Retailers and prosecutors say organized retail theft is a major driver of losses; city agencies outline investigations and diversion options

Retailers, police and prosecutors told the Board of SupervisorsPublic Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on May 13 that a persistent rise in shoplifting is harming stores and employees, and that organized retail theft — professional crews stealing to resell online — accounts for a large share of dollar losses.

Ben Dugan, CVSdirector of organized retail crime, said CVSdata show a small number of downtown stores generate a disproportionate share of external‑theft losses: "42% of all of our losses in the Bay Area from external theft came from our 12 stores in San Francisco," he said, adding that professional crews — not opportunistic shoplifters — account for the bulk of dollar losses even if low‑level incidents are more common.

Walgreens regional vice president Jason Cunningham said Walgreens operates 53 San Francisco locations but…