U.S. Shoplifting Rates Rise Through First Half of 2026

Theft remains elevated as major retailers continue to rely on self-checkout technology.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Property Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a shopping cart, evoking the persistent trend of rising retail theft in the United States. — Shoplifting incidents across the United States rose by 4% in the first half of 2026, as retail theft remains significantly above pre-2023 levels. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe the rise of self-checkout kiosks has made it too easy to steal?

Shoplifting reports across the United States increased by 4% during the first half of 2026. This follows data from 2025 that showed theft levels remained 7.5% higher than in 2023.

Why it matters

Retailers continue to utilize self-checkout systems to manage store operations and consumer preferences despite the persistent challenge of store losses. These companies generally avoid disclosing specific loss-prevention tactics to prevent potential shoplifters from bypassing security procedures.

A survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers conducted in July 2026 found that 27% of self-checkout users deliberately took an item without scanning it. Among those who committed such thefts, 46% reported having been caught previously.

The players

Kroger

This company operates more than 2,719 stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia.

Walmart

This retail giant operates more than 4,600 locations throughout the United States.

Target

This chain maintains self-checkout stations in approximately 1,750 of its 1,950 total U.S. stores.

LendingTree

This financial services company conducted a survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers regarding their shopping habits in July 2026.

The details

Grocery stores serve as the leading location for shoplifting, accounting for 39% of reported incidents. Most commonly stolen items include food and nonalcoholic beverages, even as major chains like Kroger, Walmart, and Target maintain thousands of self-checkout stations nationwide.

2023 served as the base year for shoplifting comparisons.
2025 shoplifting reports remained 7.5% higher than 2023 levels.
Shoplifting increased by 4% during the first half of 2026.
A survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers was conducted in July 2026.
This report was published on October 15, 2026.

Legal Context

This trend of increased retail theft mirrors concerns regarding the widespread adoption of self-checkout technology across national retail chains. The data extends findings from the 2026 LendingTree survey on self-checkout theft by confirming consistent year-over-year increases in illicit activity.

Increased shoplifting leads many retailers to implement stricter security measures, such as enhanced camera monitoring and technology-based loss prevention. These changes can result in more intensive checkout scrutiny for the average shopper.

The takeaway

Retailers are currently balancing the operational efficiency of self-checkout kiosks against the rising financial losses caused by theft. Consumers should be aware that accidental errors in scanning items are sometimes indistinguishable from deliberate shoplifting to security systems.