Published: May 20, 2024
by Annie Pilon
In Small Business News
A rise in shoplifting incidents is threatening small businesses across the U.S.
For example, Baltimore County police were reportedly called to the same block as the now-closed Walmart in Towson over 300 times throughout 2023, as reported by Fox Baltimore. This represents a 149 percent increase between 2021 and 2024.
Mohsin Ali, the owner of APlus Convenience Store in Towson, told Fox Baltimore, “We have to be mentally prepared for anything. As a businessman, you don’t want to be afraid of fighting somebody all the time.”
It’s a similar story in many other cities, with business owners often reporting organized groups of juveniles and people simply taking items and leaving quickly.
Lisa Sorin, president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and a spokesperson for the Five Boro Jobs Campaign in New York City told The City, “The problem is widespread. Small businesses have become fearful of people coming in their doors, especially young adults.”
To fight the influx of shoplifting incidents, New York City recently launched a pilot initiative where people caught stealing are given trespass notices. This means they can be arrested if they return to the same store. Though 329 people have been served