Boosted

There's something happening in America's retail spaces that most shoppers never notice. Between the bright lights and friendly greeters, an invisible war rages daily. They call it "boosting" – a term that might sound positive but masks a destructive reality that costs businesses billions and affects us all.

Boosting isn't random shoplifting. It's calculated, coordinated, and carried out by networks of professionals. The people who physically steal the merchandise are literally called "boosters" – they're just one gear in a well-oiled criminal machine. They target specific items, often working in teams, creating distractions while others sweep merchandise into specially designed bags or clothing.

The stolen goods move quickly through a chain of handlers, ending up sold online, at flea markets, or through other "fences" who specialize in moving hot merchandise. It's retail's underground economy, and it's booming.

What's wild is the scale of this problem. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that organized retail crime costs federal and state governments nearly $15 billion in lost tax revenue. That gets passed to consumers – about $500 annually per American in additional costs. That's not pocket change, friends.

Retail employees aren't just there to fold clothes and stock shelves. They've become unwitting soldiers in this battle. Modern training programs now teach them to identify suspicious behaviors without putting themselves at risk.

"The Triangle Offense" isn't just for basketball anymore. The best loss prevention strategies operate on three principles:

1. Advanced surveillance systems and AI to capture evidence

2. Employee training to identify suspicious behaviors

3. Collaboration with law enforcement agencies

But here's the catch – violence is increasing. According to the National Retail Federation, 81% of retailers reported that organized retail crime offenders have grown more violent, with 67% noting increased aggression compared to previous years. Employees are taught to observe and report, never confront. Their safety comes first.

But there's a deeper metaphor here that's been on my mind lately. How often do we experience "boosting" in our personal lives? I'm not talking about theft, but about those people who take without giving, who drain our energy, time, and joy without contributing anything meaningful in return.

You know the type – the friend who only calls when they need something, the colleague who takes credit for your work, the relationship that leaves you feeling emotionally bankrupt. These are life's "boosters," and they operate with the same calculated precision as their retail counterparts.

In Proverbs 20:17, we're reminded: "Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel." The immediate gratification of taking what isn't earned – whether merchandise or emotional capital – always leads to emptiness.

And just as retail employees need training to identify boosters, we need wisdom to recognize when we're being emotionally looted. Psalm 119:18 asks, "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." Sometimes we need divine clarity to see what's happening right in front of us.

Retailers invest millions in security systems to protect their assets. Shouldn't we do the same for our hearts and minds?

Philippians 4:8 offers a powerful framework: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

This is your personal security system, a filter that helps you discern who and what deserves access to your inner life.

Just as retail employees are taught to work in teams to combat boosting, we need community. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." When we surround ourselves with people who add value rather than subtract it, we create a defense against life's boosters.

The most progressive retail organizations don't just focus on catching boosters; they work to understand and address the root causes. Similarly, our response to those who take from us shouldn't end at creating boundaries.

Matthew 5:44 challenges us with: "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This doesn't mean allowing yourself to be continuously exploited, but it does suggest that our response should ultimately aim toward healing rather than punishment.

I've found that some of life's "boosters" are operating from places of deep woundedness. Their taking is often an attempt to fill internal voids. Understanding this doesn't excuse the behavior, but it helps us respond with compassion while maintaining healthy boundaries.

When retailers experience significant losses from boosting, they don't just write them off and move on. They analyze what happened, strengthen their defenses, and work toward recovery.

Isaiah 58:12 speaks to this beautifully: "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

After experiencing emotional or spiritual boosting, recovery isn't just possible; it's promised. The process of rebuilding after loss can actually leave us stronger than before.

Whether we're talking about retail crime or personal relationships, boosting thrives in environments of unawareness. The more we understand the tactics, recognize the warning signs, and implement wise prevention strategies, the less vulnerable we become.

Proverbs 4:23 puts it simply: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." This might be the most important anti-boosting strategy of all.

In retail and in life, what we protect prospers. What we neglect gets boosted. The choice, ultimately, is ours.

-Deck