How Organized Retail Crime is Threatening the Retail Industry

Organized Retail Crime (ORC), the coordinated theft of merchandise for resale, has grown exponentially in the U.S., necessitating increased security measures and even causing store closures. The issue is projected to escalate, demanding modern, tactical security solutions that allow retailers and law enforcement to combat ORC while maintaining a pleasant shopping environment.

Cloud video security is a powerful tool in fighting ORC. OpenEye's comprehensive guide delves into the current methods for defining and measuring ORC's impact on businesses and the economy. It explores effective security strategies for mitigating inventory loss and enhancing the shopping experience. The guide also highlights the advantages of cloud video surveillance in tackling ORC, and how the integration of other security systems can provide a more robust solution for retailers.

Learn more
 

In Case You Missed It: NRF Urges Congress to Act Now
How to tackle organized retail crime nationwide

Coordinated efforts are needed to combat cross-border criminal networks

States remain committed to stopping organized retail crime. In 2025 alone, nine states have enacted their own ORC legislation, and 31 states have considered a total of 74 bills related to ORC. These efforts underscore the urgency of the crisis — and they also highlight the limits of what states can do on their own.

These crimes aren’t confined by state lines. When criminal networks operate across state lines or overseas, a patchwork of state laws simply can’t keep up. What we need now is a unified national response.

Federal leadership is the missing piece. This spring, NRF brought two dozen retail loss prevention professionals to Washington, D.C., to meet directly with lawmakers to make the case for CORCA. In every conversation, we’ve emphasized that ORC is not a localized issue; rather, it is one fueled by cross-jurisdictional and transnational criminal groups that overwhelm state and local law enforcement.

These local and state agencies are stretched thin and often lack the tools or authority to pursue bad actors beyond their borders. That’s why federal coordination is essential to identify, investigate, disrupt and dismantle the networks driving these crimes.

CORCA provides that framework. It would strengthen national data collection, improve intelligence sharing, support joint investigations and help target high-level offenders. It also empowers retailers as active partners in the solution. nrf.com


Global Retail Violence Concerns
Weapon-related retail crime surges across Australia

This rise in violent behaviour has raised safety concerns for workers and customers, prompting calls for stronger government action and better crime prevention.

Australian retailers have reported a significant increase in retail crime involving weapons over the past year, with data revealing a 66 per cent rise in such incidents. The surge in violent and threatening events across the country highlights growing safety concerns for frontline retail workers and customers alike.

New figures from Auror, a retail crime reporting platform, indicate that events involving knives and blades climbed by over 40 per cent in 2024. Overall, violent or serious retail crime events increased by 30 per cent nationwide, while threatening incidents rose by 39 per cent. Knives and blades were the most commonly used weapons, accounting for more than half of all weapon-related cases.

Victoria experienced the steepest growth in retail crime violence, with threatening events up 52 per cent and serious violent incidents rising 38 per cent.

Other states also reported notable increases in threats and serious crimes, reflecting a nationwide pattern of escalating aggression in retail settings. Industry representatives and retail associations have stressed the urgent need for coordinated government responses.

According to Auror’s Senior Director of Trust & Safety, Nick McDonnell, the data reveals a concerning trend of more organised and violent criminal behaviour targeting retail environments.

Approximately one in four retail crime incidents involved some form of violence, intimidation, or abuse. retail-insight-network.com


Ohio Begins ORC Crackdown After Forming Task Force
New Task Force Makes First Arrests in Crackdown on Organized Retail Theft
The recent arrests of two suspected fraudsters mark the first success of a new task force created to thwart organized retail theft, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn and Perrysburg Township Police Chief Matt Gazarek announced today.

“Organized retail theft victimizes the entire marketplace, from the merchants and producers to the consumers who are impacted by rising costs,” Yost said. “And this is just the beginning – kudos to Sheriff Wasylyshyn and Chief Gazarek for spearheading these efforts.”

The task force was established following the enactment of the Fight Organized Retail Crime and Empower Law Enforcement Act earlier this year. Among other things, the law, co-written by Yost’s office, authorizes the creation of law enforcement collaboratives to investigate organized retail theft – a crime that costs Ohio businesses upwards of $2 to $3 billion annually.

The crime typically involves groups stealing large amounts of merchandise from multiple stores and selling the items for profit. To offset the losses, some retailers have little choice but to raise prices.

The Northwest Ohio Regional Retail Crime Task Force is formed under the attorney general’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission and includes representatives of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and the Perrysburg Township Police Department. ohioattorneygeneral.gov


Baltimore crime data: Search maps for offenses

Pleasanton PD reports crime rates trending down, staffing levels improving
 

Top Target of Trump's Deportation Operation: Home Depot
Home Depot stores remain open despite becoming target of Trump's immigration enforcement

ICE conducts raids across LA as part of administration's promised deportation efforts

Home Depot said its stores remain open after some of its locations in Los Angeles were the target of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid.

Several people were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the parking lot of a Home Depot in Paramount, a city in Los Angeles County, on Friday, according to reports. It was one of many raids carried out by ICE across the city over the weekend, igniting a wave of violence as demonstrators clashed with law enforcement, urging the administration to end deportations.

The store is typically filled with workers collecting supplies as well as immigrants in search of work, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, border patrol agents began gathering across the street from the store at 9 a.m. local time on Saturday morning, igniting a clash between rioters and federal agents, the outlet reported. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed to FOX Business that deputies responded to the area around 10 a.m. local time to help keep the peace after the crowd started to exhibit "violent behavior." The spokesperson said the crowd began throwing objects and obstructed traffic.

ICE told FOX Business that reports that there was an ICE "raid" at a Home Depot in Los Angeles over the weekend are "false," and that the Department of Homeland Security has a nearby office in Paramount that it is "using as a staging area and rioters found it."

Sergio Olmos, a reporter with CalMatters, a nonprofit news organization covering California state politics and policies, posted on X that day laborers said a raid took place at a Home Depot in Huntington Park, a city located in the South Central region of Los Angeles County, early Monday morning.

LA Mayor Karen Bass questioned how the raids were being carried out, specifically why a Home Depot was targeted. "We had been told that he was gonna go after violent criminals. It wasn't a drug den, it was a Home Depot," Bass told CNN's "The Situation Room" on Monday. "It was places where people are working. So what was the point of doing this?" foxbusiness.com
 

23 Businesses Looted Last Night: LA Mayor
LA police tackle fleeing looters as law enforcement fights to take back LA
Viral footage online has shown local law enforcement rounding up looters fleeing after multiple downtown LA stores were ransacked during anti-ICE protests. Footage circulating online captured by boutique newswire agency Freedom News TV shows looters frantically trying to evade capture while fleeing the scene in downtown Los Angeles.

Several stores in downtown LA were looted overnight during ongoing anti-ICE protests. Shops hit included the Shoe Palace, Adidas, Apple Store, two dispensaries, a pharmacy, and a jewellery store. Windows were smashed, buildings and police cars were spray-painted with graffiti.

Glass and debris covered sidewalks across about 10 blocks while crews were out early in the morning, boarding up broken storefronts. Police arrested several suspected looters and were seen tackling one on video. Officers were stationed at key intersections overnight but left early Tuesday.

Mayor Karen Bass introduced a curfew downtown and addressed the looting at a press conference.

"I wanted the city to know that I have declared a local emergency and issued a curfew for downtown Los Angeles to stop the vandalism, to stop the looting," she said.  youtube.com nypost.com


Body discovered on LA sidewalk near looted stores in the wake of anti-ICE riots

Overnight looting follows 4th day of anti-ICE protests in Downtown L.A.

Live Updates: LA police confront protesters, Trump doubles National Guard deployment

US cities brace for more protests as parts of Los Angeles placed under curfew
 

Don't Overlook OSHA Compliance
Why Retailers Should Take OSHA Compliance Seriously

By the D&D Daily staff

For retailers, workplace safety may not always seem like an immediate concern compared to inventory management, customer service or loss prevention. But overlooking occupational safety regulations can pose serious risks—both to employees and a company’s bottom line. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has increasingly scrutinized the retail sector, citing common violations ranging from blocked exits to improper storage of merchandise.

Retail environments, while not as high-risk as construction or manufacturing, still present a range of hazards. Slip and trip hazards, unsafe ladder use, ergonomic strain from stocking shelves, and poorly maintained electrical systems are all frequent sources of injury. OSHA has targeted retail in recent years due to a growing number of preventable incidents and complaints, particularly in big box and warehouse-format stores.

Inspections are often unannounced and can be triggered by employee complaints, workplace injuries or focused enforcement programs. For example, OSHA has conducted national emphasis programs targeting warehouse and distribution centers—many of which fall under large retailers’ operations. Failing to meet OSHA standards can result in hefty fines, mandatory abatement periods and reputational damage.

In 2023 alone, OSHA issued millions of dollars in citations to major national retailers for repeat violations, with some companies facing six- and seven-figure penalties. Repeat offenses or willful violations carry even steeper consequences, including criminal referrals in extreme cases.

Beyond regulatory compliance, prioritizing safety can improve employee retention, reduce absenteeism and lower workers’ compensation costs. It also demonstrates a commitment to workforce well-being—an increasingly important value for both employees and customers.

Retailers should regularly review safety protocols, conduct internal audits, and ensure proper training is in place, particularly for high-turnover or seasonal staff. Being proactive can help identify risks before they trigger an inspection—or an injury.

In a competitive industry where margins are tight, OSHA compliance might seem like a secondary priority. But with increased enforcement and rising costs of noncompliance, safety should be part of every retailer’s operational strategy.


In Case You Missed It
OSHA hits Target with nearly $30K in fines after PA worker crushed to death

The accident was the second employee death in less than a year at a Target facility.

Federal regulators fined Target nearly $30,000 after a workplace death in Pennsylvania, less than a year after the Minneapolis-based retailer received a much higher fine for an employee death in Massachusetts. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued two violations related to the Nov. 1 death at a Pennsdale, Penn., store.

Target is contesting the penalties. “The safety of our team is always our top priority, and we are deeply saddened by the loss of these two team members,” the company said in a statement. “We work tirelessly to provide a safe working environment, aim to meet or exceed all state and federal guidelines, and have extensive safety and training procedures in place to prevent such incidents from occurring.”

According to the citation, the employee died after being trapped between a movable work platform and a door frame while working on a security system in the ceiling. OSHA investigators issued Target a “serious” violation for not providing a place of employment free of hazards that “would most likely result in death or serious physical harm.”  startribune.com