Target has announced the closure of nine stores across four states, a move driven by an alarming rise in theft and organized retail crime that has cost the company millions and endangered employees. Despite major investments in enhanced security and deterrence measures — from surveillance systems and additional guards to partnerships with local law enforcement — Target admitted that the wave of retail theft has reached a level that’s simply unsustainable.
For years, the company had been a fixture in many urban and suburban communities, providing jobs and accessible goods to families. But in 2025, organized theft rings have become more sophisticated, with coordinated shoplifting incidents and reselling networks creating significant losses. Target executives said they could no longer justify keeping certain high-risk stores open when both staff safety and profitability were on the line.
The affected stores span four states: California, Oregon, New York, and Washington. Cities like San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and New York City — once considered prime urban markets — have faced a surge in theft-related incidents in recent years. Employees at several of these locations described feeling unsafe during closing shifts and witnessing aggressive behavior from organized shoplifters who operated with impunity. Many of these incidents were captured on viral videos, highlighting how brazen the problem had become.
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