30% of Americans admit to shoplifting at least once, survey finds

A new U.S. survey has found that nearly 30% of Americans admit they have shoplifted at least once in their lifetime, highlighting the continuing challenge of retail theft across the country.

According to a report by Fox 13 News, a significant share of respondents acknowledged taking merchandise from a store without paying for it at some point. The survey did not identify participants or disclose details of individual incidents.

Retail experts say shoplifting, even when it involves low-value items, contributes to billions of dollars in annual losses for businesses. Many retailers have responded by increasing investments in security measures, surveillance cameras, and technology-driven theft prevention systems.

Survey participants cited a range of reasons for shoplifting, including curiosity, financial hardship, opportunity, and poor judgment. Many also described their actions as mistakes and said they would not repeat them.

Retail industry organizations have long identified theft as one of the sector’s biggest challenges. In recent years, businesses in several U.S. cities have reported rising security costs and operational changes in response to retail crime.

Experts say shoplifting is influenced by multiple social and economic factors, including the rising cost of living, financial stress, crime trends, and law enforcement practices.

The survey suggests that shoplifting remains a persistent issue for the U.S. retail industry, prompting continued discussions among businesses, policymakers, and researchers on how best to address the problem.

Source: Fox 13 News.