A bipartisan group of over 75 House lawmakers, led by Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio), is calling for immediate action from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to combat the rising tide of organized retail crime (ORC). In a letter sent to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the lawmakers express serious concerns about the escalating impact of ORC on businesses, communities, and public safety.
The letter highlights the alarming financial losses attributed to ORC, citing a Retail Industry Leader’s Association report that estimates nearly $70 billion in stolen goods from U.S. retailers in 2019 alone. The lawmakers emphasize that this number has continued to climb each year, affecting businesses of all sizes and ultimately harming consumers. Beyond the economic burden, the lawmakers also point to the significant safety risks associated with ORC. They argue that the violence often displayed during retail theft, particularly against retail workers, coupled with the potential for health risks from consuming stolen goods like baby formula or pharmaceuticals, underscores the urgency of addressing this issue.
To effectively tackle this complex problem, the lawmakers are demanding that DHS provide Congress with a detailed update on its ongoing efforts to combat ORC. Specifically, they are seeking information about the progress made in establishing an organized retail crime coordination center within the DHS Homeland Security Investigations office. The lawmakers believe that such a center would be instrumental in bolstering law enforcement capabilities by facilitating better information sharing, resource allocation, and strategic planning. They argue that this enhanced coordination would ultimately lead to more effective prevention and enforcement measures against these sophisticated criminal networks.
The letter, signed by 46 Republicans and 30 Democrats, underscores the bipartisan nature of this concern as organized retail crime rings continue to expand their reach across the United States. Rep. Joyce, who previously held the gavel for the House Appropriations Committee’s homeland security panel, has spearheaded efforts to secure funding for an organized retail crime coordination center in the fiscal 2024 budget. This initiative, originally introduced as a bipartisan bill by Joyce, former Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.), and Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.), reflects the growing recognition of the need for a coordinated federal response to this escalating threat.
