From Joe LaRocca, Senior Asset Protection Advisor for the NRF

There is some exciting news in Albuquerque this week. Yesterday, the Albuquerque Police Department announced the creation of a new economic crimes section that will be focused on catching thieves who target the same businesses over and over again and then turn a profit by selling the goods online and at flea markets.

This new team was put in place by Chief Raymond Schultz, who also established the Albuquerque Retail Assets Protection Association (ARAPA). Chief Schultz has demonstrated himself as a national leader in the fight against retail crimes in Albuquerque and city government officials throughout the country have been watching. Several major metropolitan areas have taken elements of Schultz's strategy, including the ARAPA program, and implemented similar initiatives in their cities.

The Albuquerque Police Department has built a successful track record of working with the private sector and area law enforcement agencies to prevent and investigate retail crimes. The Department has established a team of highly skilled law enforcement professionals dedicated to fighting this problem and has served as an important deterrent to perpetrators.

This year's NRF Organized Retail Crime survey found that organized retail crime affects almost every single retailer, with 95 percent reporting they have been a victim of organized retail crime in the past 12 months, up six percent from last year. Although retailers continue to build their defenses against this growing problem, criminals are finding myriad ways to work around the system. Retailers are also reporting that the criminals they apprehend are increasingly resorting to violence, putting the safety of both associates and customers at risk.

On October 13th, the Albuquerque Police Department along with regional law enforcement, retailers, banks and hotels will be meeting to discuss economic crimes.