Shoplifting: How often do big-box stores, malls call police?

As the holiday shopping center is in full swing, many retailers deal with thefts from stores throughout the year.

In 2017, the National Retail Federation said over 90 percent of retailers surveyed last year believed they were victims of organized retail crime.

We asked our area police agencies how often they are called for thefts from several big-box stores and area malls.

In our reporting, we asked for statistics from Walmart, Target, Meijer, Best Buy and Kohls. Those retailers are each on the 2018 top retailers list from the National Retail Federation.

We also asked for statistics from area indoor malls and received responses for the Dayton and Fairfield Commons malls.

BEAVERCREEK (Theft reports):

• Walmart: 156
• Mall at Fairfield Commons: 115
• Kohls: 109
• Meijer: 93
• Target: 25
• Best Buy: 16

• Walmart: 146
• Meijer: 126
• Dayton Mall: 121
• Kohls: 67
• Target: 18

• Kohls: 136
• Walmart: 115
• Meijer: 33
• Target: 11

• Walmart (Bechtle Avenue): 115
• Walmart (Tuttle Road): 62
• Kohls: 58
• Meijer: 54
• Best Buy: 3

TROY(Theft reports):

• Kohls: 45
• Meijer: 29
• Walmart: 29

SUGARCREEK TOWNSHIP(Theft reports):

• Walmart: 38
• Kohls: 35
• Target: 7

ENGLEWOOD(Theft reports):

• Meijer: 143
• Walmart: 127

XENIA(Theft reports):

• Walmart: 93

URBANA(Theft reports):

• Walmart: 66 

The top stolen items in 2017 included designer clothing, denim pants, razors, infant formula, designer handbags, laundry detergent, cigarettes, high-end liquor, jewelry and teeth whitening strips, according to the National Retail Federation.

The retail federation also reported the average loss per $1 billion in sales in 2017 was $726,351

According to the organized retail crime report, 93 percent of surveyed retailers said they didn’t see a decrease in organized retail crime.  However, 67 percent reported an increase in activity, the report read.