Former NYPD Detective Warns Black Friday is ‘Super Bowl’ for Shoplifters as Retail Theft Surges
SEAL BEACH, Calif. – Black Friday has long been known for doorbuster deals and eager shoppers, but a former NYPD detective warns the annual shopping event is increasingly becoming a prime opportunity for organized retail theft. as stores brace for the holiday rush,concerns are mounting over a surge in shoplifting incidents across the country,with experts saying thieves are becoming more brazen and coordinated.
Retailers are facing a growing crisis of theft, impacting businesses of all sizes and contributing to higher prices for consumers. According to the National Retail Federation, shrink – a term encompassing theft, employee theft, and administrative errors – reached a record $112.1 billion in 2022. Experts predict the problem will worsen this holiday season, with sophisticated shoplifting rings targeting high-value items and exploiting security vulnerabilities.
“Black Friday is the Super Bowl for shoplifters,” said Michael Brosnan,a retired NYPD detective specializing in retail theft. “They come in, they come like gangbusters, so coordinated, so focused, so educated as to where the items are that they need to get and how they are going to get them, what they have to do to obtain them.”
Recent incidents highlight the escalating problem. In Seal Beach, California, police recently apprehended three alleged shoplifters following a multi-store crime spree, as captured on video. Brosnan emphasized that retailers are actively working to mitigate theft, but the situation is dire and worsening.
“You want to do business, people got to come in. And if bad people come in with the good people, there’s only so much you could do,” he said. He noted the increasing professionalism of shoplifting operations, with thieves demonstrating a clear understanding of store layouts and security measures.
Adam Sabes is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10.
