Home Depot Commits to Cities That Rivals Flee Over Crime Fears

Home Depot Inc. has remained committed to major US cities including Oakland, California, Detroit and Philadelphia as rampant retail theft has driven rivals out, according to Chief Executive Officer Ted Decker.

The home-improvement retailer, which has been investing heavily in technology to prevent organized retail crime, saw a notable increase in theft beginning about five years ago, Decker said. In 2023, the company experienced more than 142,000 instances of shrink, which includes petty crimes, goods stolen or lost by employees, and organized retail crime.

In one case last year, a former pastor in Florida was accused of running an ...