(The Center Square) – Shoplifting has soared in the U.S. in 2024, forcing many stores to leave cities and continuing a trend in recent years. Shoplifting has risen 24% in the first half of 2024 alone, according to newly released data from the Council on Criminal Justice. The White House cited the CCJ’s data to boast a drop in violent crime so far this year, but a closer look at the data showed that while violent crime has declined, shoplifting continues to rise. CCJ studied 23 U.S. cities. Shoplifting has become a major problem in cities around the country, with some store owners announcing th…