Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
- Nike's outlet store in Portland, Oregon, remains closed because of ongoing theft.
- Nike's also recently been hit by organized theft in Memphis, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, and Napa.
- In an email sent to Portland officials, the company said it's at a "critical juncture."
Stores, warehouses, even trains. Pick a spot in the supply chain and Nike's probably had to deal with recent organized theft.
The sportswear giant is among retailers nationwide dealing with an estimated $95 billion of annual retail theft, and it appears to be ratcheting up efforts with local governments to address the problem.
And while sneaker resell platforms have worked not to allow stolen products on their websites, the recent theft comes at a time when there's a defined, and easily accessible, secondary market for Nikes and other luxury goods.
Nike didn't immediately respond to an Insider question about retail theft.
The sportswear giant last fall closed a celebrated outlet store in its hometown of Portland because of ongoing theft.
Last week, boxes of Nike merchandise got stolen from a warehouse in Memphis, according to the local Fox affiliate. Memphis is a Nike logistics hub. The video of the warehouse theft circulated widely on social media.
Also in Memphis: Police arrested two suspects who they say stole about $60,000 of Nike merchandise from five rail cars, according to Sourcing Journal.
In Baton Rouge, thieves stole "several thousand dollars" of merchandise recently, a local news site reported.
On Tuesday, police in Napa arrested a man for attempting to steal from a local Nike store after police were made aware of a retail theft crew targeting Nike stores, according to local news reports.
Nike has 344 US stores, including outlet and Converse stores, according to its last annual report.
In Portland, the company is working more closely with city officials to address theft problems at its now-closed outlet store and full-price downtown location, which has remained open. The company hopes to reopen the outlet store.
In a letter sent to Portland officials this month, Nike said the "safety of our employees and consumers is a responsibility Nike takes very seriously. A safe and secure workplace is essential for our employees, consumers, and communities."
The company wants the city to let Nike hire off-duty police officers who can arrest shoplifters at its Portland stores or it wants to work out a deal where Nike pays the city to hire more police officers.
The company said it's "critical" that the city agree to one of the options by May 1. (Nike's fiscal year starts June 1.)
The city hasn't agreed to either option. But in a subsequent email among themselves, city officials discussed several "short-term strategies" for addressing theft, including increased patrols, "retail theft missions," and asking local businesses to reconsider "hands off" policies with shoplifters.
Insider obtained Nike's letter to the city and the internal email among city officials through a public records request.
"We are at a critical juncture," Nike wrote.