Dude, you need to find new News sources. Retail theft is up by anywhere from 25 to more than 50%, depending on where it’s happening. It cost over $125B last year, and cost an estimated 3/4 of a million jobs.
Back in January, CNN headlines said “Stores say shoplifting is a national crisis. The numbers don’t back it up”. Then, barely two months later, “Why retail theft is soaring: inflation, the economy – and opportunity”.
The solution is simple. Increase the penalty for stealing, and lower that bar so basically anything but petty theft is a felony. Steal a pack of gum, restitution, a fine, community service. Steal a power tool from Home Depot, a felony, restitution, a fine, prison time, parole. Theft would stop real quick. “You man, Johnny got locked up for 6 months for getting caught stealing that power drill from Lowe’s. You believe that shit!?” Allow loss prevention the tools to handle theft, and the company to back them up when they do. They’ve turned into living security cameras, where you just watch someone steal your shit, and leave with it, then when the cops show up 15 minutes after the thieves have left, they shrug and say “We’ll, all we have is a grainy picture that looks like every other dude walking around the store right now.”
“Flash mobs” or whatever you want to call it of looters/robbers, is all over the news. There was three in less than a week in LA, stealing almost 3/4 of a million.
Yeah, it’s a problem. No, nothing is being done about it…well, nothing with any teeth anyway. People need to be made examples of, that’s how society learns.
Yeah, it's really just because there aren't enough "HELP WANTED" signs. 
