Federal ORC Bill Hits a Wall in D.C.
CORCA Looks Stalled in Congress amid Growing Surveillance Concerns

As CORCA’s prospects in Congress grow uncertain, concerns are mounting about the bill’s potential to expand federal surveillance powers.

A few months ago, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) looked to have nearly unstoppable political momentum in Congress. Proponents promised CORCA would “protect American businesses, safeguard our frontline workers, and ultimately, help protect every American.”

It passed the House in May, with broad bipartisan support and backing from the powerful retail lobby. Its prospects in the Senate looked promising as well, especially once it was added as a possible amendment to the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—legislation typically described as “must pass.” But that bill still hasn’t passed, leaving CORCA’s future uncertain.

And as that process drags on, recognition of the downsides and potential harms of the legislation—which, as written, greatly expands the federal government’s power to surveil people in the United States in the name of protecting them—is growing.

Congress punted on the NDAA until after the midterms, leaving the bill, along with a lot of other urgent unfinished business, for a post-election lame-duck session. Whatever comes out of that session will likely be affected not only by the November results but also by increasing public outrage over the sort of automated surveillance CORCA has the potential to expand.

Now, with some wondering whether defeated members of Congress will even show up for lame-duck votes (and given that Democratic support for the bill had already declined prior to its May passage), there’s some reason to be hopeful CORCA will not, as currently drafted, become law—though the fight is far from finished.

Confronted with these objections to CORCA, the National Retail Federation, which is heavily lobbying for the bill, says that Congress can fix the legislation after it passes—though with the likelihood of divided government next year, the prospect of revisiting the legislation remains uncertain.  vera.org


Balancing Theft Prevention and Employee Safety
When Theft Prevention Creates New Risks for Retail Workers

How retailers can balance effective security measures with the growing challenge of customer confrontations.

By the D&D Daily staff

Retailers have invested heavily in protecting merchandise through locked display cases, electronic security systems, controlled access and other theft prevention measures. But an emerging challenge for loss prevention teams is understanding how those same security strategies can affect customer behavior and employee safety.

A 2025 retail safety survey from security technology company Verkada found that 56% of U.S. adults agreed that physical theft prevention measures frustrate shoppers. Meanwhile, 74% said store employees are slow to respond when customers need secured merchandise unlocked.

For retailers, that frustration creates a potential security concern that extends beyond merchandise protection.

The survey also found that retail workers attributed 54% of verbal threats to angry customers, while another 12% occurred when employees approached suspected shoplifters. Although these findings don't establish that security measures directly cause workplace violence, they highlight the importance of considering how loss prevention practices influence frontline interactions.

The challenge is finding ways to protect merchandise without creating unnecessary friction that could escalate into confrontation.

Technology may offer part of the solution. Faster employee notifications, improved access controls and better communication between store associates and security personnel can help retailers maintain theft deterrence while reducing customer wait times.

Store design also plays an important role. Clear sightlines, strategically positioned merchandise and thoughtful placement of secured products can help discourage theft without requiring employees to intervene unnecessarily.

The National Retail Federation's 2026 Impact of Retail Theft & Violence report found that retailers are increasingly investing in management training, employee training and risk-intelligence technologies to strengthen workplace violence prevention.

For asset protection leaders, the opportunity is to evaluate security investments against multiple performance indicators rather than shrink reduction alone.

How frequently do customers require employee assistance? How quickly are associates responding? Are certain security procedures associated with repeated confrontations? And are employees equipped to disengage safely when situations escalate?

An effective loss prevention strategy should do more than make merchandise harder to steal. It should also make stores safer and easier to navigate for employees and legitimate customers alike.


Global Efforts to Fight Retail Crime
New Zealand: Retail theft charges hit record high, more than tripling in four years
The number of people facing charges for retail crime has reached a record high. Latest Ministry of Justice data shows finalised charges for theft from retail premises reached 21,185 for the year to June - more than three times as many as four years earlier.

Convictions reached 17,941 – also more than three times as many as four years earlier. Theft-related charges made up 17% of all charges, up 5% four years earlier.

Police Retail Investigation Support Unit Manager Matt Tierney said police had been focusing strongly on retail crime in recent years, including establishing specific retail focus teams across districts, beat teams and a National Support Unit.

“It’s this work that would likely account for the increase in charges as Police work hard to hold offenders to account.”

Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young said retailers were still seeing a high level of violence, but retail crime had changed a lot since 2021, with the number of ramraids and swarm raids falling. She said “anywhere between 10% and 30% is the reduction in retail crime that we’ve seen from stores” over the past year.

Young said retail crime was becoming less common due to the combined efforts of Police and retailers, with the focus on repeat offenders making a big difference. newstalkzb.co.nz


Cargo Theft Isn't Falling Anytime Soon
Cargo theft has entered ‘new normal,’ executive says

Industry experts call for stronger security and a federal response

Cargo theft has changed dramatically since 2020, becoming more international, sophisticated and difficult to counter.

Scott Cornell, executive vice president and crime and theft specialist for SPG Cargo & Logistics, discussed that threat and what the industry is doing to combat it during a panel discussion at American Trucking Associations’ 2026 Management Conference & Exhibition on Oct. 20.

Cornell also led a discussion about industry defenses and federal policy with ATA representatives Henry Hanscom, chief advocacy and public affairs officer, and Alex Rosen, senior vice president of legislative affairs.

Cornell, who also serves as chairman of the Transported Asset Protection Association, warned that companies should not expect theft levels to return to what they once considered normal.

“You are in the new normal,” he said, describing criminal networks that operate across borders and treat cargo theft as a sustained business. He argued that the threat now includes both physical theft and fraud designed to deceive businesses into handing over freight. ttnews.com


Mayor's budget offers boost to violence intervention with Chicago shootings down
Mayor Brandon Johnson is asking aldermen to ramp up spending on community violence intervention and launch a new office aimed at decreasing gun violence, part of an effort he says will help Chicago’s sharp decrease in violence continue.

In the Know: Website allows anyone to explore crime data

Newsom announces initiative at Corcoran to support rehabilitation and reentry