Behind the Surge in Retail Crime

Written By London Kelley

The Big Picture

Former Utah Commissioner of Public Safety Jess Anderson discusses the growing challenges in retail crime and law enforcement's technological gap.

By the Numbers

  • Shoplifting has surged 94% since 2019

  • 14% increase from 2024 to 2025 alone

Key Challenges

  • Government agencies lag 3-5 steps behind criminal elements and private sector

  • Legal restrictions on using advanced technology like facial recognition and AI

  • Limited ability to share data between private sector and law enforcement

  • Increasing violence in retail theft incidents

Solutions Proposed

  • Better communication between law enforcement agencies

  • Improved collaboration between private sector and law enforcement

  • Updates to legislation allowing better use of modern technology

  • Environmental design improvements in retail stores

Bottom Line

Success requires aggressive enforcement, better inter-agency communication, and modernized approaches to using private sector technology in law enforcement.

London Kelley
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Surveillance Tech's Role in Crime Prevention