Brookings makes the case that shoplifting is mostly down in the US.

They write, “the problem with the current retail theft crackdown is that it is not based on actual crime trends nor the evidence on what works to reduce theft.” The data they point to certainly supports their claim. That data also, at the very very end, discloses this study limitation: “Without detailed information on the specific anti-shoplifting measures or reporting procedures taken by the retail industry, it is difficult to determine whether and how these practices affected the results.” As a non-data anecdote, I got a front row seat to a shoplifting at my local CVS yesterday. The staff’s immediate reaction was to determine if the value of goods stolen was above $100, I presume because that’s the reporting threshold. learn more

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