• Retail theft is rising: 20% of store managers say it’s gotten worse despite tougher state laws and nationwide enforcement actions.
• Thieves are adapting fast: 35% call tactics “sneakier.”
• Staff fear for their safety: Two-thirds have felt unsafe due to recent theft incidents.
  

ATLANTA, Oct. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Retail theft is still on the rise and growing more formidable even after years of tougher laws and coordinated crackdowns. That’s according to the latest research from GreyOrange, a global leader in hyper-intelligent warehouse orchestration and store inventory management software.

State governments and law enforcement are targeting retail theft and violence with increasing urgency. More than 30 state laws have been enacted since 2022 to curb organized retail crime, including bills that enforce stricter penalties and lower felony thresholds. In June 2025, major retailers cooperated with law enforcement agencies to execute a first-of-its-kind blitz that led to 400 arrests in 28 states.

But despite these legislative and law enforcement efforts, US establishments say retail crime is increasing as thieves up their game. GreyOrange surveyed 500 U.S. middle and senior store managers in July 2025 to understand the changes they’re seeing in retail theft.

Among the key findings:

Most retailers say theft has increased or stayed the same

• 61% of managers have seen no improvement since the recent crackdowns on organized crime. Of those, 20% even say that theft has increased.
• Only 16% of retailers have noticed a decrease.
• Food and grocery stores were the most likely to report theft increases (28%). They were 1.6x more likely to say theft is up than to say it’s down.
  

Thieves are getting harder to catch: they’re more aggressive, coordinated, and stealthier

• 23% of store managers describe incidents as becoming more “aggressive.”
• 37% report that theft seems to be more organized.
• 35% say tactics are sneakier and harder to detect.
  

Retail staff say they’re worried for their safety

• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of store managers and teams have felt unsafe due to attempted or successful theft in the past few months.
• One in ten say they’re “frequently” worried about their safety.
• This problem is especially acute for health and beauty stores, where 77% report feeling unsafe because of theft incidents.
  

“Retail theft doesn’t seem to be easing up, despite recent crackdowns and tougher criminal penalties. If anything, store managers feel that tactics are evolving to be even more aggressive, coordinated, and sneaky,” said Troy Siwek, General Manager, gStore by GreyOrange. “High crime rates have a compound impact on the whole retail ecosystem. When team members feel unsafe at work, it’s harder to find and retain staff. When goods keep walking out the door, it’s harder to stay profitable. And when everyday items have to be locked behind glass, it’s harder for honest customers to enjoy their shopping experiences.”

Download the GreyOrange Eye on Inventory report to access other findings from the survey, including insights on how tariffs have disturbed inventory levels and store operations.

Methodology
The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 500 middle or senior managers working at retail stores in the U.S., aged 18 years or older. The data was collected between July 16, 2025 and July 28, 2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.

About GreyOrange
GreyOrange Inc. leads the industry in hyper-intelligent warehouse orchestration and store inventory management software. Its AI-powered GreyMatter and gStore solutions continuously optimize automation, inventory and workforce management for some of the world’s largest retailers and 3PLs. Through real-time visibility into all omnichannel nodes and the seamless orchestration of robotic agents, people, and systems, customers reduce their cost per unit, eliminate lost inventory, ensure worker safety and productivity, and enhance in-store experiences. Vendor-agnostic and compatible with diverse automation hardware via the Certified Ranger Network, GreyOrange solutions are delivered through its Certified Partner Network of system integrators. Founded in 2012, GreyOrange is headquartered in Atlanta with offices and partners across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.greyorange.com.

gStore by GreyOrange is a state-of-the-art, easily deployable retail SaaS application designed to enhance store execution through real-time inventory management and actionable insights. The platform empowers retailers to maintain precise inventory control, enables intelligent tasking, streamline store operations, manage omnichannel order fulfillment, and elevate customer experiences with smart technologies.

Media contact:
Maura Lafferty
Firebrand Communications
greyorange@firebrand.marketing
415 848 9175

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bff9d754-0554-4e60-958b-bc6a5e3a4fe2