LA's Shoplifting Crisis By the Numbers
How bad are the ‘mob’ thefts at department stores?

Incidents may be limited, but large Los Angeles retailers get hit by shoplifting and other crimes

From 2010–2022, the highest monthly number of department store crime reports in the city was the 369 recorded in January 2016. But that figure has been eclipsed in each of the last six months according to publicly available Los Angeles Police Department data.

The peak occurred in March, when there were 477 department store crime reports, and the count stayed above 400 for the next three months. In July there were 385 incidents.

Forming a task force

The situation has prompted a crisis-level response. Mayor Karen Bass called the Nordstrom robbery “completely unacceptable.” Last Thursday, she and a coalition of city and county political and law enforcement leaders announced the formation of a multi-agency task force.

Separately, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he would triple California Highway Patrol resources that combat organized retail theft in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles retailers are suffering losses like never before. From Jan. 1–July 31, there were 2,912 reports of crime in department stores. That already exceeds the full annual count every year since 2017 (figures of course dropped during the pandemic).

It is also 123% more than the 1,307 department store crime reports in the first seven months of last year. The count in the equivalent period in 2019 was 1,561.

Mostly petty theft, but not always

Most department store crimes are non-violent in nature. According to police data, 2,071 of the incidents in the city this year, or 71% of the total, were petty theft shoplifting, with stolen merchandise worth less than $950. In another 351 incidents the shoplifting was classified as a felony, meaning the value of stolen goods exceeds $950.

However, a number of incidents have been more dangerous. There were 114 robbery reports at department stores from Jan. 1–July 31, and 47 instances of battery. Nine crimes involved aggravated assault or assault with a deadly weapon. xtown.la

Retail Theft/ORC a Top Topic at Upcoming CRA Meeting
Special Guest Speaker: California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee to Speak at California Retailers Association Annual Meeting
CRA's Annual Membership Meeting will be at the Irvine Marriott Mon. Oct. 2 & Tues. Oct. 3. Hear from industry leaders & policymakers on issues impacting the retail industry including Retail Theft/ORC, EPR, Supply Chain, Labor & Employment Issues & PAGA Reform. We'll also have CA Legislative & Regulatory Updates.

California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee will also be a special guest speaker. On February 3, 2023, Commissioner Duryee was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as the 17th Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). He is a 25-year veteran of the CHP. While serving in this capacity, Commissioner Duryee is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of millions of residents and visitors across the Golden State. Learn more about him here.

CRA Annual Meeting Topics to Include:

• Retail Theft/ORC – with special update from the CHP ORC Taskforce,
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
• Supply Chain/Goods Movement, PAGA Reform
• Labor & Employment Issues
• CA Legislative and Regulatory Updates

Agenda coming soon! | Register here!


ORC Continues to be Top Focus of Retail Associations
Combating Organized Retail Crime Act the focus of Council of State Retail Associations Meeting
Last week, NRF team members attended a meeting of the Council of State Retail Associations (CSRA) in San Diego. This annual event brings together retailers, industry stakeholders and the state retail associations to share insights and collaborate on a path forward for advocacy on behalf of retailers in communities nationwide.

State retail association executives play an important role for retailers large and small by listening, engaging, educating and advocating on their behalf. A focus of this year’s meeting was organized retail crime and the need for passage of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. Another priority discussed at CSRA was the need for swipe fee reform. Please contact your members of Congress and ask them to reform the payments system through passage of the Credit Card Competition Act. nrf.com


Legislative Update: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023
House Bill 895 Combating ORC Act Adds 3 New C-Sponsors in Last Week
Now reaching 63 Co-Sponsors. 34 Republicans and 29 Democrats. Is your U.S. Rep supporting the bill? Check out the list here.


Crime Crisis Engulfs Nation's Capital
Robberies Up 63% | Property Crimes Up 29% | Homicides Up 27% | Burglaries Up 3%

DC continues experiencing soaring crime rates despite council chairman saying 'there is no crime crisis'

Violent crime has increased 38% over the past year in nation's capital

Washington, D.C.'s crime rates have continued to skyrocket despite its city council chairman proclaiming earlier this year there is no crime crisis in the nation's capital.

Democratic D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson told the House Committee on Oversight in late March that while there are considerable concerns regarding crime, residents should not worry.

"With regard to crime, yes, there is considerable concern," Mendelson said. "But while perception is important, the reality is less concerning. Let me be clear: People should feel safe, and it is a problem that many residents of the district don't.

According to data from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, though, almost all crimes have soared from this time last year. As of Aug. 18, the nation's capital has experienced a 63% increase in robberies, a 27% increase in homicides, a 14% increase in sexual abuse and a 4% increase in assault with a deadly weapon.

Violent crimes as a whole have skyrocketed 38%, the data shows.

The city has also witnessed property crimes increase by 29% over the past year, including a 167% increase in arson, a 115% increase in motor vehicle theft and a 3% increase in burglaries.

The crime stats over the past year are also trending in the opposite direction they had been from 2021 to 2022. During that time, there was a dip in every crime category besides motor vehicle theft, which saw an 8% increase, according to the data. foxnews.com


CHI Overall Crime Up 34% - Serious Crimes Spiking - 'Out of Control Violence' - 1,000 Police Vacancies
Chicago has a new police chief, what’s his plan to fix the city’s crime problem?
First and foremost is a serious discussion of what Snelling believes are the resources and support the police need to be effective. The mayor’s most ardent supporters are advocates for police defunding.

Rebuilding police strength is not about providing more funding as much as it’s about allowing CPD to fill its vacancies and deploy officers more effectively. While carrying 1,000 police officer vacancies last year saved the city at least $150 million, a record $210 million was spent on police overtime as escalating crime and police shortages forced the city to resort expensive overtime.

Outline the legislative support and solutions needed to make the city safer

Details on overall policing strategy

The City Council needs clear answers on other issues critical to the police having the resources and support needed to contain and reverse the crime pandemic plaguing the city.

Crime is spiking – now’s the time for clarity and action

While homicides and shootings have dropped slightly in 2022, that positive comes with two sobering caveats. First, it is consistent with a national trend and decidedly not a reflection of anything Chicago is doing. Second, it is a statistical dodge of the fact that overall crime is up this year by 34%, according to the Chicago Police Department’s latest data.

There were 19,403 more “serious crimes” in 2022 than 2021 and serious crimes through the end of June are up 10,143 over the same six-month period in 2022. Johnson’s primary focus is on “root causes,” with little-to-no emphasis on containing today’s out-of-control violence. It’s a strategy doomed to fail. Root causes are critical to a larger vision for public safety. But the city needs a serious containment strategy now. Snelling’s confirmation hearings should be a discussion of that containment strategy. illinoispolicy.org


Extreme Criminal Attacks Covered by OSHA Rules
Violent Crime on the Job Covered by OSHA Recordkeeping Mandates

No recordkeeping exception for violent criminal acts

Worker fatally shot during truck theft while on the clock

Even the most extreme criminal attacks are covered by OSHA’s recordkeeping mandates for injuries and fatalities, according to new compliance guidance on workplace violence cases.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard interpretation letter, released Aug. 11, addresses when employers are required by agency rules to list on-the-job injuries and deaths caused by violent acts in their OSHA logs. news.bloomberglaw.com


Youth crime is on the rise in Chicago – and CTU’s school closures may be to blame for the trend
The University of Chicago Crime Lab recently reported a 50% increase in shooting victimizations of school-aged youth 17 years and younger since 2019. Over 90% of victims were not enrolled in school. Earlier analysis by the Crime Lab documented 8% of those arrested were for homicides, 9% for shootings, 32% for robberies and 49% for carjackings were youth 17 years and younger.

No single act was more responsible for keeping students out of school than the closing of Chicago Public Schools campuses for 17 months beginning in 2020. CPS has lost 87,000 students since 2010, when a radical wing of the Chicago Teachers Union took power. illiniospolicy.org


Memphis has a juvenile curfew, but we don’t know if it works
The curfew is from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday and midnight through 6 a.m. Friday through Sunday.

Fort Worth, TX: Eastern Hills neighborhood plagued by crime in commercial strip

Tennessee's Push for Gun Violence Laws Might Have Hit Roadblock