Shoplifting is down. Retailers still want federal help. Here's why.

The National Retail Federation's 2026 Impact of Retail Theft and Violence report has some rare good news: shoplifting incidents were down 12.4% year over year, and merchandise theft incidents fell 8.1%. Retailers' investments in prevention appear to be paying off.

The report also found that 94% of retailers still support federal legislation to disrupt organized retail crime, since much of what remains is driven by repeat offenders and organized groups rather than opportunistic shoplifting. That is where active, always on deterrence matters most: SmartDome is built to flag and interrupt exactly this kind of coordinated activity in real time, without adding friction for everyday shoppers.