In the report, retailers surveyed experienced a 93% increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents per year in 2023 versus 2019 and a 90% increase in dollar loss due to shoplifting during that same period.

"These individuals are professional thieves," Karl Langhorst, an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati's College of Criminal Justice, said in a 10tv.com news segment.

"This is what they do for a living, and they will resell that product to fencing operations. At the same time, they're also funding other illegal activities with it,” said Langhorst.

The report indicates that increased criminal activity is negatively impacting customers in several ways: a) High theft product locked in display cases which requires employee assistance to access. b) stores reducing hours of operation c) Stores closing because of low profitability and/or inability to get employees to work in a hostile environment.

The segment focuses on House Bill 25 which was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine in 2025 to combat retail crime.

Watch the interview with Langhorst. 

Featured image courtesy of iStock Photo/Михаил Руденко.

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