Crime is falling across the United States in every category except one—s hoplifting.
According to the latest report from the Council on Criminal Justice, nearly all violent crime had returned to pre-pandemic levels, with rates of crime across the board falling in the first half of 2024 if you take shoplifting out of the equation.
Shoplifting and retail crime, however, were growing throughout the first six months of this year compared to 2019 levels. Shoplifting was up by 10 percent, while motor vehicle theft skyrocketed 66 percent. Nonresidential burglaries had also grown by 14 percent.
This was in stark contrast to violent crime, with homicide decreasing by 2 percent. The mid-year study was based on crime statistics from 23 cities in the U.S.
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, said one of the biggest misconceptions by Americans is that crime is at an all-time high.
“The reality is crime rates have fallen – and in some cases dramatically – in most cities and states year-over-year,” Beene told Newsweek. “Unfortunately, shoplifting is the one area that continues to remain stubbornly high.”
Compared to the first half of 2023, nearly all crime was down, including some types that were still up compared to their pre-pandemic levels, like motor vehicle theft. But even compared to last year, shoplifting had surged by 24 percent, but the report said it was unclear whether this reflects an actual uptick in shoplifting or an increase in retailers reporting these incidents.
A key component to the lingering and even growing skyrocketing shoplifting is inflation’s grip on the U.S. economy, Beene said.
“Inflation continues to eat into everyone’s wallets, and the result is turning to shoplifting amounts small and large to lessen the money they’re spending,” Beene said. “It’s a sad reflection of how expenses have been elevated to such an extent to cause more to turn to crime as a means of filling in their financial gaps.”
Many of the shoplifting incidents reported in recent years are first-time offenders, indicating the current economic conditions likely pushed them to commit these crimes.
Even more worrisome is a sizable number of these shoplifters are first-time offenders, meaning current economic conditions of pushing them into these illegal decisions.
Still, Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, said social media has also exacerbated the problem.
“Many incidents are often videotaped and shared on social media platforms like TikTok, where groups of individuals are seen robbing stores with little interference,” Thompson told Newsweek. “This publicity encourages others to engage in similar behavior, making it trendy.”
If cities’ local policies are loose on crime, many offenders are found back on the streets just 24 hours later, Thompson added. And many of the serial offenders are reselling their stolen goods for high profits online.
“Individuals steal these items and resell them at lower prices to get cash for their families,” Thompson said. “People are indeed struggling to make ends meet with inflation, but many of the stunts you see are coordinated and likely involve a black market.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
