Sticky Fingers, Heavy Consequences: The True Cost of Retail Crime
December 12, 2025 – March 2026
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), the winter holiday shopping season ranks among the top five consumer spending events each year, second only to back-to-college shopping. With the surge in traffic to retail stores and online platforms during this period, incidents of shoplifting also rise. Shoplifting encompasses everything from concealing merchandise, attempting to return previously stolen goods, and any other method of taking items from a store with no intention of paying.
This exhibit will explore the many forms of shoplifting, the people who commit these crimes, the consequences of shoplifting, and what consumers and businesses can do to help prevent it during the holiday season.
The display will include commonly shoplifted and counterfeit items, alongside prevention information for consumers and businesses.
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Alcatraz East hosts temporary exhibits, in partnership with outside organizations, related to crime and law enforcement topics.
If your organization is interested in proposing a temporary exhibit, please email .