THE TOP 20 MOST SHOPLIFTED ITEMS

No matter what they sell -- from denim jeans to digital cameras -- retailers have one terrible thing in common: shoplifting. 96 percent of retailers surveyed by the National Retail Federation have been a victim of organized retail crime -- that is, shoplifting with the intent of selling the goods. Thieves embarking on this type of shoplifting typically sell the stolen goods on street corners, flea markets or pawn shops. In a particularly brazen move, they may also return the stolen goods to the store for a fraudulent refund. Often, the goods are sold through online auction websites.

The top 20 most shoplifted items:

1. Diabetic testing strips
2. High-end liquor
3. Laptop computers
4. Cigarettes
5. Infant formula
6. Denim jeans
7. Digital cameras
8. Allergy medicine
9. Designer clothing
10. Handbags
11. Lotions and creams
12. Cell phones
13. LCD televisions and monitors
14. Kitchen Aid mixers
15. Pregnancy tests
16. Pain relievers
17. High-end vacuum cleaners
18. Energy drinks
19. Weight loss pills
20. Electric toothbrushes and replacement heads

The top 10 cities for shoplifting:

1. Atlanta
2. Baltimore/Washington, D.C.
3. Chicago
4. Dallas
5. Houston
6. Los Angeles/Orange County, California
7. Miami
8. New York City
9. Phoenix
10. San Francisco/Oakland