80+ Lawmakers Calls for 'Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center'
Joyce, Lee lead request for update on creation of Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center
With the rise of organized retail crime across America, U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Laurel Lee (R-FL) led 83 of their colleagues in requesting an update on efforts by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to establish an Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center.

The fiscal year 2024 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act incorporated bipartisan language that encouraged HSI to consider establishing the center to address the more violent organized retail crime happening throughout the country, according to a Sept. 12 letter the lawmakers sent to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Patrick Lechleitner and HSI Executive Associate Director Katrina Berger.

Beyond public safety, ORC also endangers Main Street businesses and the economy, wrote the lawmakers, citing a Retail Industry Leader's Association report showing that ORC caused nearly $70 billion in financial losses due to stolen goods from U.S. retailers in 2019.

"That number has continued to increase year by year, impacting businesses of all sizes, communities, and consumers," they wrote.

Rep. Joyce, Rep. Lee, and their colleagues acknowledged current law enforcement efforts to combat ORC across the country, but noted that they continue to believe that establishing a formalized Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center within HSI "would significantly enhance the ability of law enforcement and businesses to mitigate the threats posed by these sophisticated criminal networks," according to their letter.

Among the members who joined Reps. Lee and Joyce in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), John Joyce (R-PA), Richard McCormick (R-GA), Carol Miller (R-WV), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), David Valadao (R-CA), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Steve Womack (R-AR), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), and Dina Titus (D-NV).  riponadvance.com


ORC Tactics, Methods & Timing Getting More Sophisticated
Combating Organized Retail Crime

Retailers are adapting their loss prevention strategies, using new technology, community resources and best practices to counter increasingly sophisticated shoplifting tactics.

Organized shoplifting, flash mobs and smash and grabs aren't new phenomenon, but the tactics, methods and timing criminals are employing today are changing. In response, retailers are stepping up their loss prevention strategies with help from new technology, community resources and evolving best practices.

"I've been at this for over three decades, and shoplifting was always viewed as the invisible crime. They would go in, steal one or a few items, conceal it and try to leave without being recognized," said David Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations for the National Retail Federation.

Organized retail crime (ORC), in particular, used to occur during non-operating hours, while mobs were most likely to loot during times of civil unrest.

"The challenge now is we're seeing all of that happening during operating hours, and even the shoplifting itself has become less invisible and much more open and brazen," Johnston said.

What's more, the same shoplifter might return several times, and the level and threat of violence has escalated as well.

What's more, over the past few years, these crimes have evolved to become increasingly calculated, better executed and more frequent. ORC today isn't just targeting large national brands either. "It impacts segments that go from the mass merchants all the way down to a convenience store," Johnston said.

Johnston pointed out ORC groups vary in scope and scale, and investigations at the local and federal levels show that networks vary dramatically in terms of who they target and how they resell the merchandise. cstoredecisions.com


Will Consumers Just Have to Live with the Impacts of ORC?
Organized retail crime raising prices, reducing jobs

There's probably no going back, so get used to playing the game the new way

If you think that this boogie man will go away anytime soon, sorry. Stores and law enforcement are trying their best, but we're probably going to have to deal with climbing prices, store closings, and shopping hassles before it gets better.

So what do we do? We need to start thinking about how we can get around these roadblocks, get our stuff, and keep from losing our wits. Here are some ideas you might want to consider:

Use online shopping wherever you can: In the online shop-ahead world, there's nothing behind lock and key, so use it to your advantage. This can save time and reduce frustration, allowing you to get in and out of the store quickly without having to wait for someone.

Plan ahead: If you know that certain items are locked up or require assistance to access - like electronics or high-priced items - plan your shopping trip accordingly. Allocate extra time for these potential delays.

Use the store's app: Many retailers have pumped up their apps so that they allow you to check product availability and even request assistance in-store ahead of time.

Shop during non-peak hours: Visiting stores during less busy times can reduce the wait time for assistance with locked items and make the overall shopping experience more pleasant.

Get your "self-checkout" mojo working: Familiarize yourself with the self-checkout process to minimize errors and speed up your transaction. Just be aware of any item limits or special procedures that might apply.

Communicate with store staff: If you run into a problem with finding something because it may be locked up, find a real walking, talking employee, grab 'em and make 'em your best friend for life.  consumeraffairs.com


States Continue to Raise Awareness on ORC
Texas Comptroller visits Midland to raise awareness on organized retail theft
The growing issue of organized retail theft has caught the attention of state officials. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar visited the Walmart Supercenter in Midland to highlight the problem and discuss potential solutions. Hegar emphasized the importance of cracking down on this escalating crime, which affects businesses and consumers alike.

In 2023, the Texas Legislature directed the Comptroller's Office to create a task force to address organized retail theft. Now, Hegar and his team are traveling across the state to assess the scope of the issue while also raising awareness.

"We want to get rid of the petty criminal, but we really want to get rid of the person who is at the top," said Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller. Hegar explained the organized structure of these theft rings, comparing them to an assembly line.

Next month, the Comptroller's task force will review the data they've collected and present their findings to the Texas Legislature. The information will guide the creation of new laws aimed at combating organized retail theft in the state.

The initiative is part of a larger effort to protect Texas businesses and consumers from the growing threat posed by these organized criminal networks. firstalert7.com


PA Officials Battle ORC
Sept. 27 Discussion Looks at Collaborative Efforts to Combat Organized Retail Crime
A new Pennsylvania prosecutor's office devoted exclusively to prosecuting organized retail thefts is being created after $2.7 million in funds was allocated in the 2024-25 state budget.

That office and other strategies to tackle organized retail crime by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General will be the topic of a presentation and panel discussion Sept. 27, 8:30 to 10:30 AM, at Delaware County Community College in Media.

The discussion, "Addressing Organized Retail Crime: Collaboration and Perspectives," aims to foster a deeper understanding of organized retail crime and explore effective collaborative approaches between law enforcement, legal entities, and retail professionals.

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General will outline the latest advancements in strategies to tackle organized crime. A presentation will detail how the Attorney General plans to collaborate with District Attorneys and local law enforcement agencies to effectively combat organized retail crime rings.

The topic will then be examined during a panel discussion moderated by Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe. delco.today


Some Question Whether California's Anti-Theft Package Will Succeed
Will new California laws targeting smash-and-grab thieves curb Sacramento retail theft? Some aren't so sure
Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, said that while there are fewer instances of large-scale smash-and-grab operations in Sacramento County, retail theft remains an issue.

"Voters are clearly sick of this problem with retail theft and it's you know good that legislators are taking notice," said Sgt. Amar Gandhi, of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. "It's something that we're seeing day-to-day. It gradually just keeps getting worse."

Longtime business owner Debbie Ditore knows firsthand the challenges retailers are facing-especially small business owners. "We've seen thefts increase over time," she said. " In January, we had the huge theft where they broke in in the middle of the night and took over $16,000 worth of product."

Ditore did not feel the package of bills approved would impact her business. However, she said, she is hopeful about the impact Proposition 36 could have on the issue should the ballot measure pass this fall. Supporters say Prop 36 will hold criminals accountable by increasing punishments for offenders, but opponents say it will lead the state back to what they call "over-incarceration."  kcra.com


NYC Burglaries Down 13%, Robberies Up 90%
Mayor Adams touts drop in NYC murders, shootings in annual report: 'Our efforts are working'
Murder and shootings plummeted in the Big Apple during the past fiscal year, according to the city's annual management report, which was released Monday by Mayor Eric Adams.

While soaring crime persists in some areas, such as tourist-packed Midtown Manhattan, the city generally fared better overall July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, when compared to the same period last year, the report found.

Murder and manslaughter plummeted 15%, dropping from 424 to 359 of the crimes. Shootings fell 18%, from 1,140 to 932, and the report cites a big drop in gang-related violence. Gun arrests were down 10%, from 6,837 to 6,129. Burglaries decreased 13%, from 15,054 to 13,142, over the span, too.

Forcible rapes dipped 2%, from 1,090 to 1,070, while grand larcency and majority felony crime in the transit system fell 3%, according to the report. Still, overall major felony crime was barely down, by 1%, and as The Post reported Sunday, crime has surged in the city's tourist mecca, including Times Square, this year.

As of Sept. 8 compared to the same year-to-date period in 2023, robberies soared more than 90%, and felony assaults jumped nearly 73% in the Manhattan North Precinct, which covers areas such as Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Plaza, the Theater District and St. Patrick's Cathedral. nypost.com


After mass shooting, bill would require Army to use state crisis laws to remove weapons
 

Little Rock, AR: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announces recent arrests, successes of Retail Organized Crime alliance
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin says an alliance between states to combat organized retail crime has resulted in successful operations and arrests. Griffin said during a Friday news conference that the Organized Retail Crime Alliance (ORCA) brought together agents from Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas was to combat retail crime by organized criminal groups that often travel the country. The attorney general was joined by representatives of the Little Rock, North Little Rock and Conway police departments, The US Department of Homeland Security and 11 private industry partners such as Walgreens, which currently chairs ORCA. The criminal groups generally target big-box retailers, Griffin said, but have also targeted some smaller retailers, resulting in higher consumer prices. Jeff Pryor from Homeland Security said these thefts cost American businesses about $70 billion.

Pryor said these thefts can target things like children's Tylenol, making it personal to parents in the state. "Then all of a sudden we have a run on children's Tylenol in the state of Arkansas and you have a child with a 104-degree fever," Pryor said. "That becomes as real as it can get." The AG stressed the suspects arrested in these investigations were not single individuals, such as shoplifters, but professional criminals "working for organizations involved in a number of criminal activities."

Griffin highlighted successes since the group's formation, including the arrests of 17 individuals across three separate operations in North Little Rock, Little Rock and Conway. Eight of those arrested have been charged with felonies in the August and September operations, he said. "Over the past month, coordinated 'blitzes' have resulted in 17 arrests in North Little Rock, Little Rock, and Conway of individuals involved in organized retail crime activities," Griffin said. "These operations have also recovered stolen property."  kark.com


Seattle, WA: Crash-and-grab burglars cause thousands in damage at Georgetown cannabis store
Burglars caused thousands of dollars in damage at a marijuana dispensary in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood. At 3:20 a.m., Seattle officers were called to The Bakeréé at 74 South Lucile Street for a report of a burglary involving four suspects with masks who backed a Hyundai sedan into the building. Once inside, it appears they stole vape items and wreaked destruction on the premises before leaving.  kiro7.com