JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Holiday shoppers are chasing big Black Friday savings \u2014 but Florida law enforcement is preparing for a surge of thieves who use those same crowds as cover.<\/p>\n
Last week, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a renewed crackdown on organized retail theft. Now, experts say tougher enforcement could shape what shoppers see and what they pay as stores head into one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.<\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<<\/a><\/p>\n A record 186.9 million people are expected to shop in stores or online between Black Friday and Cyber Monday \u2014 up from last year, according to the National Retail Federation.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody likes a sale. Getting the good deal,\u201d one shopper told Action News Jax.<\/p>\n But retailers say that rush brings security risks, especially from organized theft groups targeting high-demand items during peak crowds.<\/p>\n Chip Lupo with WalletHub says he supports Florida\u2019s new statewide push to fight organized theft.<\/p>\n \u201cGood for the AG in Florida because something needs to be done to prevent or curtail retail theft \u2014 there\u2019s a big threat of it this year,\u201d Lupo said.<\/p>\n Nationwide, shoplifting increased 18 percent between 2023 and 2024. Shoppers tell Action News Jax they want tougher consequences.<\/p>\n \u201cThey need to go to jail,\u201d said shopper Cheryl Anne Crist.<\/p>\n WalletHub\u2019s latest analysis shows where shoppers are likely to find the steepest discounts this year \u2014 and warns consumers to watch for prices inflated by theft losses. The study found retailers like JCPenney, Belk and Kohl\u2019s offering some of the biggest markdowns.<\/p>\n Lupo says even with deals, theft ultimately hits customers hardest.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the consumer that ultimately gets hurt by these, because retailers are going to have to up their prices, whether it\u2019s to restock inventory,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n