AGs want Congress to act on organized retail crime

A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from 38 states and territories wants Congress to address the rise in organized retail crime nationwide.

Organized retail crime has contributed to financial losses totaling more than $121 billion in the U.S., and 76% of retail asset protection managers report their employees have suffered from violence at the hands of an organized retail criminal. Cargo theft remains a primary component of organized retail crime nationwide, disrupting supply chains and exerting inflationary pressure on the price of everything from baby formula to clothing.

During the 118th Congress, the House and Senate introduced H.R.895/S.140, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 and S. 139, the Organized Retail Crime Center Authorization Act of 2023. This legislation would provide the necessary resources at the state and federal levels to bring the organizations and individuals behind this nationwide problem to justice.

Now, the coalition is urging the 119th Congress to reintroduce this bill, which would include increased federal penalties for supply chain thefts to act as a strong deterrent against the organized theft of goods in transit.

The attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia signed the letter.