There was never a shoplifting crisis. Shifting consumer behaviors, changes in social behavior, and other boring (normal) things have affected business and public perceptions on the subject. For businesses there's good motivation for falling back on crime surges to cover for closing less successful stores or less than expect quarterly earning reports. For the public a group of teens running amok in pedmall is easy footage and engages viewers.

* Brookings offers a really clear report for US consumers: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/retail-theft-in-us-cities... * The Conversation offers really quick list with lots of links for support summarizing the UK version: https://theconversation.com/whats-the-truth-behind-the-shopl...

It's alarming to see these market-focused outlets fall for this type of "news" hook, line, and sinker -- there's not a mention of the possibility there was never a shrinkage crisis. The Brookings report was popular and I might have even come across it here.

If you're seeing retail theft on your TikTok FYP, then you need to evaluate what kinds of other videos you're interacting with. Granted, I don't know the numbers, but it's not a wave so virulent that it is inescapable. Like so many other things if you're fired up about what the youth are doing and morally affronted -- you're likely setting yourself up to look like a fool.