WASHINGTON – Retailers are seeing a shift in criminal activity as traditional shoplifting begins to ease while fraud schemes and other forms of organized retail crime become more prevalent, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2026 Impact of Retail Theft & Violence report.
View the Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2026 study
The study, produced by NRF and the Loss Prevention Research Council and sponsored by Sensormatic Solutions, found that shoplifting incidents fell 12.4% in 2025 compared with the previous year, while retail merchandise theft declined 8.1%. At the same time, retailers reported increases in fraud, scams, and other external theft schemes that extend beyond store aisles.
“After years of rising in-store theft, retailers are beginning to see levels stabilize, driven by investments in technology and employee training to strengthen store security and improve response to these crimes,” said David Johnston, NRF vice president for asset protection and retail operations. “However, significant challenges remain as organized criminals continue to exploit vulnerabilities throughout the retail environment, as seen in the rise of various fraud schemes and thefts, including cargo theft, phone scams and gift card fraud.”
The report attributes the decline in shoplifting, in part, to retailers’ investments in security technology, enhanced store surveillance, employee training, and more sophisticated analysis of loss patterns. Those efforts appear to be reducing traditional in-store theft, but organized retail crime groups are adapting.
Among the fastest-growing threats reported by retailers were phone scams, which rose for 69% of respondents, followed by loyalty fraud (51%) and gift card theft or fraud (42%). Retailers also reported increases in repeat offenders (50%), organized retail crime incidents (40%), and walkout or pushout thefts (37%).
Violence remains a concern across the industry. Retailers reported ongoing increases in homelessness-related disruptions and guest-related incidents, prompting additional investments in workplace safety. Nearly three-quarters (72%) said they are expanding management training, 65% are increasing employee training, and 61% are investing in risk-intelligence technologies.
“Trusted research is essential to understanding these threats and how they continue to evolve,” said Read Hayes, executive director of the Loss Prevention Research Council. “As these risks shift and shoplifting rates stabilize, the retail industry must confront the growing challenges of fraud and external theft.”
Tony D’Onofrio, president of Sensormatic Solutions, said retailers are increasingly relying on connected technologies and shared intelligence to combat evolving criminal activity, but emphasized that collaboration among retailers, communities, and law enforcement remains essential.
Despite the evolving threat landscape, reporting to law enforcement remains limited. The study found that 63% of retailers report fewer than half of store theft incidents, citing low-dollar losses that do not meet felony thresholds and concerns about limited law enforcement response as the primary reasons.
The findings come as NRF continues to urge the U.S. Senate to approve the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, legislation the organization says would improve coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat increasingly sophisticated retail crime networks.
The survey was conducted from February through April 2026 and included responses from 66 retail companies representing 143 brands and approximately $1.7 trillion in annual retail sales. Collectively, these companies account for nearly one-third of total U.S. retail sales.
Access the full 2026 retail theft study
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