Organized retail crime affects almost all merchants and more than two-thirds of those surveyed have seen an increase in the past year, according to the 15^th annual ORC study by the National Retail Federation.

U.S. retail fraud grew significantly during the past year for businesses of all sizes, with fraudsters adding small business targets, which typically utilize less anti-fraud solutions than mid-to-large sized merchants.

More than 279,000 shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2018 by just 20 large retailers who recovered more than $114 million from thieves.

“My only regret with my career is that I didn’t find this job 20 years ago, although I don’t think I would have been right for the job if I hadn’t had my experiences along the way,” says Greg Brumley, Vice President of Asset Protection and Facilities for Lululemon, the athletic apparel company that’s based in Vancouver, Canada, with 400 retail stores across North America.

Shoplifting continues to rise, according to the 30th Annual Retail Theft Survey from Jack L. Hayes International, Inc. 432,046 shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2017, up 1.7 percent from 2016.

More than 432,000 shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2017 by just 21 large retailers who recovered over $188 million from these thieves, according to the 30^th Annual Retail Theft Survey by Jack L. Hayes International.

Organized retail crime is continuing to grow, with 67 percent of retailers surveyed reporting an increase in the past year, according to the 13^th annual ORC study by the National Retail Federation.