LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After retail theft soared 16% in the first half of 2023, lawmakers are looking for ways to combat the increase.
Scott Glenn, vice president of asset protection at Home Depot, said the company has lost billions of dollars to organized retail crime. Glenn wants lawmakers to pass an organized retail crime act to get crime under control.
Louisville stores have been hit recently by retail theft.
Police asked for help finding a woman they believe stole from Academy Sports & Outdoors on Outer Loop. Police said it happened in late September and early November. She walked out with an unknown amount of items. Louisville Metro Police believes she was driving a Dodge Charger.
LMPD said two women stole more than 4,500 liquid ounces of detergent from Lowe's Home Improvement store off Preston Highway at 9800 Preston Crossing Boulevard near Okolona. In security footage, the women appear to have shopping cards loaded full of laundry detergent.
Anyone with any information is asked to call LMPD's anonymous tip line at 502-574-5673 or submit information online by clicking here.
Jeffersontown Police made two arrests in what it said is an organized crime ring targeting Louisville-area Lowe's stores. Aubrey Walker and William Walker were arrested for allegedly stealing more than $300,000 worth of merchandise from multiple stores.
Target announced in late September that it was closing nine stores in four states, including one in New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood, and three in the San Francisco Bay Area, saying that theft and organized retail crime have threatened the safety of its workers and customers. The stores closed in late October.
But a shoplifting report examining 24 major U.S. cities published in November by the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice paints a different picture. The report, which uses police data through the first half of 2023, shows shoplifting incidents were 16% higher compared with the first half of 2019. But excluding New York City, reported incidents actually fell 7% over the same time period.
Related Stories:
- Police searching for woman seen stealing from Louisville sporting goods store
- Louisville police searching for 2 women who allegedly stole $900 of laundry detergent
- Jeffersontown Police charge 2 men for crime ring targeting Louisville area Lowe's stores
Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
