Beyond the Cart: What Pushout Theft Data Is Trying to Tell You
For decades, retailers have measured loss prevention success by the amount of merchandise recovered after a theft. But the true cost of pushout theft (a method of shoplifting where a bad actor steals using the retailer’s provided shopping cart) has outgrown this limited perspective. It’s no longer a string of isolated incidents – it’s a widespread, multi-layered crisis impacting everything from safety to store operations. And Gatekeeper-Systeme is at the forefront, not only addressing the problem, but defining the future of how we understand and respond to it.
Gatekeeper Systems’ solutions shift the industry from reactive loss prevention to proactive, intelligence-led strategies. While others track what’s already gone, Gatekeeper captures what’s happening now, turning every pushout attempt into a source of strategic insight. By combining our patented Purchek® technology with integrated analytics, FaceFirst biometric identification, and managed investigative services, we’re not just stopping theft – we’re mapping the operational patterns behind it. This positions retailers to act faster, staff smarter, and anticipate threats before they escalate. In other words, Gatekeeper Systems is redefining what it means to be truly loss-resistant in today’s retail environment.
The Pushout Theft Problem is Bigger Than Most Realize
The latest 2024 Pushout Theft Annual Snapshot, published by the Pushout Theft News Center, exposes a concerning reality:
- Average loss per incident: $1,112
- Violence involved in 18% of cases
- 35% of offenders not caught
- 44% tied to Organized Retail Crime (ORC)
- 56% opportunistic in nature
Can we predict when pushouts will happen? Maybe… Pushout thefts can happen any day of the week but often follow predictable patterns. Many incidents occur during shift changes or in the late afternoon hours when store activity is higher and attention may be divided. These patterns give retailers valuable opportunities to be more proactive in their prevention efforts.
Based on an analysis of collected news stories, the average age of a pushout offender is about 34 years old, with most falling between 30 and 49. These are not impulsive teenagers but adults making deliberate choices. This information challenges outdated assumptions about who commits these crimes and highlights the need for more intelligent and informed strategies.
The Hidden Costs Go Beyond the Cart
Pushout theft is not just about the loss of goods. It brings with it a surge of consequences:
- Increased employee turnover due to unsafe work environments.
- Brand reputation damage tied to in-store confrontations.
- Legal liability when safety procedures fail or incidents escalate.
- Resource drain as LP teams spend hours manually reviewing footage or writing case files.
The financial losses are substantial, but it’s the collateral damage, both seen and unseen, that push retailers into crisis territory.
From Headlines to Insight: Why Gatekeeper is Leading the Conversation
As the trusted provider of patented intelligent cart solutions like the Die Purchek®-Technologie, Gatekeeper Systems goes far beyond prevention. We are the central hub for pushout intelligence – gathering incident data, identifying trends, and equipping retailers with awareness and insight that unlocks value across multiple business areas.
Through partnerships with retailers, law enforcement, and industry analysts, Gatekeeper aggregates data that drives smarter decision-making and improved store safety. For example:
- A single pushout attempt reveals information on product type, timing, offender behavior, and more.
- Our integrated analytics convert theft footage into useful patterns.
- Through managed services, we classify, enrich, and distribute data across the enterprise – feeding case management systems, biometric tools, and operational dashboards.
This is the transformation we call “From Merchandise Recovery to Data Discovery.” We help retailers transition from simply reacting to thefts, to extracting operational insights from every incident.
Why Acting Now Matters
The scope of the pushout theft crisis will only grow more complex if left unaddressed. Consider:
- In some cases, $9,000 worth of goods were stolen in one event, including alcohol, electronics, and even everyday essentials like SPAM™ and coffee.
- More than 40% of stolen items are never recovered.
- Drug-related motivations were mentioned in 9% of news coverage, revealing deeper social implications.
These are not outliers… they’re growing indicators of a larger, evolving threat.
Gatekeeper Systems: The Thought Leader in Pushout Theft Intelligence
With more than ten million smart-enabled carts in use and the recent acquisition of FaceFirst’s biometric face matching platform, Gatekeeper Systems now leads the way in actionable retail intelligence. We combine prevention, identification, integration, and analysis into a single, scalable solution.
While the industry races to keep up, we’re already steps ahead – designing systems that don’t just stop theft but transform it into strategic insight.
Download the full Pushout Theft Intelligence Snapshot from Pushout Theft News Center and learn about what you might be missing, right at your door. Visit Gatekeeper Systems’ Einblicke page to learn how your loss prevention efforts can evolve into enterprise level intelligence.
