Shoplifting on the Rise Across the Country
According to the Council on Criminal Justice’s (CCJ) Mid-Year Crime Report, rates of shoplifting have increased by an average of 24% during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. This rise in shoplifting comes as many major crimes, such as homicide, have dropped back to pre-pandemic levels.
The study reviewed crime statistics from 23 cities across the US and found that shoplifting has been steadily increasing since the country began emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic around 2022. Despite initially dropping about 15% from 2019 to 2020 and continuing to decrease into 2021, shoplifting rates began to climb through 2023, remaining about 10% lower than the pre-pandemic 2019 level. However, following a 24% spike in 2024, shoplifting rates are now approximately 10% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Shoplifting has garnered significant attention in recent years, with videos circulating online showing brazen thefts and “smash-and-grab” incidents where thieves overwhelm stores and steal goods. To combat this trend, pharmacies and big box stores have started locking up their aisles to deter thieves, much to the frustration of honest customers.
Despite the surge in shoplifting, many crime categories have returned to pre-pandemic levels, with homicide notably declining. Homicide rates across 29 cities surveyed by the report saw a historic increase of 30% in 2020, followed by a continued surge through 2021. However, as of July 2024, homicide rates are down about 13% from the same period last year and 2% lower than in 2019.
While some cities have seen a decrease in murders, others have experienced alarming increases. Buffalo and Syracuse, for example, have witnessed rises in homicide rates in recent years.
Despite positive trends in crime statistics, a Gallup poll from late 2023 revealed that Americans’ personal safety fears were at a three-decade high, with many expressing concerns about walking home alone at night. Ernesto Lopez, a senior researcher with CCJ, attributed this fear to the lingering effects of the pandemic, which he described as a massive disruption of social life.
Overall, while crime rates have mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels, the public’s perception of safety may still be influenced by the events and disruptions of the past few years.
