

All but one type of crime decreased in the first six months in 2024, according to a July report from the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ).

Shoplifting rose 24% in the first half of the year, while every other type of crime dropped, according to the study, which analyzed crime statistics in 23 cities. The data shows shoplifting is up across the country,  reflecting what retailers have described as a growing problem. As businesses invest in anti-theft technology to deter criminals, consumers express frustration at the sheer volume of products, from toiletries to snacks, that they now find under lock-and-key on store shelves.

By comparison, reports of residential burglaries were 14% lower in the first half of 2024 compared with the first half of 2023, according to CCJ. Nonresidential burglaries were down 10%. Larcenies and drug offenses also decreased by 6% and 2%, respectively, in the first half of 2024.