New York Launches Process Drive to Battle Retail Theft

New York Metropolis is taking intention at retail crime.

On Wednesday, New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams launched a process pressure to assist implementation of his plan to fight retail theft throughout the town. The duty pressure will probably be led by Deputy Mayor for Public Security Philip Banks third, with New York Lawyer Normal Letitia James, all 5 of the town’s district attorneys, and representatives from legislation enforcement, native enterprise teams, nationwide retailers and arranged labor.

Hole Inc., LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Macy’s Inc., Goal Corp., Ulta Magnificence, Victoria’s Secret and extra retailers are concerned, in addition to the Retail, Wholesale and Division Retailer Union and enterprise enchancment district all through the 5 boroughs. 

The duty pressure is supposed to advise the Adams administration on legislative proposals geared toward addressing retail theft, work to determine and reply to shoplifting tendencies and crime patterns, and use the very best accessible know-how to discourage, forestall and reply to retail theft successfully. 

“New York Metropolis’s retailers are the guts and soul of our metropolis, and retail theft hurts everybody, from our mom-and-pop outlets to giant department shops — and particularly shoppers,” stated Adams. “Due to the collaborative actions taken in the previous few months between authorities, the personal sector, legislation enforcement, and, most significantly, native companies, retail theft is down this yr, however there’s at all times extra work to do. I’m proud to convene this group of specialists and practitioners as we proceed to take a 360-degree method to combatting retail theft and curbing this severe subject that plagues cities throughout the nation. Collectively, we acknowledge the significance of safeguarding our companies, defending jobs, and guaranteeing a safer and extra vibrant metropolis for all who reside in, work in, and go to our nice metropolis.” 

Excluding 2020, the overall variety of citywide shoplifting complaints elevated year-over-year between 2018 and 2022, with the biggest improve — 44 p.c — happening from 2021 to 2022. Nevertheless, year-to-date in 2023, shoplifting complaints are down 7.9 p.c citywide as in comparison with final yr and arrests for shoplifting elevated 16.4 p.c year-to-date.

On the finish of 2022, Adams convened a summit with greater than 70 involved events to debate potential options to retail theft within the metropolis.