Study: Colorado retail theft surges, drives up consumer costs

(The Center Square) – Colorado is seeing record levels of retail theft, according to a new report released by the Common Sense Institute of Colorado.

It found the state has lost an estimated $1.3 billion in stolen goods, not to mention the deep impacts on Colorado’s overall economy, job market and tax revenue.

Mitch Morrissey, crime fellow for the institute and one of the report’s authors, told The Center Square in an exclusive interview that this is an issue that impacts all Coloradans, even if they don’t know it.

“The average Coloradan should care about organized retail theft because they are paying for it,” Morrissey explained. “Retailers are forced to increase the cost of goods and merchandise to the consumer to cover the losses generated by organized retail theft.”

Additionally, businesses are forced to cover the expens...