Weekly Column: Combating Organized Retail Crime

Organized retail crime, which involves coordinated crime groups shoplifting and committing other forms of theft or fraud to then resell the merchandise through online and local marketplaces, is resulting in significant financial losses and safety concerns across our country.  I have co-sponsored S. 1404, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, to better protect Idaho businesses, employees, customers and communities.

For decades, Idaho law enforcement has been proactively coordinating with retail professionals and community leaders to prevent retail theft in the state and discourage organized crime rings from targeting Idaho retailers.  “Organized retail crime impacts everyone across the country, in cities large and small, including where we call home here in Idaho,” said Edward Fritz, Crime Prevention Supervisor with the Boise Police Department and Chairman of the Organized Retail Crime Association of Idaho (ORCAID).  “Only by working together, across our communities and at all levels of government, can we keep Idaho dollars in Idaho, products on Idaho shelves, and stores in Idaho neighborhoods.” 

In recognition of the benefits of collaborative efforts, such as those in Idaho, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would establish a nationally coordinated multi-agency response and broaden tools to tackle evolving trends in organized retail theft.  The legislation would create the Center to Combat Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that would combine expertise from law enforcement agencies and retail industry representatives, and expand legal tools for federal and local law enforcement to assist in federal investigation and prosecution of organized retail crime and help recapture lost goods and proceeds.

Various law enforcement, retail industry, shippers, agriculture producer groups and others also support the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.  Albertsons Companies operates 44 stores in Idaho under the Albertsons, Albertsons Market Street and Safeway names.  “At Albertsons Companies, we strongly support legislation aimed at combating organized crime, which poses significant implications for our customers and associates.  Their safety remains our top priority,” said Tom Moriarty, EVP, General Counsel, M+A and Corporate Affairs at Albertsons Cos.  “We are committed to collaborating with state and local officials, as well as law enforcement, to effectively address the rising instances of theft and retail crime.  Like other businesses, we are actively developing strategies to curtail escalating theft, ensuring the wellbeing of our employees and fostering a welcoming environment for our customers.  We support Congress’s effort to address this issue and appreciate Senator Crapo’s work in sponsoring the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.” 

According to a report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF), retailers reported a 93 percent increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents across our country per year in 2023 versus 2019 and a 90 percent increase in dollar loss due to shoplifting.  Further, retailers surveyed experienced an average of 177 shoplifting incidents per day in 2023, and that already staggering number can reach higher numbers depending on the retail sector.  NRF informs, “The economic impact on national and small business retailers is significant, but the broader consequence is that these crimes jeopardize the safety of store employees and customers.”

I look forward to enactment of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, which has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.  This legislation would reinforce coordination in Idaho and other parts of our country with shared information, communication and collaboration to help crack down on organized retail crime and prevent criminal enterprises from driving up the cost of goods for consumers, harming core components of our economy and jeopardizing public safety.

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