Traditionally it’s been a way for big businesses to bully local municipalities into giving them free security via local cops, tax incentives, etc by claiming that they’re losing so much money to shoplifters that they have no choice but to close shop unless something changes (which is always bullshit, they’re printing money). Walmart is infamous for doing this to small towns after they annihilate any local competition through lower prices from their economy of scale.

I think it’s simply that they want to close stores, and just saying it’s because store has lower profits than their target will mean they have to field a bunch of calls and letter campaigns from grumpy people trying to tell them their neighborhood is important, while saying it’s crime will get those same people to blame anyone else.

I always figured the playbook was something like:

1. Cut staffing (and save $$$)
2. Shrinkage increases due to fewer staff
3. Construct a narrative around rising crime, of which locking up products is a part
4. Get more cops

Congratulations, you’ve successfully shifted costs of protecting your property on the public!