More than 1.2 million shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2015 by just 25 large retailers who recovered over $200 million from these thieves, according to the 28th Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by Jack L. Hayes International.

“Retail theft, by both shoplifters and employees, continues to plague the retail industry. Our latest Annual Retail Theft Survey (28th) reflects an increase in both shoplifter and dishonest employee apprehensions, 2.0% and 1.0% respectively, in 2015. Overall recoveries from those apprehensions totaled over $200 million and was up 1.2%", said Mark R. Doyle, President of Jack L. Hayes International. "It should be noted that the apprehension of shoplifters and dishonest employees has increased in 9 of the last 10 years!"

Doyle added, "Retail theft causes consumers to pay higher prices for goods, and is having a detrimental effect on retailers' bottom-line profits."

Survey highlights include: 

• Participants: 25 large retail companies with 21,288 stores and over $700 billion in retail sales (2015).
• Apprehensions: 1,246,003 shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2015, up 2.0% from 2014.
• Recovery Dollars: More than $200 million was recovered from apprehended shoplifters and dishonest employees in 2015, up 1.2% from 2014.
• Shoplifter Apprehensions: 1,170,056 shoplifters were apprehended in 2015, up 2.0% from 2014.
• Shoplifter Recovery Dollars: More than $150 million was recovered from apprehended shoplifters in 2015, an increase of 3.2% from 2014. An additional $142 million was recovered from shoplifters where no apprehension was made, up a significant 18.8% from 2014.
• Employee Apprehensions: 75,947 dishonest employees were apprehended in 2015, up 1.0% from 2014.
• Employee Recovery Dollars: More than $55 million was recovered from employee apprehensions in 2015, down 4.0% from 2014.
• One out of every 38 employees was apprehended for theft from their employer in 2015. (Based on almost 3.0 million employees.)
• Shrink: 60% of survey participants reported an increase in shrink in 2015, with just 24% reporting a decrease in shrink, and 16% reported shrink stayed about the same.

Full survey results are at: www.hayesinternational.com