Retail Security: Shoppers Fleeing Due to Hassles

0:00A new study from Dalbar and competitor IQ drops some real talk on retail security. They survey 500 shoppers in the U.S. and Canada for their 2026 retail security and loss prevention report. Turns out, 38% of folks have ditched a purchase right in the store because of security hassles. Locked merchandise cabinets top the list of gripes, making customers feel like they're not trusted and pushing them straight out the door. Customers are losing sales hand over fist as theft climbs, but these old school barriers are backfiring big time. Shoppers say they already feel safe enough walking into most stores, so extra measures rarely sway where they shop. Instead, that friction sends on as buyers online, where it's hassle free and they don't feel watched like suspects. The data shows people crave smarter tech fixes, like AI and better surveillance, to keep things secure without the annoyance. Reporters break down by age, income and store type, giving clear pointers on what works.

1:01Retailers got a pivot to less intrusive tools that protect without alienating the crowd that actually pays the bills. It's all laid out in the full. Report if you want to dive deeper. This has been Canada News Today, powered by AI.