Bill > AR47

Introduced Session

This resolution urges Congress and the President to enact the "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023," currently pending as H.R.895 and S.140. Organized retail crime occurs when a group of people commit large-scale theft with the intention of reselling the items in person or online for financial gain. Organized retail crime continues to increase in severity in regard to economic damages. In 2023, it is estimated that organized retail crime will cost U.S. retailers $100 billion, or an average of $720,000 per $1 billion of merchandise sold. These numbers indicate a 50 percent increase in costs from 2015 due to organized retail crime. Consumers are often forced to bear the brunt of the economic damages caused as retailers raise prices to offset the loss in profits. Organized retail crime also leads to an increase in violence in retail environments, creating safety risks for consumers and retail employees. A majority of retailers report that they have experienced an organized retail crime subject verbally and/or physically assault a sales associate, while forty percent of retailers report that an organized retail crime subject has used a weapon to harm a sales associate. The "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023" aims to address the rampant issue of organized retail crime by ensuring that law enforcement has the necessary tools to combat the liable criminal organizations, such as strengthening the federal money laundering statutes and allowing federal judges to order criminal forfeiture after convictions related to organized retail theft. The bill also establishes the Center to Combat Organized Retail Crime within the Department of Homeland Security to collaborate with retailers in addressing the issue, as well as to provide reporting on organized retail crime activity and enforcement.

Committee Categories

Alex Sauickie (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document