It is difficult to determine an exact global figure for the amount of cash stolen annually because much theft goes unreported and data collection varies by country and type of crime. However, global scams of all types, including those involving digital transfers, accounted for over $1 trillion in losses in a recent year.
Incidents of fraud have exploded in recent years, with Americans reporting a record $12.5 billion stolen in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
1. Cash. Cash is always on the top of burglars' wish list. Unlike other most commonly stolen items that need to be resold in pawn shops or on the street, cash can be used directly and quickly without any conspicuous.
The most stolen items in Australia vary by location, but liquor (especially spirits) tops retail theft lists, while cash, electronics (phones, laptops), and jewelry are top targets in home burglaries, with bikes and car parts like wheels/tyres also popular. In retail, thieves often target high-margin goods like alcohol and cosmetics, while "daigou" resellers drive theft of items like baby formula.
The heist was unique in several ways. First, women have committed under 10% of bank robberies nationally since 2003. In 2023, it was about 8%, FBI statistics show. Second, the average bank robbery take has been below $10,000 for years, and was just over $4,000 in 2019, the latest year the FBI published the average.
Cash drawer limits help prevent theft, robbery, fraud, and errors. They also ensure that tellers have enough cash to serve customers without delays or shortages. Cash drawer limits vary by bank, branch, and teller, but they usually range from $3,000 to $10,000.
Thieves often avoid high-end vehicles like Mercedes-Benz and newer BMWs because they are more difficult to steal, easily tracked, and too risky to sell or strip. These cars often come with multi-layered security systems, making them less attractive targets.
Kmart is trialling new technology to crack down on shoplifters at its Broadmeadows store, installing new security gates in a bid to reduce retail crime.
The most significantly underreported crime in Australia is sexual assault and sexual violence, with vast discrepancies between survey data (revealing millions of incidents) and police-recorded statistics (showing far fewer reports) due to high fear, shame, and perceived lack of support, making it a hidden epidemic despite increasing awareness. Domestic and family violence is also highly underreported, often linked to power dynamics and fear, while child sexual abuse remains a critical hidden issue.
The items most frequently stolen during residential break-ins include:
While pets can sometimes be the target of thieves and robbers, livestock was the least common category of stolen items, according to the UCR data.
The largest art theft in world history occurred in Boston on March 18, 1990, when thieves stole 13 pieces, collectively valued at $500 million, from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Among the pieces stolen was Vermeer's The Concert, which is considered to be the most valuable stolen painting in the world.
According to Psychology Today, people may shoplift for various reasons with most of them not relating at all to a lack of money or a need for the item being taken. A couple common reasons include an addiction to stealing and a mental disorder that encourages the behavior.
A recent study done by financial auditor Deloitte found Generation Z is three times more likely to fall for an online scam compared to Baby Boomers. Experts say it's because of their online habits and scammers know where to find them.
Because your wallet usually has your bank and credit cards, as well as your driver's licence or health card, identity thieves can use that information to try to open new credit accounts in your name.
We've seen abusive and threatening encounters in our stores increase by 50 per cent last year alone. FRT was an important and proven tool for helping to keep our team and customers safe from repeat offenders who had previously caused harm or committed unlawful activity in our stores.
Most stores these days have surveillance cameras to track and record the behavior of shoplifters.
For example in June 2020 a 15-year-old retail level 1 employee would earn $12.04 per hour, while a 21-year-old in the same position would earn $26.76.
What Are the Safest Cars?
The least stolen cars are ones with bright colours such as orange, green, yellow, and pink. This is because they're uncommon, easy to notice, and hard to sell. Car thieves tend to go for vehicles in common colours, such as white, grey, and black.
Subaru cars are difficult to steal in comparison to other cars out there. One of the ways that you can't steal a Subaru car is by hotwiring. The technology itself of a Subaru vehicle is completely digital and so revolutionary that something as simple as jump-starting a Subaru is not even an option.
Treasury regulation 31 CFR 103.29 prohibits financial institutions from issuing or selling monetary instruments purchased with cash in amounts of $3,000 to $10,000, inclusive, unless it obtains and records certain identifying information on the purchaser and specific transaction information.
A cash deposit of more than $10,000 into your bank account requires special handling. Your bank must report the deposit to the federal government. That's because the IRS requires banks and businesses to file Form 8300 and a Currency Transaction Report, if they receive cash payments over $10,000.
It's not fully safe to keep $500,000 in one bank because standard government deposit insurance (like the FDIC in the U.S. or FCS in Australia) typically covers only up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category; the excess over $250,000 is unprotected if the bank fails, so you should spread your funds across different banks or use different ownership structures (like joint or business accounts) to ensure full coverage, or explore cash management accounts.