Retail theft—ranging from opportunistic shoplifting to highly organized retail crime (ORC)—has become increasingly sophisticated. In the United States, retailers reported a
93% increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents per year in 2023 compared to 2019, accompanied by a 90% increase in dollar losses due to shoplifting over the same period. Additionally,
76% of retailers expressed growing concern over ORC-related shoplifting in 2024.Combating these threats requires more than just vigilant staff or traditional surveillance. Retailers today are turning to video analytics software based on AI face recognition, AI face tracking, and smart behavioral analytics to not only quickly respond to incidents but also efficiently investigate them.
Here’s how these technologies support each phase of a modern retail theft investigation: