Key Findings from The Loss Prevention Research Council’s State of Retail Safety Report 

Retail is the engine that keeps the American economy running. But according to new data, the people powering the industry are in need of better protection. 

The 2025 State of Retail Safety report from the Loss Prevention Research Council and Verkada surveyed 1,000 retail workers across the United States and found that frontline employees are facing more threats and violence, and feeling less safe at work than they did just one year ago.

In this blog, we'll break down the report's key findings and explore how the right security solutions address escalating safety concerns without sacrificing customer experience or operational efficiency.

Retail Workers Feel Less Safe This Year

More than one-third of the workers surveyed say they’ve felt unsafe at work this year—up from 27% in 2024. Theft, aggressive customer behavior, verbal harassment, and robbery are their top concerns. And these concerns are pretty constant. In fact, nearly 40% of workers say they worry about theft and verbal harassment almost every time they go to work.

Violence on the Job Is Rising 

Retail workers aren't fearful for no reason; they're experiencing violence firsthand. Over half have witnessed theft or aggressive behavior while at work. Many of the types of workplace violence tracked in the survey were more common in 2025 than in 2024:

• Physical assault rose from 14% to 22%
• Aggression from current coworkers increased from 17% to 26%
• Threats from past employees or job candidates jumped from 19% to 28%
• Aggressive behavior and threats from customers ticked up from 54% to 57%

The Turnover Crisis Is Getting Worse

This violence has a ripple effect. When employees don't feel safe, they don't stick around. One in four retail workers reported that they've thought about looking for a new job due to personal safety concerns. Among those who experienced violence or verbal threats, that number jumps even higher. Managers are feeling the impact on the hiring side as well. According to the report, roughly half say safety concerns are a barrier to hiring. 

Workers Are Speaking Up, But…

The good news is that 89% of retail workers say they feel comfortable reporting violent incidents to their employers, and two-thirds always report when something happens. Satisfaction with employer responses is pretty high, too, with 84% saying they're happy with how their company handled reports of violence. But there's a disconnect: despite these positive indicators, 61% of workers feel their employers prioritize inventory safety over employee safety.

Men Are Experiencing Violence at Higher Rates

The data also shows that men are experiencing workplace violence at higher rates than women across nearly every category, including:  

• Physical assault (30% vs. 12%)
• Aggressive behavior from coworkers (30% vs. 21%)
• Threats from past employees (34% vs. 22%)

So, it comes as no surprise that men are more likely than women to say they'd leave their current job over safety concerns in the next year.

Physical Theft Prevention May Be Making Things Worse

Tools like locked cabinets and checkout gates have become increasingly common in retail spaces, but they might actually be contributing to the problem. Workers noted that these measures cause friction and decrease efficiency. Plus, they affect customer interactions. A startling 74% of U.S. adults say certain theft prevention measures make them less likely to shop in-store, and 56% agree that physical theft prevention tools frustrate them. This creates a dangerous cycle: frustrated customers lead to confrontations, and confrontations can lead to violence. 

The Right Tools Provide Peace of Mind

The silver lining is that retail workers believe better security solutions could go a long way in preventing incidents. When asked which security solutions would give them the most peace of mind, their top choices were:

• Video security monitoring 
• On-site security guards 
• Alarm systems
• Panic buttons 
• Parking lot surveillance units

Protect Your Team with LVT's Retail Security Solutions

Retail leaders have a responsibility to act—and LVT has just the right tools for the job. Our solutions give you full site coverage without adding friction to the shopping experience or interrupting operations for staff. 

Thanks to agentic AI, our systems automatically detect threats and know the difference between harmless movement and suspicious behavior. They can also automatically trigger deterrents like flashing lights or personalized loudspeaker warnings, so security teams can monitor situations from a safe distance and only enter when needed. Plus, we offer mobile, pole-mounted, or building-mounted solutions that can be deployed wherever you need them. 

Contact our team today and we’ll help you build a safer retail environment.