FBI report reveals shoplifting in Texas has risen 40.6% since 2020

The research, carried out by Texas Personal Injury lawyers, The Texas Law Dog, (link to: https://thetexaslawdog.com/) examined the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer tool to determine that shoplifting has increased 40.6% from 2020 to 2023.

Between January and December 2020, Texas reported 64,395 shoplifting cases.

April 2020 saw the lowest number of shoplifting incidents at 4,360 cases, likely due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The final month of the year recorded 6,208 incidents, representing a 42% increase from the April low point and a 12% rise from January's 5,541 cases.

From January to December 2021, Texas noted 67,342 shoplifting cases. This marks an increase of 4.58% from 2020’s reported cases.

February 2021 saw the lowest number of cases (4,822) while December marks the highest number, 6,322. December saw a 31.11% increase in shoplifting cases compared to February.

Between January to December 2022, Texas reported 74,643 shoplifting cases. This is a 10.84% increase from 2021’s reported cases.

Like 2021, February had the fewest number of cases with 5,622. The holiday month of December continues the trend of when businesses are most vulnerable, with 6,803 cases.

Between January and December 2023, Texas reported 90,540 shoplifting cases, which is a 21.30% increase from 2022’s reported cases.

Shoplifting cases steadily increased throughout 2023 with the highest number of cases (8,379) being reported in December.

The data also reveals which types of businesses were the most vulnerable in 2020 through 2023.

Department and discount stores are the retail locations that report the highest number of cases, 121,551.

Grocery and supermarket stores are the second-most vulnerable with 57,451 cases.

Specialty stores report 47,892 cases, convenience stores report 44,427 cases, and service and gas stations report the least with 13,414 cases.

An expert at The Texas Law Dog commented on the findings: “These statistics show a clear increase in shoplifting from 2020 to 2023, with noticeable spikes during the holiday season and at specific retail locations.

"Larger retail environments like department stores face particular challenges with loss prevention due to their size and higher traffic volume. The data suggests retailers should strengthen security measures during peak shopping seasons, particularly in November and December when shoplifting activity reaches its highest levels.

"Small businesses often face disproportionate financial impacts from theft compared to larger retailers. While department stores account for the highest number of incidents, many smaller specialty retailers lack the resources for sophisticated security systems yet still experience significant theft rates. Small business owners should consider optimizing their layouts to deter thefts by placing high-value items near employee workspaces and arranging the shelving and aisles, so employees have a clear view of all areas. Businesses should also consider increasing their staff levels during the months that report the highest cases.”