Georgia – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has aggressively opposed the growing threat of organized retail crime with leading a group of 38 attorneys general from all over the country, asking to Congress for decisive action. The bipartisan group is advocating laws to handle the progressively pervasive and violent problem affecting communities nationwide.
Affecting every state and costing businesses and taxpayers a lot of money, organized retail crime has expanded to unprecedented proportions in the United States. Just in Georgia, retail theft is thought to have caused annual losses of more than $3 billion, therefore significantly affecting the economy. Along with the deterioration of almost 17,000 jobs, this number consists of not only $1.6 billion in stolen products but also $326 million in lost tax income.
“Organized retail crime has reached a level never before seen in this country, and unfortunately, no community is immune from the economic impact and the violence that comes with it,” said Carr in a release.
“We’re proud to lead this fight in Georgia with the creation of a new statewide Organized Retail Crime Unit, and we’re already working with several major retailers to investigate cases and prosecute those responsible. Now, we’re urging Congress to join our efforts so we can disrupt and dismantle these increasingly violent and brazen networks once and for all,” Carr added.
With losses of more than $121 billion nationally, the financial implications are as shocking. A significant concern highlighted by retail asset protection managers is the violence associated with these crimes—76 percent report that their employees have faced violent incidents from perpetrators of organized retail theft. The crimes also contribute to more general criminal activity including human trafficking, drug trafficking, and corruption.
Acknowledging the complexity and gravity of the problem, the House and Senate proposed important laws during the 118th Congress: S. 139, the Organized Retail Crime Center Authorization Act of 2023; H.R. 895/S. 140, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023. These laws sought to maximize the resources at both federal and state levels so that those engaged in these nefarious activities may be properly punished.
Now pushing the 119th Congress, the group aims not just for the return of these laws but also for tougher federal punishments for supply chain theft. Such steps are meant to be a strong disincentive against the systematic theft of products in transit, therefore addressing a major issue.
Proposed legislation from the past Congress urged the creation of an Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center inside the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen the battle against this kind of crime even further. This center would play a crucial role in facilitating the sharing of information necessary to combat the complex, cross-border nature of organized retail crime effectively.
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Attorneys general from states ranging from Alabama, New York, and California make up Carr’s coalition, which emphasizes the universal agreement on the need of a coordinated and strong reaction to organized retail crime. These political leaders’ united front shows a common dedication to protect citizens’ physical and financial welfare all over the country.
Find a copy of the letter here.
