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Alarming Growth in Retail Crime
Retail theft is surging across the U.S., with major consequences for businesses, communities, and law enforcement. In 2023, losses from shoplifting increased 90% compared to 2019, while the number of incidents rose by 93%.
Many cities experienced dramatic spikes in 2024, with Chicago reporting that shoplifting had increased by 46% year over year.
This trend is not confined to small-scale theft. Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is rising faster than ever, with incidents increasing by 57% year over year, indicating more coordinated and professional operations behind the scenes.
These patterns exert real pressure on retailers:
Unchecked, this escalation erodes trust, burdens law enforcement, and weakens community safety. The scale of the problem demands active, resilient surveillance and deterrence solutions.
A Safer Experience for Customers and Staff
Organized retail crime doesn’t begin at the storefront. Many incidents start or escalate in external areas like parking lots, loading bays, or service entrances, all the places where fixed security systems often fall short.
Mobile surveillance units provide highly visible, flexible coverage for these vulnerable locations. Deployed quickly without the need for power or connectivity, these units offer 360-degree video surveillance, audio intervention tools, and real-time alerts to help deter and respond to crime as it unfolds.
By extending your security perimeter beyond the front door, mobile units give staff and customers greater peace of mind. Their presence reassures people walking to and from vehicles, deters potential offenders, and reduces the pressure on in-store teams.
Whether used as a long-term measure or to address seasonal crime surges, mobile units make it easy to scale your protection without overhauling existing infrastructure.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
Retailers that fail to take action against organized retail crime are facing serious consequences. The fallout extends beyond lost inventory, impacting staff safety, customer experience, and long-term profitability.
Ignoring the problem allows repeat offenders to keep targeting the same stores. It demoralizes employees, creates risk for shoppers and forces reactive spending on loss recovery instead of prevention.
Mobile surveillance provides a visible deterrent, real-time oversight, and video evidence to help prevent crime before it escalates.
Mobile Surveillance for Retail Crime Prevention
Organized Retail Crime doesn’t just happen inside stores. Parking lots, storefronts, and loading areas are frequent targets as they are often under-monitored and easy to exploit.
WCCTV’s mobile surveillance units provide a strong visual deterrent, real-time oversight, and rapid deployment. Our recommended solutions include:
Solar Surveillance Trailers: Ideal for locations where visibility and autonomy are critical, solar trailers operate independently of external power and are equipped with flashing lights, blue strobes, and optional voice-down speakers. These systems are particularly effective in large parking areas, shopping plazas, and high-traffic external spaces where ongoing theft or loitering is a concern.
Pole Cameras: Perfect for compact spaces where power is available, pole cameras mount to existing infrastructure such as lamp posts, storefronts, or utility poles. Despite their discreet form factor, they deliver HD video, remote access, and onboard recording, allowing real-time viewing and secure evidence capture without needing additional site setup.
Both systems are supported by optional live video monitoring and are available to rent or purchase, depending on your operational needs.
Smarter Surveillance for Crime Prevention
Trusted by Retailers Nationwide
WCCTV supplies mobile surveillance systems to some of the most recognized retail brands in the US, providing proven results in the fight against organized retail crime. Our systems are easy to deploy, built for visibility and deterrence, and backed by consistent support that ensures performance.
Our credentials include:
Retailers choose WCCTV because our technology works, our service is reliable, and our systems help deliver real safety improvements on the ground.
A Single Solution for Safety and Security
Stellifii is WCCTV’s secure, cloud-based surveillance platform built to support large-scale retail security operations. It allows loss prevention and security teams to monitor, manage, and respond to incidents across multiple locations from a single dashboard. Key benefits include:
The platform helps centralise operations, giving your teams full situational awareness across every store.
Request a Demonstration
If you'd like any further information on our surveillance systems for ORC prevention, fill out your details and we will be in touch.
What Is Organized Retail Crime (ORC)?
Organized Retail Crime refers to large-scale, coordinated theft and fraud operations targeting retail businesses. Unlike casual shoplifting, ORC involves professional criminal groups stealing high-value goods for resale or return fraud. Common tactics include flash mob robberies, cargo theft, and receipt fraud.
Why is Organized Retail Crime a Growing Concern for Retailers?
ORC is one of the fastest-growing threats to retail operations. In 2024, 78% of U.S. retailers reported a rise in violent ORC-related incidents, with financial losses exceeding $125 billion. These crimes impact employee safety, increase insurance costs, and lead to store closures in high-risk locations.
Which Areas Are Most Vulnerable to Organized Retail Crime?
Parking lots, loading docks, and storefront perimeters are common targets. These external areas often lack strong physical security and provide easy access for criminal groups. Mobile surveillance trailers and pole cameras are effective tools for monitoring and deterring ORC in these zones.
How Can Mobile Surveillance Help Prevent ORC?
Mobile surveillance units serve as a visual deterrent and provide real-time alerts and high-definition footage for investigation. WCCTV's solar-powered trailers and pole-mounted cameras are rapidly deployable and ideal for covering multiple store locations with minimal disruption.
What Role Does License Plate Recognition (LPR) Play in ORC Prevention?
LPR cameras help identify suspect vehicles involved in repeat thefts, cargo crime, or coordinated grab-and-go incidents. The data can be shared with law enforcement for real-time alerts, helping retailers build evidence and prevent future attacks.
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