Retail theft is worse than ever
After three decades of working in New York’s retail industry, you can bet that I’ve seen my fair share of shoplifting. But my two clothing stores — located in the Flatiron/NoMad District — have been forced to grapple with brazen retail theft that has put my employees’ lives in harm’s way. Now more than ever, we have a responsibility to clamp down on retail theft before the problem grows and small businesses pay even a greater price.
COVID was an inflection point for small businesses nationwide, but especially here in New York. The terms “stay-at-home” and “quarantine” became part of our vernacular, and our city corners grew empty virtually overnight. As retailers started to close their doors, criminals decided to prey upon those last standing, resulting in an ongoing retail theft crime wave that none of us can afford.
Sure, many of us may have weathered the early days of the pandemic, but retail theft remains a thorn in the side of far too many retailers and one that has put us in financial turmoil. From Hell’s Kitchen to the Upper West Side, New York small businesses are finding themselves under siege.
This is a new degree of retail theft, far more brazen than the neighborhood shoplifters I encountered in the 1980s. Back then we would simply rearrange things so thieves wouldn’t be able to grab clothing and walk out. But today’s criminals are emboldened and more aggressive. In my case, they’re brazenly making out with hundreds of dollars’ worth of clothing at once, leaving me with nothing but a fat insurance claim for which I have to fight to get paid after my deductible, and employees who are terrified to come to work.
I’m spending thousands of dollars on security measures to keep intruders out and retraining my staff so they know how to respond should they encounter a violent, armed criminal. Keeping my stores and workers safe almost feels like a second job at times, on top of the day-to-day operations that come with running a small business. It’s an exhausting and never-ending nightmare.
And unfortunately, I’m not alone. One New York liquor store owner described how he’s resorted to locking himself in with thieves to keep the merchandise from walking out. Small business owners are risking their personal safety over being taken advantage of and doing everything they can to deter criminal behavior.
Recent statistics paint the same picture. Shoplifting complaints in
New York have skyrocketed, with thousands of petty larceny, grand larceny, and robbery complaints.
The issue extends far beyond the city’s borders. Across the Empire State, retail theft is estimated to cost more than 30,000 jobs and $2 billion in wages. This is a chronic problem that is only getting worse — and no single business is immune.
Even security guards employed by New York retailers are feeling helpless and defeated. They’ve found it impossible to stop these thieves, and quite frankly, many don’t want to risk their lives trying. With the stories about retail theft that you read today, you can begin to understand why. We need to be doing far more to prevent retail theft and keep New York’s small businesses safe. I cannot reiterate enough, there is no such thing as “petty larceny” to a small business.
What consumers may not realize is that continual retail theft means higher prices on products. As one economist recently noted, if retailers are unable to cover the cost of their theft, they will have little choice but to close up shop. When small businesses are forced to spend more on alarm systems or have their shelves wiped clean, you can expect to see a larger price tag at checkout.
Too often, criminals will peddle stolen products on the web, hoping to turn a quick profit and evade law enforcement. In December, the INFORM Consumers Act — a bipartisan measure aimed at stopping criminals from stealing products and selling them online — was signed into law by President Biden. This common-sense measure will help authorities go after theft rings, both here in my neighborhood and across the country. Law enforcement must do everything in their power to follow through on INFORM and protect small businesses from this surge in crime.
Our city’s small businesses have found themselves in dire straits due to unchecked retail theft. New York retailers need help, and we needed it yesterday. Unless we put an end to this relentless barrage of crime, don’t be surprised if your favorite clothing shop or grocery store has a “Permanently Closed” sign on its door.