34th Street Partnership
- Retailers across the US are fighting an increase in store theft.
- In New York City, one non-profit retail trade group has started using dogs to combat the problem.
- Their presence, along with guards, has already made a difference, according to the New York Post.
Retailers across the US are fighting an increase in store theft in recent months and are getting creative about how to stop shoplifters.
Many including Walmart and Target are locking up everyday items, and now require customers to ask for staff assistance to buy them. Nike has recently suggested using off-duty police officers to patrol its flagship store in Portland, Oregon, to arrest wrongdoers.
In New York City, one non-profit retail trade group serving Madison Square Garden, Macy's Herald Square and other Midtown retail locations has started using dogs to control the problem, according to a report by the New York Post.
The 34th Street Partnership launched the program in partnership with Stapleton Security Services this month at a local CVS. K-9 units equipped with handlers are posted inside and outside of the store and work in shifts, the New York Post reported.
34th Street Partnership
The dogs do not engage in pursuit of thieves, but their presence, along with guards, has already made a difference, Kevin Ward, vice president of security for the 34th Street Partnership, told the publication.
"It's effective so far," Ward told The New York Post. "We've had a couple of people who were known shoplifters who saw the dog and walked out without stealing anything."
As an example, a man attempted to leave the CVS store with stolen merchandise on February 15, but dropped the items after being approached by the security officer and dog.
In an emailed comment to Insider, the 34th Street Partnership Ward said the firm has "initiated the canine patrol as a pilot project and will evaluate its efficacy as it continues. We hope retailers, especially those most affected by shoplifting, will take notice and ultimately provide us with moral and financial support."
Nationwide, retail theft has become a $95 billion problem for the industry, according to the National Retail Federation's most recent Retail Security Survey.