"Theft and robbery have become an epidemic in the United States" (in-depth observation) report | 2022 National Retail Security Survey | United States
Whole Foods Inc. recently closed a branch in downtown San Francisco. The company stated that frequent theft and robbery cases near the supermarket have led to a deterioration of street security, and the company has had to temporarily close this branch to ensure the safety of its employees.
The large chain pharmacy in the United States, Walgreen, has recently closed several stores in San Francisco. Volgrim spokesperson Phil Caruso stated that organized theft and robbery crimes seriously affect the normal operations of major retailers in San Francisco. "In the past few months, our store in San Francisco has experienced a continuous increase in theft and robbery incidents, which is five times the national average level of chain stores. To address this issue, we have invested 46 times the national average level of chain stores in security costs for all branches in San Francisco."
The 2022 National Retail Security Survey report released by the American Retail Federation shows that organized crime against the retail industry in the United States has increased by 26.5% compared to 2021. In 2021, the total loss related to the retail industry reached $94.5 billion, which is higher than the $90.8 billion in 2020. According to statistics, the most stolen goods are clothing, electronic products, and health and beauty products. The report points out that the top 5 cities most affected by related crimes in the past year are Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Houston, and Miami.
The latest data released by the San Francisco Police Department shows that from 2020 to 2022, property related crimes in the city increased by 23%, and cases of burglary and other crimes surged, causing widespread public concern. According to US media reports, Hamid Mohadam, CEO of Anbo Real Estate, headquartered in San Francisco, was recently robbed with a gun in broad daylight at his doorstep. Afterwards, he wrote to the city and state governments regarding this matter: "Action must be taken against criminal behavior. Maintaining public safety should be the top priority of the government, which is also the cornerstone of a city's development. As a San Francisco citizen, I did not feel safe."
According to the 2022 National Retail Security Survey report, 70.8% of respondents indicated an increase in criminal cases targeting the retail industry in areas where the threshold for serious crimes has been raised. 54.6% of retailers believe that the significant increase in repeat crimes is mainly due to the reform of the cash bail policy in the United States, which eliminates cash bail for most minor and non violent felonies. Many respondents called for a reduction in the threshold for serious crimes at the federal level and an increase in penalties for crimes such as theft and robbery.
Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of the American Chamber of Commerce, stated that the retail industry is the largest private sector employer in the United States, contributing $3.9 trillion annually to the country's gross domestic product and providing 1/4 of the country's jobs, benefiting approximately 52 million Americans. "Theft and robbery have become an epidemic in the United States, affecting businesses of all sizes."
Corey Law, a senior research scientist at the US Loss Prevention Research Council, said that the US government should increase its investigation efforts, strengthen communication and coordination among law enforcement agencies, and strive to curb frequent theft and robbery in multiple cities.
