business
Inflation, economy cited as shoplifting rises, survey says
Summary by The Detroit Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: Justin Boggs , WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News
· July 25, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News · view original
A recent survey by LendingTree found that shoplifting is on the rise, with 30% of respondents admitting to shoplifting at least once in the past year. This is up from 23% the previous year. The main r
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Summary created by The Detroit Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Justin Boggs, WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 25, 2026 Indexed here Jul 25, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Most of those who shoplifted were not caught, with 52% of respondents reporting that they avoided detection.
Why this matters in The Detroit
In Detroit, the rise in shoplifting has significant implications for local businesses, particularly small retailers who may not have the same resources as national chains to absorb losses. As the survey suggests, everyday necessities like food and clothing are the most commonly stolen items, which could exacerbate existing challenges for low-income households who rely on these essentials. The fact that respondents were more likely to steal from national chains than local stores may indicate that Detroit's local businesses are more embedded in the community and therefore less vulnerable to shoplifting. However, this does not mean they are immune to the problem. As the city continues to refine its economic development strategies, addressing the root causes of shoplifting, such as economic insecurity, will be crucial to supporting local retailers and promoting a stable business environment.
About this story
As published by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: business ·
Published: July 25, 2026 ·
Source: WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A recent survey by LendingTree found that shoplifting is on the rise, with 30% of respondents admitting to shoplifting at least once in the past year. This is up from 23% the previous year. The main r
When was this published? This article was first published on July 25, 2026 by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Justin Boggs at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more business coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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