New Survey Shows Why Shoplifting Has Become So Common

Shoplifting has become commonplace in today’s economy. A new survey from LendingTree reports that shoplifting has become a “crime of necessity.”

“23% of Americans have shoplifted, according to the latest LendingTree survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers — and 90% of recent shoplifters say they were motivated to do so because of inflation and the current economy,” the site reports. That means more than 1 in 5 consumers have taken items from stores without paying for them.

“An overwhelming 90% of recent shoplifters say they steal secretly due to inflation and the current economy. Over a third (34%) of shoplifters rely on five-finger discounts because prices have become otherwise unaffordable, while 30% say it helps make ends meet and 27% say it helps save a few bucks,” LendingTree reports.

The problem of shoplifting and retail theft is a major concern for Americans, and more than a fifth say stores have closed in their community because of the problem.

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LendingTree Chief Credit Analyst Matt Schulz states that this type of retail theft is causing big problems for businesses nationwide. LendingTree broke down the percentages for each reason consumers say they have stolen from businesses.

• Prices becoming otherwise unaffordable (34%)
• Helping make ends meet (30%)
• Helping save a few bucks (27%)

A Bon Appetit article from last year focused on a Whole Foods worker who reportedly looks the other way when people steal from their store. She spoke of the struggles people are facing economically and admits that it’s not only her who turns a blind eye, it’s her co-workers as well. “It’s just not something we care about all that much,” she said.

She explained that the items that are most often stolen are “staples like peanut butter and jelly, or bread. Tuna’s a big one. Which to me, if you’re stealing tuna, you really need to eat. I hate tuna; it’s nasty. I’ve also seen people take chips and rice. Those single-serve yogurts. Really, anything. But it’s usually smaller things rather than a big family-sized item.”

“I feel a lot of empathy towards people who are in need of food. It’s one thing when someone steals some Dior perfume. But if I see someone stealing a dozen eggs, I just choose to look the other way,” she added.

However, uncontrolled retail theft could eventually cause even more inflation as stores try to recoup their losses. Security measures and inventory shrinkage are passed through supply chains at higher prices, and the problem becomes a neverending cycle.

To help stop this growing problem, several key retailers have rolled back the prices of everyday items to help weary shoppers. Target, Walmart, ALDI, Giant Food, and Walgreens are just some of the stores trying to keep costs down, reports AARP.