Target blamed theft and violence when it closed 9 stores in New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Portland, but crime is worse at locations it kept open nearby.
At least this article calls out that the stores kept open also are busier, so the higher potential for theft has less impact on profitability.
Nobody closes a profitable location solely over theft. The only closures that shoplifting is driving are ones at stores that were already underperforming. If increasing theft drives a store into the red, that’s a sensible closure, but profitability is the real driver, not theft.
At least this article calls out that the stores kept open also are busier, so the higher potential for theft has less impact on profitability.
Nobody closes a profitable location solely over theft. The only closures that shoplifting is driving are ones at stores that were already underperforming. If increasing theft drives a store into the red, that’s a sensible closure, but profitability is the real driver, not theft.