One of the increasingly alarmist trends is what the industry calls "Organized Retail Crime, " usually perpetrated by groups of five to seven crooks who know a certain area intimately, and who are well versed in store security procedures.

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The detective, who joined the force in 2000, exploited "slackness" in the evidence store's security procedures, Mr Greaney said.

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Some banks also treat lost or stolen goods using the same procedures as in-store credit card fraud, requiring retailers to replace a missing item or face a transaction dispute.

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