Grocery, supermarket theft and loss-prevention

For grocery stores and supermarkets theft and loss-prevention is a significant problem, a $700K dollar problem (1). Stores can expect about 7 basis points of loss due to theft in their annual sales. Loss-prevention as a whole is prioritized by grocers and supermarkets, as theft is just one part of the whole.

Here are 3 problems loss-prevention faces:

1. External theft (74.1% increased focus by retailers) (2)

2. Organized retail crime (70.7%)

3. Internal crime (56.9%)

External theft, and organized retail crime can pose a significant risk to business. Under Proposition 47 any value under $950 is considered a misdemeanor. Unfortunately in 2019, 68.4% of all retail robbery is under $999 (3).

While external and organized theft are the top offenders, internal crime poses a significant risk to loss-prevention as well. One story I've heard from Groc's customers told that, one of their associates used to charge an extra dollar for a sale, checkout the customer, and pocket the dollar after the customer leaves.

1. https://nypost.com/2022/01/22/why-shoplifting-is-soaring-in-the-us-and-will-get-worse/

2. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1139326/priority-of-risks-and-threats-in-retail-us/

3. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1139422/retailers-average-dollar-loss-per-robbery-us/