Retail Thefts Declining In Bensalem After Spike 2 Years Ago

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — At one time, retail thefts in the township were at an all-time high. Something needed to be done.

The Bensalem Township Police Department needed help. So they brought in businesses to help their efforts in combatting the crimes.

The Bensalem Secure Theft Reduction Task Force was launched in early 2024 to combat retail shoplifting and theft throughout Bucks County’s largest municipality.

So far, the program is reporting measurable success.

Following a spike in retail thefts in 2024, reported incidents fell 29 percent in 2025.

Between January and May this year, retail thefts have decreased 16 percent from the same period in 2025.

At the same time, police closed cases at an impressive 78 percent clearance rate.

“This is exactly the type of outcome we hoped to achieve when we brought together business leaders, law enforcement, and community stakeholders,” said Bob Norkus, executive director of the Bensalem Economic Development Corporation (BEDC). “Retail theft is not just a big-city problem. It impacts businesses of every size, affects employees, drives up costs for consumers, and threatens economic growth."

The Bensalem Secure Theft Reduction Task Force is a partnership among the Bensalem Economic Development Corporation, Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo’s Office, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, and the Bensalem Police Department.

The initiative was designed to address both external retail theft and internal business theft through a combination of education, technology, reporting resources, information and intelligence sharing, and enforcement.

Bensalem Police said that retail theft remains an ongoing challenge nationwide, but local businesses have become increasingly engaged in prevention efforts.

“Strong partnerships with our business community have allowed us to identify trends faster, respond more effectively, and hold offenders accountable,” said William McVey, Bensalem Director of Public Safety. “The reduction in theft incidents, combined with our high clearance rate, shows that a proactive and collaborative approach can produce meaningful results."

Businesses interested in learning more about Bensalem Secure resources can contact BEDC at info@bensalemedc.org, call 484-354-0287, or visit BensalemEDC.org.