Nike faces onslaught of thefts from the warehouse to retail shelves

Nike is facing an onslaught of theft crimes on its proviso chain, including thieves stealing from warehouses and trains.

Retail thefts person ballooned to a $95 cardinal problem successful nan U.S., according to figures from nan National Retail Foundation. For apparel behemoth Nike, theft crimes are seemingly escalating from criminals stealing disconnected shelves, to perps targeting trucks and trains that carrier nan goods.

Nike's shipment hub successful Memphis, Tennessee, has seen repeated crimes successful nan past fewer weeks alone, Insider reported.

A brace of thieves was charged this twelvemonth aft they allegedly stole $60,000 worthy of Nike merchandise from 5 train cars successful Memphis. Other thieves successful nan area earlier this period besides stole 10 to 20 boxes from a storage successful nan city. 

PORTLAND NIKE STORE ABRUPTLY CLOSES AFTER BRAZEN SHOPLIFTING INCIDENTS

A shop model dressed up pinch Nike shop logo astatine nan outlet colony Belaya Dacha extracurricular Moscow, Russia, April 23, 2016. (Reuters/Grigory Dukor / Reuters)

"In those boxes, it’s astir apt astir six pairs of shoes. Sometimes 12, depending. They’re called cases," Dominique Worthen, proprietor of Memphis sneaker repair shop SnkrrBar, told Fox 13 Memphis. "And I only cognize that because I person friends who activity astatine Nike."

Worthen said he believes thieves quickly waste stolen merchandise, noting nan high-demand products – particularly nan company's shoes – are sometimes moreover deemed worthy to termination over.

"How overmuch do they want? How overmuch are they asking? It’s going to get sold," he said. "I’ve seen group waste and acquisition a brace of sneakers for a car. It’s crazy valuable. People miss activity to spell get caller sneakers."

"It’s crazy man," Worthen added to Fox 13. "People are fighting each other, sidesplitting each different complete sneakers each day."

In September, thieves stole $800,000 from 20 trucks astatine Nike’s distribution halfway successful Memphis, Fox 13 reported astatine nan time.

Nike stores person besides been nan tract of repeated theft crimes, including astatine a institution outlet successful Portland, Oregon. Witnesses said they’ve seen suspects tally retired of nan shop pinch their arms afloat of stolen goods. The shop abruptly closed past year, but institution leaders are hoping to reopen nan location.

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Nike sent a missive to Portland leaders this period requesting that off-duty officers supply information to nan shop to trim backmost connected unit thefts. Nike is headquartered retired of Beaverton, which is located little than 10 miles extracurricular of Portland. 

Nike Community Store successful Portland, Oregon. (Google Maps)

"We are astatine a captious juncture," Nike wrote to metropolis leaders, according to Insider. It is unclear if further information will beryllium provided to nan store.

Theft astatine stores has besides extended to cities specified arsenic Baton Rouge, wherever criminals made disconnected pinch thousands successful merchandise past month. A suspected thief successful California was arrested this period aft attempting to allegedly bargain from a Nike shop successful Napa.

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Nike did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital’s petition for remark connected nan various theft crimes it has faced successful caller months.

WALMART CEO DOUG MCMILLON SAYS THEFT IS 'HIGHER THAN WHAT IT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN'

A Niketown shop successful downtown San Francisco, California. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Theft crimes person exploded crossed nan state successful caller years, pinch industry leaders specified arsenic Walmart CEO Doug McMillon informing nan crimes could financially impact customers. 

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"Theft is an issue. It’s higher than what it has historically been," McMillon told CNBC’s "Squawk Box" successful December. He added that if nan crime activity is not halted soon and if prosecutors don't bring charges against shoplifters, "prices will beryllium higher, and/or stores will close."