Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Urge DHS to Take on ORC
Dozens of bipartisan lawmakers press DHS for action on organized retail theft

The letter, led by Rep. David Joyce, is signed by dozens of Republicans and Democrats.

A group of more than 80 House lawmakers is pressing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the issue of organized retail crime (ORC), a problem that cities and states across the country have grappled with in recent years.

"The risk of ORC is not only due to the violence oftentimes displayed during the act of retail theft, especially to retail workers, but also health risks posed by consuming stolen goods like baby formula or pharmaceuticals, which may be improperly stored or tampered with prior to the final purchase by a consumer," the legislators are writing in a letter to be sent later on Thursday.

The letter, led by Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio, demands that the Department of Homeland Security update Congress on its "efforts to address the problem."

Specifically, lawmakers are looking for the DHS Homeland Security Investigations office's progress on establishing an organized retail crime coordination center.

They said its establishment "would significantly enhance the ability of law enforcement and businesses to mitigate the threats posed by these sophisticated criminal networks."

"This Center could facilitate better information sharing, resource allocation, and strategic planning, ultimately leading to more effective prevention and enforcement actions," they wrote.

The effects of retail theft, specifically organized theft, have become a bipartisan issue as crime rings spread to more U.S. towns and cities.  foxnews.com


Will Store Panic Buttons Help Retailers Beat Theft?
Can a NY State Law Mandating Panic Buttons Help Curb Retail Theft?
With retail theft still on the rise, the state of New York has mandated a new law that requires retail stores to install functioning panic buttons based on certain criteria.

The increase in retail theft has led to concerns about its impact on businesses and communities, with some stores closing due to the problem. In response, major retailers like Target and Walmart are lowering prices on everyday items to help alleviate the financial strain on shoppers.

And now, major retail stores throughout New York will be mandated to install panic buttons for their employees, following Governor Kathy Hochul's signing of the Retail Worker Safety Act (RWSA) last Thursday. This legislation, designed to enhance safety measures for retail workers, will take effect on March 1, 2025, with panic buttons required to be in place and functional by Jan. 1, 2027, according to Fast Company.

Specifically, this act will apply to any store in New York that "sells consumer commodities at retail and which is not primarily engaged in the sale of food for consumption on the premises," which would include stores like Costco and Target. It also affects any retailers that have 10 employees or more, and for businesses with 500 or more team members across the nation, panic buttons must be accessible throughout the workplace - though mobile phone-based buttons are allowed.

Not all parties involved support the new law. Walmart, the NRF, and the Food Industry Alliance of New York State (FIA) have all previously resisted the RWSA. "Walmart argued against the panic button idea, citing concerns about the likelihood of false alarms. Others expressed worries about the associated costs," according to Reuters.

As retail theft rises, New York's new mandate for panic buttons aims to boost worker safety amid growing crime. This law highlights the broader challenge of balancing immediate safety measures with addressing the root causes of theft, which are often driven by economic hardship. While the panic buttons are a step toward protecting employees, they also raise questions about whether such measures can effectively tackle the deeper socio-economic issues fueling retail crime. The success of this law may hinge on finding a comprehensive approach that addresses both the symptoms and the underlying causes of theft. retailwire.com


Cal Retail Legislative Win
Final Bill in Bipartisan Retail Theft Package Signed into Law
The final bill - AB 1960 (Rivas) - in the Cal Retailers-supported package of bi-partisan Retail Theft bills was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom this morning.

The bills in the package are as follows:

Assembly Retail Theft Bills

• AB 1779 (Irwin) Cross Jurisdictional Prosecution.
• AB 1802 (Jones-Sawyer) Indefinite Organized Retail Theft Statute Extension.
• AB 1960 (Rivas) Sentencing Enhancements: Property Loss.
• AB 1972 (Alanis) Property Crimes Task Force Cargo Theft Expansion.
• AB 2943 (Zbur) Serial Retail Theft.
• AB 3209 (Berman) Retail Theft Restraining Orders.

Senate Retail Theft Bills

• SB 905 (Wiener) Removes Locked Door Loophole for Car Break-ins.
• SB 982 (Wahab) Indefinite Organized Retail Theft Statute Extension.
• SB 1144 (Skinner) Disrupting Online Fences.
• SB 1242 (Min) Sentencing Enhancements for Theft Related Fire Damage.
• SB 1416 (Newman) Sentencing Enhancements for Professional Organized Retail Theft.

The bills' swift movement through the state legislature and into state law make it clear that Retail Theft policy priorities have shifted this year. This seismic shift is a testament to the California Retailers Association team's strategic and persistent work with state leadership including the Governor's office, Speaker's office, Senate Pro Tem, various members of the legislature and other key stakeholders to ensure the safety of our customers, stores and neighborhoods in which we operate in.  calretailers.com


California's Massive Investment to Fight ORC is Starting to Pay Off
Law enforcement agencies that received grants have made 6,922 arrests and invested in new technology and programs to improve public safety in their communities.

State funds for local law enforcement lead to arrests of over 6,900 criminals for property and retail theft
California's largest-ever single investment to combat organized retail crime is paying off. Law enforcement agencies across the state that received Organized Retail Theft grants have made 6,922 arrests and invested in new technology and programs to improve public safety in their communities. The $267 million state investment - a signature part of Governor Newsom's Real Public Safety Plan - was distributed to agencies in 55 cities and counties in October 2023 to crack down on organized retail crime.

Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant

The Organized Retail Theft Prevention (ORT Prevention) Grant is a competitive grant for city police departments, county sheriffs' departments, and probation departments to help crack down on organized retail, motor vehicle, and property theft. California has invested more than $242 million through the grant program, providing funding to 31 city police departments and seven sheriff's offices to assist with operations, equipment and technology, and partnerships. During the first two quarters of the ORT Prevention grant program, local law enforcement recipients:

Arrested a total of 6,922 suspects, including:

• 5,499 organized retail theft suspects
• 1,389 vehicle theft suspects
• 34 cargo theft suspects

Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Program
 
The Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Program provides district attorneys with resources to dismantle complex criminal enterprises involving organized retail theft. Nearly $24.8 million was distributed to 13 district attorneys' offices. During the first two quarters of the grant program, prosecutors charged a total of 1,112 organized criminal enterprise suspects for organized retail theft crimes.  gov.ca.gov


Invisible Barcodes Make More Headlines
Walmart's deploys invisible barcodes to stem shoplifting
Walmart has implemented technology to combat shoplifting at its self-checkout stations. The retailer has introduced invisible barcodes on Great Value branded items, allowing shoppers to simply move an item over the scanner for it to be registered, according to a Daily Mail report.

The invisible barcodes, first introduced in 2019 through a partnership with Digimarc, are designed to speed up the checkout process for both workers and customers. While previously shoppers had to search for and angle items to scan the visible barcode, the technology eliminates the need for this.

"The scanning speed goes up significantly," a Digimarc representative told the news outlet. "Hunting for barcodes during the scanning process becomes unnecessary, which eases the self-scanning for customers."

However, the invisible barcodes also have an unintended consequence: they make it more difficult for shoplifters to pocket items without properly scanning them. This is particularly significant as self-checkouts continue to contribute to retail shrinkage.

Other large supermarkets, such as Wegmans, have also adopted invisible barcodes. retailcustomerexperience.com


Gaston County, NC: Task force to combat uptick in retail theft in Gaston County
A retail crime crackdown involving Homeland Security, NCSBI, and local officials in Gaston County was discussed by law enforcement officials during a Thursday morning news conference. A task force was announced that will help combat an issue that officials said resulted in $400,000 in losses last year. $112.1 billion in losses were a result of thefts in 2022 across the U.S., officials said, and more than $70 billion annually. Gaston County PD, Kings Mountain PD, and the Gaston County DA's Office were a part of the briefing. One example used so far is Kings Mountain resident Jeremy Huffman, 36, who is accused of buying stolen items that would make their way to shopping websites. $167,389 worth of stolen products were recovered from Huffman's home, authorities said.  qcnews.com

 
Letters: Colorado stores' anti-theft measures inconvenience legitimate shoppers

Retail crime is rampant in N.J., but there is a legislative remedy | Opinion
 

Palm Beach, FL: Update: Store owner in $3M Counterfeit case strikes deal that could see charges dropped
A Hypoluxo woman who was accused of selling more than $3 million worth of counterfeit luxury goods at two jewelry stores she owns in Palm Beach struck a deal with prosecutors Tuesday that could lead to charges against her being dropped. Olena Austin, who owns Blesk Jewelry at 350 S. County Road and 313 Worth Ave., reached a pretrial intervention agreement in which prosecutors with the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office will dismiss a single felony charge of "selling or offering for sale counterfeit goods" if she remains law-abiding for the next year. As part of the agreement, Austin, 52, also must pay the state $50 per month toward the cost of her supervision, work regularly at a lawful occupation and remain in Florida unless she secures the consent of her pretrial intervention officer. Austin was arrested June 6 and charged with one count of selling or offering for sale counterfeit goods or services for more than $20,000. She pleaded not guilty to the charge June 12 and is next scheduled to appear before Circuit Judge Sarah Willis on Oct. 22. The arrest followed an investigation by town police that lasted more than six months. Police alleged Austin sold counterfeit clothing and jewelry bearing the brand names of Chanel, Pucci, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany, Rolex, Versace and Bottega Veneta. She was released June 7 on a $50,000 surety bond. Through its Organized Crime, Vice and Narcotics Unit, Palm Beach Police initiated "Operation Worth-Less" in October 2023 after receiving information from the FBI related to the ongoing sale of counterfeit clothing and jewelry from both Blesk Jewelry locations, according to a probable-cause affidavit. The value of the seized counterfeited merchandise was estimated at about $3.4 million, police said.  yahoo.com


Solano County, CA: Store Owner Arrested After Allegedly Buying What He Thought Was Stolen Liquor
The owner of a Vallejo convenience store and gas station was arrested earlier this month after officials with the state Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control duped him into buying what he thought was stolen liquor, according to ABC officials. After a month-long investigation, ABC agents arrested the owner of J&R Gas and Mini-Mart, located at 850 Sereno Drive, on Aug. 12 on suspicion of receiving purportedly stolen property, ABC officials said. The investigation began after agents received a tip about illegal activity taking place at the business from another agency, according to ABC officials. Acting on the tip, undercover agents met with the owner at his business several times and sold him what they told him was stolen liquor, ABC officials said. On the final visit before his arrest, the undercover agent sold the owner more purportedly stolen liquor, which was valued at about $2,000, according to ABC officials.  patch.com


Moses Lake, WA; Wig-Wearing Thief Arrested for Organized Theft from Ulta Beauty in Moses Lake
Officers from the Moses Lake Police Department arrested 36-year-old Brittney Moss on Tuesday in connection with a series of organized retail thefts targeting Ulta Beauty. Moss, a local resident, was taken into custody without incident on felony charges. Moss's arrest followed an ongoing investigation into multiple thefts at the beauty supply store. According to police, Moss had stolen hundreds of dollars' worth of merchandise during each incident. In total, the value of the stolen items exceeded $750, a threshold that allows officers to combine the cases into a felony charge.  yoursourceone.com


Collier County, FL: 2 Miami men accused of stealing nearly $5,000 worth of retail products
Two Miami men have been arrested after Collier County deputies found thousands of dollars worth of suspected stolen merchandise in their car. Detectives say Carlos M. Garcia-Ajete, 40, and Nivaldo J. Garcia-Vento, 41, are believed to be members of an organized retail theft ring that has been stealing from major retailers across Florida. "The theft spree stops here, thanks to the outstanding efforts of our hardworking deputies and detectives," CCSO Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said. "These individuals will now be held accountable for their criminal actions, not only in Collier County but other jurisdictions as well." Curbing retail theft has long been a key element of Sheriff Rambosk's community safety plan. "The theft spree stops here, thanks to the outstanding efforts of our hardworking deputies and detectives," CCSO Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said. "These individuals will now be held accountable for their criminal actions, not only in Collier County but other jurisdictions as well." While searching the car, deputies say they found six trash bags filled with suspected stolen merchandise. The merchandise included:400 sticks of deodorant, Razor blades, Razors, Fishing gear, Cosmetics and more.  nbc-2.com


Alexandria, VA: Update: Two men sentenced to 9 years for massive gun theft from Virginia store
Two men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a brazen burglary where they took 50 guns from a store in Springfield, Virginia. The men then brought the guns into D.C. and sold them for cash. Investigators say one of the stolen guns ended up in the hands of an elementary school student. Victor Jones, 22, from Washington, D.C., and Cedric Minger, 22, of Brandywine, Maryland, were handed prison sentences of nine years and nine years and six months, respectively, following their guilty pleas. The sentencing was the culmination of a case that began with the burglary on April 29, 2023.  wusa9.com


Montgomery Township, PA: Woman with history of shoplifting and active warrant accused of felony theft from Wegmans

Prince Edward Island, Canada: Police searching for person who stole $43K in jewelry from 2 P.E.I. stores; 3 incidents in the Maritimes in recent weeks