The greatest increase in retail crime last year came in the areas of shoplifting by organized gangs and pharmacy theft, according to the Retail Industry Leaders Association's 2011 Crime Trends and Leading Practices Survey.
More than half of respondents reported an increase in the frequency with which organized rings committed shoplifting and 41 percent saw an increase in shoplifting by individuals acting alone. Sixty-four percent of respondents reported an increase in theft of pharmaceutical products.
According to the survey results, online marketplaces continue to be a favored venue for the resale of stolen product. A majority of retailers (61%) experienced an increase in the frequency with which stolen company merchandise was resold online; none reported a decrease in the online sale of stolen goods. Retailers also reported that their stolen merchandise was resold at flea markets and storefront bodegas more frequently. Other areas highlighted in the report include crimes by employees and flash mobs, retailers' legislative efforts, effective deterrence strategies and the role of social networking in investigations.
