retail crime compared to 2019. designer clothes and handbags now among the top targets. according to law enforcement officials, california is now home to three of the nation's top ten cities for organized retail theft. you're a holiday shopper in california. how concerned should you be about this? >> i think people need to keep their wits about them. don't flash cash. keep your purse in two hands or close to your body under your coat. at the sign of trouble, loud noise, cars where they don't belong, get off the sidewalk, get off the street. >> reporter: we don't know why it's happened here and now. some are pointing to legislation that downgrades the penalty for this kind of crime. others are pointing to copy cat attacks and the internet. many of the goods are on sale on fringe websites. >> erin, thank you so much. with me now is retired seattle police chief and analyst carmen