'Shrink' - Organized retail crime; Robert Dell

Unlike popular culture, shoplifting is often about organized crime, which steal and fence goods from retailers on huge scales. Home Depot busted one such ring with the help of cops. At the core was a man named Robert Dell, who operated a drug recovery program out of a church in St. Petersburg, Fla. He stole $1.4m of goods. Dell used his position as a pastor to coerce people into stealing, often hitting stores five times a day. Dell fenced goods on eBay under the "anointedliquidator" where he had 100% positive feedback and a 35,000 item history.

Dell and his crew were finally busted in August. Shrink, including shoplifting and retail crime, cost US retailers $94.5b in 2021, up from $90.8b in 2020. The number is expected to pass $110b for 2023. Target is closing nine stores across four states citing concerns about safety as retail crime increases.

Toronto cops say they have seen a rise in crimes targeting retail and some of it appears to be organized.