Retailers Throw Support Behind ORC Legislation
American Eagle Outfitters, Home Depot Speak in Support of ORC Prevention Bill
Support continues to blossom for the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA), which a slew of bipartisan legislators have joined together to co-sponsor.

A coalition of 38 state attorneys general have thrown their support behind the bill, which would mandate the creation of an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center, which would sit under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). That office would work to coordinate efforts between law enforcement and private retail loss prevention personnel, making it easier to apprehend repeat offenders.

The proposal also underlines the importance of creating new tools to investigate and punish crimesters associated with retail theft rings and locating stolen merchandise and cash.

While the National Retail Federation (NRF), the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the American Trucking Association, among other trade groups, have already voiced their support for the bill, they have now urged lawmakers to pass it.

The NRF echoed previous statements about the value of legislation like CORCA, which it maintains would protect retailers from widespread theft and crime issues. American Eagle Outfitters, a member of the trade group, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, supporting CORCA.

Scott McBride, chief global asset protection officer at American Eagle, said the proposed bill will protect the company and fellow retailers.

“As a professional dedicated to protecting customers and associates, I implore all members of the Congress to work together to ensure that the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act urgently becomes the law of the land. This critical legislation will help us stop these senseless crimes in our communities,” McBride said in a statement.

American Eagle is far from the only company hoping to see legislators pass harsher laws against retail crime; Home Depot, which has seen targeted retail crime operations hitting its stores across the country, also testified at the hearing.

“The Home Depot strongly supports CORCA, and we are pleased to see that the Senate bill has over 20 bipartisan cosponsors. The bill would create the Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center, bringing together federal, state and local law enforcement and private sector experts to share information and collaborate on strategies to keep our stores, customers, and associates safe and secure,” the company said in a statement.   sourcingjournal.com

RELATED: Freight sector supports bipartisan bills to fight fraud


26 Cosponsors & 38 AG Endorsements for 'Combating ORC Act'
Support Grows for Grassley’s Combating Organized Retail Crime Act
Following a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on organized retail crime, Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) welcomed growing support for his bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) from retail industry leaders, law enforcement organizations and hundreds of affected businesses.

Grassley and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev) introduced the bill to establish a multi-agency response to organized retail crime, enhancing coordination between retail industry representatives and law enforcement. The legislation would also strengthen reporting efforts, create new tools to assist in the investigation and prosecution of retail and supply chain crime, and support efforts to recapture stolen goods and their proceeds.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act currently has 26 bipartisan Senate cosponsors and is endorsed by 38 state attorneys general. Additionally, the legislation has garnered significant support from advocacy groups, including the world’s largest retail trade association, major law enforcement organizations and a coalition of over 260 impacted businesses. Reps. David Joyce (R-Ohio) and Susie Lee (D-Nev.) are leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

The National Retail Federation and a coalition of over 260 impacted businesses:

“We respectfully urge Congress to advance and pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 without delay. This bipartisan, commonsense legislation is essential to modernizing our national response to organized retail crime, which threatens not only public safety but also the health and security of America’s supply chains and consumer access to goods. By strengthening coordination, enforcement and prevention, CORCA will help protect American businesses, workers and families. The time to act is now.”   judiciary.senate.gov

 
Was Prop. 36 an Overreaction?
Crime Was Falling. So Why Did California Pass Prop. 36?

DOJ Report Shows Property Crime Fell to Historic Low before Prop. 36 Took Effect, Raising Questions about Need and Implementation

A recent report from the California Department of Justice shows property and larceny theft fell to the lowest levels in state history in 2024—months before the implementation of Proposition 36, a voter-approved initiative aimed at increasing penalties for repeat theft and drug offenses.

The data is fueling renewed debate over whether Prop. 36 addressed an actual crisis or a politically amplified perception. While law enforcement, prosecutors, and probation leaders say the law provided much-needed tools to confront rising community concerns, critics argue the measure was misleadingly marketed and is already increasing incarceration, worsening racial disparities, and stretching local justice systems thin.

“Proposition 36 was a solution in search of a problem,” said Tinisch Hollins, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice. “They created a panic about property crime at the very moment property crime rates hit an all-time low. Voters bought it and rolled back progress.”

The DOJ’s July 1 report shows that California’s property crime and larceny rates declined in both 2023 and 2024, reaching their lowest point since record-keeping began. But Prop. 36 passed in November 2024 with nearly 70 percent support, fueled by high-profile headlines and viral videos of smash-and-grab thefts.

Law enforcement leaders and county officials who backed Prop. 36 say the state’s lack of follow-through on funding is setting the law up to fail. Governor Gavin Newsom, who opposed Prop. 36, has resisted fully funding its implementation, calling it an “unfunded mandate.” His office included no money for the measure in the May budget revision amid a $12 billion deficit. davisvanguard.org

 
'Underground Economy Built on Mass Shoplifting'
California’s Underground Shoplifting Economy Sparks Call for Tougher Laws
California is facing a retail crisis that runs far deeper than the occasional shoplifter. According to a recent investigative report, an entire underground economy is flourishing—built on mass shoplifting and fueled by online platforms that unknowingly (or indifferently) facilitate the sale of stolen goods.

Far from petty theft, many of these crimes are highly coordinated. Syndicates organize daily theft operations, often exploiting legal loopholes created by California’s Proposition 47, which reclassified theft under $950 as a misdemeanor. Former prosecutor Brian Harnick explains, “You can steal every day and never face jail time. Organized criminals know this—and they’re exploiting it.”

Retail employees are caught in the crossfire. With daily theft totals at some major stores reportedly exceeding $5,000, workers are told not to intervene due to liability and safety concerns. “You can’t ask minimum-wage employees to confront potentially violent criminals,” one contributor noted. “But doing nothing isn’t working either.”

Meanwhile, consumers are also complicit—knowingly or not. The availability of deeply discounted, brand-new merchandise online is often a red flag. “Never buy from sellers you don’t trust,” warned one panelist. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

The broader community impact is real: higher prices, store closures, job losses, and eroding neighborhood trust. As lawmakers face pressure to revisit theft thresholds and strengthen enforcement, many believe it’s time to treat retail crime not as a nuisance—but as organized, economic sabotage.

For now, California’s experiment with criminal justice reform is under the microscope, as citizens ask: at what cost does leniency come?  nbcpalmsprings.com


What Mass Theft Did to a Portland-Area Walmart
Walmart in Portland suburb becomes poster child for shoplifting chaos
Alarming pictures of a Walmart store in Happy Valley, a suburb of Portland, Oregon, have shocked customers who claim shopping in person is now a dreadful experience. Portland, known for its liberal politics, has seen areas of the city suffer terrible decline after a failed attempt at drug decriminalization.

The city has been overrun by theft - 10,000 cases were reported to police last year, triple the number from three years ago - forcing retailers including Walmart to close stores that cannot sustain the losses.

A series of viral images posted to Reddit show row after row of Walmart stock, from children's toys and gadgets to frozen food and batteries, behind locked glass cases.

Retailers including CVS and Walgreens have resorted to such extremes in areas where shoplifting is so rampant, such as in downtown New York and San Francisco, that it damages stores' bottom lines.

The system - which forces customers to call an attendant to open the case every time they wish to add something to their basket - is loathed by consumers. Businesses have also admitted that it does not actually help, as stores which employ the tactic often see sales plummet. dailymail.co.uk

 
SIUE professor devises data extraction tool to help fight crime

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400 Organizations Hit by Hack
Tally of Microsoft Victims Surges to 400 as Hackers Capitalize on SharePoint Flaw
The number of companies and organizations compromised by a security vulnerability in Microsoft Corp.’s SharePoint servers is increasing rapidly, with the tally of victims soaring more than six-fold in a few days, according to one research firm.

Hackers have breached about 400 government agencies, corporations and other groups, according to estimates from Eye Security, the Dutch cybersecurity company that identified an early wave of the attacks last week. That’s up from roughly 60 based on its previous estimate provided to Bloomberg News on Tuesday.

The figure compares to 100 organizations cataloged over the weekend. Eye Security says the figure is likely an undercount. bloomberg.com reuters.com


'Active Attacks' on Microsoft
China-linked hackers behind Microsoft hacking spree, Google says
A China-backed hacking group is behind some of the "active attacks" on Microsoft SharePoint software uncovered over the weekend, a top Google security executive said Monday.

Why it matters: It remains unclear how many businesses were already hacked prior to Microsoft's weekend warning, but researchers say the issue likely could affect thousands of organizations worldwide.

Driving the news: Microsoft warned late Saturday that unidentified hackers have been actively exploiting a previously unknown software vulnerability in on-premise SharePoint servers.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said Sunday that hackers could use the vulnerability to access content stored on SharePoint servers and execute code.

The Washington Post, which first reported on the attacks, said hackers have already breached U.S. federal and state agencies, universities, energy companies and an Asian telecommunications company.

Threat level: Charles Carmakal, chief technology officer at Google Cloud's Mandiant Consulting firm, said in an emailed statement Monday that a China-linked hacking team is "at least one of the actors responsible for this early exploitation."   axios.com
 
RELATED: Microsoft, CISA warn of cyberattacks targeting SharePoint servers


Grocery faces cybersecurity threats, pressure to consolidate'
In June, a cyberattack forced distributor United Natural Foods Inc. to stop deliveries to more than 30,000 North American grocery stores. David Marcotte, senior vice president of global retail and technology at Kantar, says “cybersecurity has rapidly emerged as a highly variable and constant threat to mid-sized groceries that lack the broader capabilities of large IT shops.” The emergence of criminal groups selling sophisticated tools for hacking has opened retail to attacks.  nrf.com


Dwindling federal cyber support for critical infrastructure raises alarms

Ransomware attacks in education jump 23% year over year