Michigan Shoplifters Aim For Target: The 15 Most Stolen Items

I think the fine folks in the Target marketing department may want to rethink the whole "Expect More, Pay Less" slogan. After the year of shoplifting losses in 2023, the new, more accurate slogan should read, "Expect More and Please Pay." The Mitten State's sticky-fingered thieves are turning Target into a...well, a literal target.

Last year, shoplifting increased 120% at Target stores in Michigan and around the country. This is not just a crime spree—it's practically a sport. Nationwide, "shrinkage" (a fancy retail term for theft or missing inventory) surged by 94% over five years, costing retailers a wallet-draining $112 billion in 2023, according to Safe and Sound Security. Capitol One reports that in 2022, Michigan retailers lost $2.298 billion to theft. 

The Real Cost of Paying Nothing

If you were under the impression that the nation's retail giants, including Target, would take billion-dollar losses and not pass those costs onto us, the consumers, you would be wrong. We end up paying for every item shoplifted when we actually pay for our goods.

You might assume that most of those robbing stores blind are teenagers, and you would be wrong. According to Express Legal Funding, nearly 67% of shoplifters are between 18 and 29 years old—fully grown adults who, by now, should know better. Only 25% are minors, so don't just side-eye the kid in the hoodie—keep an eye on the guy wearing the sweater vest stuffing toothpaste into his pockets.

The 15 Most Commonly Shoplifted Items From Target in Michigan

So, what exactly is so irresistible in Target? The allure of a designer throw pillow? The siren song of toiletries and tech?

RELATED: The 10 Most Commonly Stolen Cars and Trucks in Michigan

Keep on scrolling as we dive into the 15 most commonly stolen items from Michigan Target stores. Spoiler alert: It's not those $1 bin knickknacks that we all secretly comb through.