CEO's of well-known retail chains are sounding the alarm on skyrocketing rates of retail theft.
https://tinyurl.com/2562ny45
Walmart's CEO says that theft overall in the industry is up 26% and if it cannot be reined-in a combination of price increases and store closings will result. (while they have not specified the reason it is widely speculated here that this is the reason Walmart decided to close their store at the Waterworks Mall in Pittsburgh).
Target's CEO says that retail theft has shaved $600 million from their gross margins.
Much of the theft is the work of organized gangs. That being the case the other issue that concerns these CEO's is rising violence in their stores.