Retail Theft in 2025: Can AI Vision Replace Human Guards?
đź“–Â 3 minutes read
🗓️ 09/05/25
👤 Tapway
Key Takeaways
• Vision AI is transforming retail security by detecting theft and suspicious behavior in real time
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• AI can’t replace human guards, but enhances their ability to respond quickly and effectively
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• A hybrid model combining AI and human presence is the future of retail loss prevention
The shoplifter issue and AI Vision
Retail theft is projected to hit $140 billion in the U.S. alone by 2025, but it’s not just a Western problem. Globally, the retail loss prevention market is forecasted to reach $45.9 million, driven by a surge in shoplifting, employee fraud, and organized retail crime. In Malaysia, internal losses remain a key concern, with some retailers reporting shrink rates as high as 10%.
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As threats evolve, retailers are turning to AI in retail security, especially Vision AI loss prevention solutions, to protect assets and improve workplace safety. These AI-powered surveillance systems can detect loitering, shelf sweeps, and suspicious group activity, and flag self-checkout theft in real-time. Major chains like Kroger have reported significant improvements in shrink rates and operational efficiency after implementing computer vision in retail.
Why AI Vision alone isn’t enough
However, even the most advanced systems have limits. AI can’t physically intervene, empathize, or de-escalate a volatile situation, that’s where human guards still play a critical role. But what AI can do is act as an extra set of eyes: always on, never distracted, and capable of analyzing thousands of frames per second.
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Vision AI excels where the human eye might miss, flagging anomalies, alerting guards in real time, and enabling them to take immediate action. Instead of replacing security guards, AI enhances their effectiveness, allowing them to focus on high-risk situations that truly require human intervention.
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That’s why the smartest retailers in 2025 are adopting a hybrid security model: AI handles the 24/7 surveillance and rapid alerting, while human personnel step in to act decisively when needed.
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Vision AI doesn’t replace security guards, it sharpens their instincts and supercharges their response.
How Tapway Powers Smarter Security
At Tapway, we help bring this hybrid security model to life. Our Vision AI platform acts as a tireless digital partner to your security team, monitoring high-risk zones 24/7, detecting shoplifting and internal theft, and delivering instant alerts that empower your guards to respond faster and smarter. From organized retail crime detection to self-checkout monitoring, Tapway’s solutions are designed to support, not replace, human presence, making your retail operations safer, more efficient, and future-ready.
Ready to level up your retail security with Vision AI? Discover how our hybrid solution can help reduce theft and empower your guards – Request Demo
