Organized Retail Crime Threat Escalates, 78 Congress Members Back New Act

Organized Retail Crime Threat Escalates, 78 Congress Members Back New Act

Organized retail crime (ORC) is escalating into a major national threat, affecting retailers, consumers, and communities across the US. Criminal groups target consumer goods, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and essential supplies to fund further illegal activities. This alarming trend has prompted 78 members of Congress to back the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025.

ORC disrupts supply chains and online marketplaces, with cargo theft from railcars and trucks posing a direct threat. Coordinated criminal networks orchestrate aggressive and often violent acts, operating across state lines and international borders. These groups are frequently linked to broader criminal activities, including drug trafficking and money laundering.

Gift card frauds and phone scams have become lucrative opportunities for these organized criminal groups, impacting consumers nationwide. The epidemic has led 38 state attorneys general to urge swift federal action, citing sustained losses, rising violence, and substantial cost increases for retailers.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (S.1404/H.R.2853) aims to combat this issue by establishing a federal coordination center, improving data-sharing, and expanding criminal penalties for ORC.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025, backed by 78 members of Congress, seeks to strengthen federal response to this growing threat. If enacted, it could significantly improve coordination, data-sharing, and penalties, helping to protect retailers, consumers, and communities from the devastating impacts of organized retail crime.

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