Companies say organized retail crime is on the rise, but there’s no data to prove it

Retailers have zeroed in on organized retail theft as a top priority, as more and more companies blame crime for lower profits. But it is difficult for companies to tally just how much stolen goods affect their bottom lines — and even tougher to confirm their claims.More than a dozen retailers, including Target, Dollar General, Foot Locker, and Ulta call out shrink or more specifically retail theft, as a reason they cut their profit outlook or reported lower margins when they released earnings in May and June. Those mentions could flare up again as a flurry of retail companies will report financial results starting next week. Read more at CNBC.