Shoplifting reports in San Francisco on the decline, study shows

Shoplifting in San Francisco is on the decline, according to a new study from the Council on Criminal Justice.

The study covered reported shoplifting incidents from 2018 through the first half of 2023 in large metro areas, and it showed a 5% drop in San Francisco.

"Our officers are inside retail establishments, stores from Walgreens to some of our bigger retail outlets, and they’re actually aggressively arresting people when they commit crimes," police Chief Bill Scott said.

By comparison, New York City shoplifting increased by 64% and Los Angeles by 61%, the study showed.

The study comes amid a broader discussion about organized retail theft in San Francisco, where several stores have been locking up items and some major retail chains have closed down stores.