Combating Retail Theft in NYC

What we've done

We’re fighting back against retail theft across New York City. Working with state and local partners, we’ve rolled out a comprehensive plan focused on enhanced enforcement efforts coupled with upstream, program-oriented solutions to help people who may be turning to theft due to underlying factors like homelessness.

The Adams administration will continue to work on stopping crime before it happens, addressing mental health and substance use crises and improving access to well-paying jobs and permanent, affordable housing. The comprehensive plan follows our 2022 summit convening stakeholders in retail, law enforcement and the local community to problem solve around beating back retail theft.

Fast facts

• According to the Retail Theft Report, 327 repeat offenders were responsible last year for 30 percent of the more than 22,000 retail thefts in NYC
• Plan includes launching an employee support program to train retail workers in de-escalation tactics, anti-theft tools and security best practices
• Plan includes installation of resource kiosks in stores to connect people in need with critical government resources
• Plan establishes an organized retail theft task force to work together with our partners to find other ways to fight retail theft

Why it matters

Public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity, and the Adams administration wants our retail partners and New York consumers to know they are not alone in this fight. Retail theft doesn’t just impact our local economy, it hits hard-working New Yorkers in their neighborhoods and the places they work. This type of crime can force some businesses to close up shop, often leaving people with fewer places to shop for important necessities. This can mean having to go out of their way to find the items they need, making it that much harder to do business.

Since the pandemic, retail theft has been growing and we’re going to get a handle on it by working together on the local, state and federal level.