Using AI to Battle Retail Crime
AI-Driven Pattern Recognition Reshaping Retail Loss Prevention

By the D&D Daily staff

Retailers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence not just for real-time surveillance, but for identifying patterns that traditional loss prevention strategies often miss.

Rather than focusing solely on individual incidents, newer AI-powered platforms are designed to analyze large volumes of transactional and behavioral data across stores, regions and timeframes. These systems can flag subtle trends — such as repeat low-dollar thefts, unusual refund activity or coordinated movements between locations — that may indicate organized retail crime (ORC) activity.

One emerging application involves “pattern-of-life” analysis, where AI establishes a baseline of normal store activity and then detects deviations. For example, systems can identify when the same individuals visit multiple locations within a short period or when theft incidents align with specific staffing gaps or delivery schedules. This allows loss prevention teams to shift from reactive case-building to proactive disruption.

AI is also being used to connect in-store activity with digital signals. By integrating point-of-sale data, loyalty program usage and, in some cases, e-commerce behavior, retailers can build a more comprehensive view of potential fraud or theft networks. This cross-channel visibility is particularly valuable as ORC groups increasingly blend in-store theft with online resale operations.

Additionally, some retailers are deploying AI tools that prioritize incidents based on risk level. Instead of overwhelming LP teams with alerts, these systems assign scores to events, helping investigators focus on the most significant threats first. This can improve efficiency, especially for organizations managing large store footprints with limited personnel.

However, industry experts note that implementation requires careful calibration. False positives, data privacy considerations and integration with existing systems remain ongoing challenges. Retailers must balance the benefits of advanced analytics with clear policies and oversight.

As AI capabilities continue to evolve, its role in loss prevention is expected to expand beyond detection into prediction — helping retailers anticipate and prevent crime before it occurs.


Industry Support Builds for Combating Organized Retail Crime Act
Public Safety Leaders Back Bill to Crack Down on Cargo Theft
Today, members of the American Trucking Associations’ Law Enforcement Advisory Board wrote to leaders of the House as well as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to urge them to swiftly pass legislation to address skyrocketing cases of cargo theft.

LEAB is composed of current or former public safety officials who are dedicated to strengthening the relationship between trucking and law enforcement to boost the safety and security of U.S. roadways. The group strongly supports the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act because it would help law enforcement connect the dots and solve crimes that target the supply chain.

“Cargo theft is not merely a property crime—it is a growing public safety threat that endangers drivers, law enforcement personnel, and the traveling public,” the leaders of LEAB wrote. “Those of us charged with protecting commercial motor vehicle operations see firsthand how organized theft groups target freight corridors, distribution hubs, and drivers. Federal coordination is indispensable to confronting this threat and ensuring the safety of our transportation system.”

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously in January and is cosponsored by approximately half of both the House and Senate. The bill would strengthen law enforcement’s capabilities to dismantle organized theft groups by enhancing legal frameworks; improving enforcement capabilities; and fostering coordination among federal, state, and local agencies.

“Swift passage of this critical legislation will provide law enforcement with the federal partnership we urgently need to protect drivers, safeguard freight corridors, and secure the nation’s supply chains,” the leaders of LEAB concluded. trucking.org


Retail Workers Under Attack in the UK
UK: 'He threatened to headbutt me' - shopworkers under attack
Store manager Nicola Lewis said she was shoved and threatened with a headbutt while at work. For store manager Nicola Lewis, shoplifting has become part and parcel of her working life.

The store manager's story comes as nearly 1,000 shopworkers surveyed by their union Usdaw said they had been attacked last year. Nearly 5,000 said they had been threatened and about 7,000 said they had been abused.

Shop workers' union Usdaw said 11% of 8,980 retail workers it surveyed had been assaulted in 2025 while doing their job. Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary, said: "No-one should feel afraid to go to work. They [shop workers] provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law."

Lewis said keeping her staff safe was a priority and warned colleagues not to challenge thieves, but admitted it was hard not to. "If you see it [shoplifting], it makes you mad, you think 'no, I have to pay for mine'," she said.

What Lewis and her staff are seeing daily is backed up by the Office for National Statistics. Its data shows shoplifting was at a 20-year high in 2025. Nationally, there were 519,381 offences in 2025, compared to 492,660 during the previous year.

However, Nottinghamshire Police insisted shoplifting was falling in Mansfield town centre, where Lewis's store is based. At its peak in 2023, there were 805 shoplifting offences in the town centre but this has fallen to 501 in 2025, the force said. bbc.com


In Case You Missed It

The D&D Daily's Retail Crime Brief
Listen to Episode 1: Self-Checkout & ORC

Welcome to the Retail Crime Brief, a new short-form audio series from the D&D Daily.

Rather than a full-length podcast, these brief episodes offer quick, focused breakdowns of important retail crime and loss prevention topics shaping the industry. Each installment takes a few minutes to explore a specific trend, tactic or development that retail professionals should have on their radar.

Episode 1: Self-Checkout & ORC

In this pilot episode, we examine how organized retail crime crews are increasingly exploiting self-checkout systems — and why these lanes have become one of the most attractive entry points for organized theft operations across the United States.

From non-scans and ticket switching to coordinated distraction tactics, self-checkout is being targeted in ways that create new challenges for retailers and LP teams.

In this Retail Crime Brief, we take a closer look at how these schemes work and why the issue is drawing growing attention across the industry.

Click here to listen to the first episode


Legal battle over LAPD's crime data continues

Minnesota Bill Says Warrants That Let Police Sweep Up Data Near a Crime Scene Should Be Illegal