AGs & Law Enforcement Fight Back Against ORC Rings
The Growth of Organized Retail Crime Theft Rings
Several high-profile organized retail theft prosecutions made headlines in the years following the pandemic. These cases represent some of the most illustrative ORC prosecutions to date, though the full scale of organized retail theft remains likely underreported due to fragmented enforcement and data reporting across different jurisdictions.

Operation Proof of Purchase - In 2020, law enforcement agencies in California prosecuted a retail theft crime ring that had stolen millions of dollars in health and beauty products. During the investigation, authorities executed multiple search warrants, recovering over $8 million worth of merchandise. According to news reports, this case, involving over $50 million in stolen merchandise from large retailers like CVS, Walgreens and Target, remains among the largest ORC criminal cases in California.

Chicago Multi-State ORC Ring - In 2022, an ordinary shoplifting incident turned into a full-fledged investigation revealing a massive ORC fencing operation throughout the Chicago area. In total, $7.5 million worth of stolen items were recovered. Police estimate the overall case involved close to $40 million in stolen goods during the lifespan of the criminal operation before it was disbanded.

Roni Rubinov - In 2022, the New York Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and the New York Police Department’s Grand Larceny Division announced the takedown of a massive New York City retail theft and fencing operation after a three-year investigation. The ring operated from 2017 to 2022 and moved stolen goods and gift cards through Rubinov’s pawn shop and related businesses before reselling them online. In total, around $3.8 million in stolen goods was recovered, along with more than 550 gift and cash cards and $300,000 in cash. The ring did millions worth of damage over this period, but the exact amount was not publicly disclosed.

Philly Flowers - In 2024, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and Pennsylvania State Police announced the results of a unique ORC case identified in local news coverage as “Philly Flowers.” The case involved nine charged defendants, and authorities described more than $850,000 in alleged payouts across a network that touched more than 1,000 TJX locations in nine states. While the nine states were not publicly named, the ring was centered in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Operation D-Fence - In 2026, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in Florida uncovered an ORC ring that targeted Home Depot & Lowes stores, along with construction sites. In total, 14 people were arrested and approximately $5 million in stolen items were recovered. Authorities estimated that approximately $7 million in proceeds moved through the operation during the prior year.

Law Enforcement Response - Law enforcement agencies are combating the ORC problem with a multi-coordinated effort. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recognizes ORC as a form of organized criminal activity, with the FBI and other federal agencies getting more involved in these cases. Despite this, the underlying problem is significant, and due to underreporting and the concealed nature of the criminal operations, many of these rings still operate hidden from plain sight.  jdsupra.com


Retail Crime Threats Continue Shifting
The Shifting State of Retail Safety and Security
Retail store theft levels are stabilizing, but external theft and fraud overall continue to rise, according to a new study released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Loss Prevention Research Council. In addition, workplace violence remains a major concern for retailers.

The Impact of Theft & Violence 2026 report found that retailers experienced a 12.4% decrease in shoplifting incidents and an 8.1% decline in retail merchandise theft in 2025 compared with 2024, while other methods of external theft, fraud, and scams increased over the same period. These findings highlight the evolving nature of organized retail criminals exploiting both the physical and digital retail environments.

The decline in shoplifting and merchandise theft incidents can be attributed, in part, to retailers’ ongoing efforts to evaluate, implement, and refine security measures designed to deter theft and reduce losses. Strategies like enhanced interior and exterior security systems, as well as store- and employee-specific safety protocols, have contributed to these improvements. In addition, retailers have strengthened their ability to analyze loss patterns and assess the effectiveness of various security measures in addressing different types of theft.

The 2026 report demonstrates a concerning shift as criminals move beyond traditional shoplifting to more sophisticated external theft schemes, with retailers reporting higher rates of repeat offenders (50%), organized retail crime(ORC)-related incidents (40%), and walkout or pushout theft (37%). Fraud is also rising, with phone scams (69%), loyalty fraud (51%), and gift card theft or fraud (42%) increasing.

Violence remains a significant concern for retailers, which continue to report increases in homelessness-related disruptions and guest-related incidents. In response, retailers are strengthening proactive workplace violence prevention efforts by investing in management training (72%), employee training (65%), and risk-intelligence technologies (61%), among other measures designed to enhance safety for employees and customers.

Consistent with last year, reports of store-related theft incidents to law enforcement remain low, with 63% of retailers reporting fewer than half of these incidents. Retailers cite several factors for not reporting, including low-dollar losses or not meeting felony thresholds (60%), as well as concerns about lack of law enforcement response and follow-through (54%).

Following passage in the U.S. House of Representatives, NRF urges the U.S. Senate to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, which would strengthen federal coordination and equip state and local law enforcement to better identify and investigate cross-jurisdictional and transnational retail crime groups. ehsleaders.org


Ending Police Security at Retail Stores
Winnipeg police will no longer provide security at retail stores by spring, chief says

Police service will start reducing hours for special duty retail assignments in January

Winnipeg's police chief says the service will no longer allow retail stores to hire officers for security starting early next year.

For years, Winnipeg retailers have been able to hire city police officers to work overtime at their stores. Starting in January, the police service will start reducing those special duty hours, Chief Gene Bowers said in a member update earlier this week.

Special duty hours will be limited on Fridays, Saturdays, statutory holidays and all major event days, such as when there are parades and public celebrations. Officers will no longer do special duty work at Winnipeg stores by May 1, Bowers said.

The move comes after police service members and supervisors raised concerns about how special duty retail assignments were impacting staffing and regular operations, he said.

"This change is being made to optimize police resource allocation to ensure the safety of all communities across the City of Winnipeg," Bowers wrote in the member update. The move also helps address members' worries around front-line operations, he wrote.

The "phased approach" to pulling police out of stores will give retailers "ample time" to adjust their security plans while police "focus resources on core public safety responsibilities," he said. The decision only applies to retail businesses and won't affect other special duty assignments Winnipeg police take on, Bowers said. cbc.ca

 
California's ORC Blitz Makes Headlines
CHP task force reports retail crime blitz success
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) continues to make steady progress in dismantling organized retail crime networks throughout the state. Recently, the CHP joined more than 100 law enforcement agencies for a National Organized Retail Crime Blitz, helping recover $1.05 million in stolen goods. Building on last year’s success, this event reaffirms the CHP’s commitment to holding retail theft suspects accountable.

From Aug. 1 through 9, the CHP Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) saturated communities and led coordinated enforcement operations at several businesses, shopping centers and retail stores statewide. Officers proactively identified and apprehended offenders suspected of organized retail theft.

As a result of the CHP’s statewide efforts, officers arrested 97 suspects, including eight on felony charges, and recovered more than 8,500 stolen items valued at approximately $1.05 million.

Since the ORCTF’s inception in 2019, the CHP has been involved in more than 4,700 investigations, resulting in more than 5,300 arrests and the recovery of more than 1.6 million stolen items valued at more than $76.6 million as of July 30.

In the first seven months of 2026, the CHP made nearly 350 retail theft arrests, investigated more than 280 incidents, and assisted partner agencies with more than 80 investigations, recovering an estimated $6.7 million in stolen goods. escalontimes.com


Houston: Crime numbers remain the same after police patrol increase

Estonia: Systematic thefts jump 25% in first half of year