Shoplifting Surge: Entitlement and Lax Enforcement Fuel $140 Billion in Retail Theft Losses

Shoplifting losses hit $121.6 billion in 2023, projected to reach $140 billion by the end of 2025, with retailers like Walmart locking up goods to curb theft.

While some attribute the rise to economic hardship, evidence suggests many shoplifters are driven by entitlement, desire for non-essential items, and confidence they won’t face consequences.

California’s $950 misdemeanor threshold, set by Proposition 47, is criticized for reducing deterrence, yet Texas, with a $2,500 limit, reports lower theft rates, pointing to enforcement as a key factor.

Only 2% of shoplifters are caught, and lax prosecution in some urban areas emboldens thieves. Organized retail crime, targeting luxury goods for resale, further fuels the trend.

Retailers are ramping up AI surveillance and loss prevention, but addressing weak enforcement and cultural attitudes of entitlement is crucial to curbing shoplifting.

I went to Walmart this morning to grab a toy for my son’s birthday party.

Nearly everything in the toy section was locked behind glass.

This is so sad, how did we get to this point? pic.twitter.com/YzToubM1sg

— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) April 26, 2025