States Crack Down on Shopping Cart Theft With Harsh New Penalties

Walking off with a shopping cart might seem like no big deal, but in several U.S. states, it’s a crime that could cost shoppers up to $2,500 and even land them in jail.

Major retailers like Walmart and Target lose an estimated 2 million carts a year, racking up more than $175 million in replacement costs. In response, states across the country are cracking down, introducing stricter laws and steeper penalties to deter what’s now seen as a serious source of loss.

In Illinois, offenders...