6 Crime Statistics Small Business Owners Should Know

Protecting a small business means preparing for more than one type of security risk. While national property crime and burglary rates have declined in recent years, theft, shoplifting, employee fraud, and organized retail crime continue to create challenges for businesses across the country.

Understanding current crime trends can help business owners identify potential vulnerabilities and make informed decisions about how to protect their people, property, and operations.

Here are six business crime statistics and trends worth knowing in 2026.

1. Shoplifting Remains Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

Shoplifting continues to be a concern for retailers. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, reported shoplifting in 18 U.S. cities was 4% higher in the first half of 2026 than during the same period in 2025. Compared with the first half of 2019, reported shoplifting was approximately 5% higher.

That doesn't mean shoplifting is increasing everywhere. Different studies and markets show different trends, and reporting practices can vary considerably. However, the data suggest that retail theft continues to deserve attention from business owners.

For small retailers in particular, strategies such as visible security cameras, employee training, monitored security systems, and clear procedures for responding to suspicious activity can all be part of a more comprehensive approach to loss prevention.

2. Organized Retail Crime Continues to Evolve

Retail crime is about more than individual shoplifting incidents. The National Retail Federation's 2026 research found that participating retailers experienced a 12.4% decrease in shoplifting incidents from 2024 to 2025, but retailers also reported evolving threats involving organized retail crime, fraud, scams, cargo theft, and other forms of external theft.

NRF’s 2026 research found that 50% of surveyed retailers reported higher frequencies of repeat offenders, while ORC-related incidents increased 40%.

For business owners, that distinction matters. Fewer individual shoplifting incidents don't necessarily eliminate the need for a strong security strategy, especially as offenders and organized groups change their tactics.

Video surveillance can help businesses maintain greater visibility into activity on their property, while professionally monitored solutions can add another layer of protection when a business is closed or employees are not nearby.

3. Small Businesses Can Be Especially Vulnerable to Occupational Fraud

Not every threat comes from outside the business. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners' 2026 Report to the Nations analyzed 2,402 occupational fraud cases across 143 countries and territories, representing more than $3.4 billion in total losses.

ACFE’s 2026 research found that smaller businesses experienced the highest median fraud losses among organization sizes studied. Certified Fraud Examiners also estimate that organizations lose 5% of revenue to fraud each year.

Asset misappropriation, which includes the theft or misuse of an organization's resources, was the most common type of occupational fraud in the 2026 study, appearing in 90% of cases.

For small businesses with limited resources, internal losses can have an outsized impact. Strong internal controls, regular inventory audits, access management, and strategically placed video surveillance can all help business owners maintain greater oversight.

4. Theft Can Create Significant Costs for Small Retailers

Even individual incidents can add up for a small business. In a 2023 Forbes Advisor survey, 85% of small-business retailers said they experienced theft at least once a year. Many also reported monthly theft losses between $500 and $2,500.

While these figures come from a 2023 survey and should not be interpreted as current national crime rates, they illustrate how theft can affect smaller retailers at the individual business level.

And the impact isn't necessarily limited to the value of stolen merchandise. Theft can also result in operational disruptions, additional security expenses, employee concerns, and time spent documenting and responding to incidents.

That makes prevention an important part of protecting not just inventory, but the overall health of the business.

5. Employee Theft and Internal Losses Deserve Attention, Too

External theft isn't the only concern for small retailers. The same 2023 Forbes Advisor survey found that 58% of surveyed small-business retailers said a current or former employee had stolen cash, money, or physical products from their business.

More recent ACFE research reinforces the broader risk of occupational fraud. Its 2026 study found that fraud schemes lasted a median of 12 months before detection, and schemes that continued longer tended to generate significantly greater losses.

Business owners can help reduce internal risk by combining clear policies and internal controls with tools such as access control, intrusion detection, and video surveillance.

For example, access control can help businesses manage who can enter restricted areas, while video surveillance can provide greater visibility into areas containing inventory, equipment, or other valuable assets.

6. Business Burglaries Are Declining, but the Risk Hasn't Disappeared

There is encouraging news when it comes to burglary. FBI data show that burglary nationwide declined an estimated 15.8% from 2024 to 2025, while overall property crime declined 12.4%.

More specifically for businesses, the Council on Criminal Justice found that reported nonresidential burglary decreased 10% in the first half of 2026 compared with the first half of 2025 across the 15 cities included in its analysis.

That's a positive trend. But lower crime rates don't mean an individual business is immune to a break-in.

Risk can vary based on a property's location, hours of operation, visibility, inventory, access points, and other factors. Businesses that are unoccupied overnight, contain valuable inventory or equipment, or have outdoor assets may benefit from additional layers of protection.

Build a Security Strategy Around Your Business

Crime trends change, but one principle remains: effective small business security shouldn't rely on a single device or solution.

A comprehensive security strategy can combine tools such as video surveillance, intrusion detection, access control, professional monitoring, and proactive video surveillance based on the unique risks surrounding your business.

For example, traditional video surveillance can provide valuable visibility and recorded evidence, while Proactive Video Surveillance can take security a step further by allowing trained monitoring professionals to assess flagged activity and take action according to your business's response plan.

The right approach depends on your property, operations, employees, hours, and security concerns.

Guardian Protection works with businesses to design security solutions around their individual needs.

Ready to take a closer look at your business security? Call 1.800.PROTECT (1.800.776.8328) or explore Guardian Protection's business security solutions.