Rising Shoplifting Incidents in New York City

New York City has seen a significant increase in shoplifting incidents, leading to national chains like Target, CVS, and Walgreens closing multiple locations due to theft and organized retail crime. Retired NYPD sergeant Joseph Giacalone blames politicians for downplaying the issue.

Organized Retail Crime Laws

Kansas legislature passed a bill to classify organized retail crime as a felony offense, with varying sentences based on the value of stolen merchandise. Other states have enacted similar laws to combat retail theft. The National Retail Federation reported a significant amount of losses due to organized retail crime in 2022.