A large portion (63%) of respondents who have witnessed retail crime are more likely to shop online.

Lingering retail crime has some consumers opting for online shopping instead of in-store visits.

According to a new survey from technology solution company Flock Safety and government technology company Zencity, approximately one-third of consumers view retail crime as a serious issue. Nearly six-in-10 (58%) shoppers prefer online shopping due to crime concerns, and 63% who have witnessed retail crime are more likely to shop online.

Efforts by retailers to secure merchandise are being noticed. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of consumers have noticed locked shelves or items behind a counter, while 59% have observed video cameras inside or outside stores. Just over half (51%) of consumers report waiting over five minutes to access items in stores with locked merchandise.

Overall, consumers support stronger security measures to deter crime. Nearly half (45%) of consumers favor using technology to combat organized retail crime, with support rising to 52% in major metro areas. More than half (54%) say license plate recognition (LPR) cameras can help deter retail theft, and 62% believe recorded security video increases store safety.