Bipartisan Push Against Retail Crime
Why the U.S. Senate Should Pass CORCA

By the D&D Daily staff

Organized retail crime has evolved far beyond traditional shoplifting, and many retailers, law enforcement agencies, and industry organizations believe federal laws need to evolve with it. That is one reason the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) has gained unusually broad support across political parties, the retail industry, supply chain groups, and law enforcement organizations nationwide.

The bill recently passed the U.S. House and now awaits consideration in the Senate. Supporters argue it could become one of the most significant federal tools aimed at addressing organized retail crime operations that increasingly operate across state lines and through sophisticated resale networks.

Unlike isolated theft incidents, organized retail crime often involves coordinated groups targeting multiple retailers, cargo shipments, pharmacies, and distribution centers. Stolen merchandise is frequently resold through online marketplaces, social media platforms, flea markets, and other channels that can make investigations difficult for local agencies working independently.

Retailers and law enforcement leaders say one of the biggest challenges is the fragmented nature of investigations. Criminal groups may operate in several states simultaneously, while local agencies often lack the resources or jurisdiction to connect cases together. Supporters of CORCA argue the legislation would improve coordination between federal, state, and local investigators while creating a centralized Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center to better track patterns and share intelligence.

The legislation has earned support from organizations including the National Retail Federation, Retail Industry Leaders Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, trucking associations, and law enforcement groups. Many supporters say the bill is not simply about reducing theft losses, but also about improving safety for employees, customers, truck drivers, and supply chain workers who increasingly encounter aggressive theft activity.

Supporters also argue organized retail crime contributes to higher operational costs, supply chain disruptions, and reduced product availability. In some cases, repeat theft activity has forced retailers to increase security spending or limit merchandise access.

While debate over crime policy often becomes politically divided, CORCA has emerged as a relatively rare example of bipartisan agreement. Supporters say the Senate now has an opportunity to strengthen the national response to organized retail crime by passing legislation designed specifically for the scale and complexity of today’s retail theft networks.


Using Smart Tech to Nab Retail Criminals
Smart tools stores now use to catch thieves in real time
Retailers across the world are investing heavily in retail security technology that can detect and respond to theft as it happens. Rising levels of shoplifting, organised retail crime, and internal shrinkage have pushed the sector towards faster, more intelligent systems.

Modern anti-theft technology in retail is no longer limited to alarms and security guards. Stores now rely on connected systems that combine video analytics, smart tagging, and real-time data. The focus has shifted from recording incidents to preventing them in the moment.

For global retailers, the goal is clear: improve real-time theft detection while keeping stores efficient, open, and customer-friendly.

One of the most important developments in loss prevention technology is the use of AI-powered cameras. These systems go beyond traditional CCTV by analysing behaviour in real time.

Computer vision tools can detect unusual actions such as product concealment, rapid item removal, or suspicious movement patterns. When combined with machine learning, the system learns what normal shopping behaviour looks like and flags activity that falls outside expected patterns.

Many retailers now link AI retail security systems with point-of-sale data. This helps identify mismatches between what is scanned and what is taken from shelves. In some cases, alerts are sent instantly to store staff, allowing intervention before a theft is completed.

The advantage of this approach is speed. Instead of reviewing footage after an incident, staff receive live signals while the event is still unfolding.

Another core layer of modern anti-theft technology in retail is item-level tracking. This includes Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems.

EAS remains widely used in clothing, cosmetics, and electronics. Security tags trigger alerts when unpaid items pass through exit gates. While effective, it offers limited detail about what has been taken.

RFID provides a more advanced approach. Each item carries a unique digital identity, allowing retailers to track products across the store in real time. This supports both inventory management and theft detection. tech.yahoo.com


Canada Using Tech to Fight Retail Theft Surge
Ontario considers highway licence‑plate cameras to crack down on rising retail theft
Ontario is weighing the use of automated licence‑plate recognition (ALPR) cameras on major provincial highways as part of a sweeping plan to combat a dramatic surge in organized retail theft, according to new details released Monday in the Protecting Ontario’s Streets and Communities Act, 2026.

The proposal is one of several measures under the bill’s “Stronger Enforcement” pillar, aimed at addressing what the province calls a sharp rise in coordinated shoplifting operations that are increasingly tied to organized crime.

ALPR systems are already used by police services across Ontario to detect stolen vehicles, suspended drivers and Amber Alert‑related plates. Extending the technology to retail‑theft investigations would mark a major expansion of its use.

The government says retail theft has escalated dramatically across Canada, with the Retail Council of Canada estimating $9.1 billion in losses in 2024, up from $5 billion in 2018. Officials say many of these incidents are no longer isolated shoplifting cases but part of organized criminal networks that target stores, intimidate staff and use violence to escape.

Michael Kerzner, Ontario’s Solicitor General, says these operations “put people at risk, hurt local businesses and drive up costs for families.”

Currently, Ontario does not have a province-wide prosecution unit focused specifically on organized retail crime. Under the new plan, the Ministry of the Attorney General will establish a dedicated prosecution team to prioritize the most serious cases and provide early investigative guidance to police. toronto.citynews.ca


Despite NYC's Crime Progress, Assault Is Up
New York City’s Other Violent Crime Problem

Murder is down, but assault is up—a dangerous sign.

New York’s leaders have been rightly celebrating the city’s major reductions in murder and gun violence. But the city still struggles with a different violent crime problem: record-high assault rates. The causes are difficult to parse from the data alone, but the trend bodes poorly for long-term safety and stability.

But while these most serious forms of violence have declined, assaults have moved in the opposite direction. Last year brought nearly 30,000 felony assaults—incidents involving aggravating factors such as a weapon or an attack on a police officer—the highest total since at least the turn of the millennium and a 44 percent increase over 2019. There were also just under 46,000 misdemeanor assaults, a slight dip from 2024 but still up 8 percent from 2019.

Why the mismatch? In a start-of-year rundown, Governor Kathy Hochul’s office attributed the increase to “assaults on public sector employees and domestic violence.” Assaults on public workers, including attacks on police officers, accounted for about 10 percent of incidents last year, according to Vital City. Domestic violence is another 40 percent, reports the state.

The city has moved to police and prosecute domestic violence more aggressively. And NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch has spoken out about risks to cops. But the trend points to broader concerns. city-journal.org


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