And while retailers have been complaining about massive revenue losses caused by shoplifters, with target partly blaming the closing of its East Harlem location on theft, the extent has been caused by organized groups or thieves has been difficult to prove or to quantify. The National Retail Federation recently backpedaled from its widely cited report showing the extent organized crime was behind the thefts, which was capturing the attention of lawmakers on a national level, as well as retailers who have been bracing themselves against these ratings parties