What Are the Most Stolen Items From Walmart in Louisiana?

SHREVEPORT, LA – Christmas is a time of joy and family gatherings, but it also brings out folks looking to get something for free. It’s a busy time for thieves. We will see an increase in porch pirates who prey on folks who order things online. We will also see a spike in retail thefts.

Walmart is the nation’s largest retailer, bringing in more than $600 billion a year. But the retail giant also has to deal with millions in losses because of thefts. Every year, Walmart loses about 1% of its total projected revenue to shoplifting. Think about that. Thieves make off with $6 billion dollars from Walmart each year. That means each Walmart store writes off at least $60,000 every year because of shoplifting.

What Are the Top 10 Items Stolen from Walmart?

A report in the Business Insider has these items on the list:

Cosmetics such as lipstick, lip gloss, and mascara;

Small electronics such as watches, smart phones, and chargers;

Toys like Hot Wheels, Pokemon cards, and Yu-Gi-Oh cards;

Over-the-counter medication such as pain relievers and stool softeners;

Food like packaged meat, baby food, deli food, and liquor;

Intimate items such as condoms and sex toys;

Clothes and accessories such as underwear, handbags, and sunglasses;

Jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, and bracelets;

School and office supplies like pens, pencils, and sticky notes; and

Home essentials such as laundry detergent and toilet paper.

Many companies, including Target and Walmart are now starting to lock up big containers of laundry detergent in an effort to prevent theft.

You also might see baby formula behind locked cabinets for the same reason.

Several reports say there has been an increase in criminal organizations stealing large quantities of goods and then reselling these items online.

Part of the problem is that retailers have put in place policies to keep employees from intervening. Some cities have also stopped responding to many shoplifting complaints unless the dollar amount is quite significant.

I have been guilty of saying if you are going into a store to steal food because your children are hungry, I would not be able to punish you severely. But when you look at the top food items stolen, I might have to rethink that theory. Thieves are loading up with meat, seafood, candy, alcohol and energy drinks. Those are the most stolen items from the grocery side of these stores. That sure doesn’t sound like someone trying to feed children. This just sounds like crime.

Because of this crime, some major retailers have been forced to boost prices and others have been forced to close because of widespread thefts.