A bipartisan group of over 75 House lawmakers is urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take decisive action against organized retail crime (ORC), citing its increasing impact on businesses, communities, and public safety. The lawmakers are specifically calling for the establishment of an organized retail crime coordination center within DHS to enhance law enforcement efforts and mitigate the threats posed by these criminal networks.
York Regional Police have arrested 172 individuals and laid 358 charges in a major operation targeting organized retail crime in Vaughan. The raid, dubbed ‘The Theft Project,’ was launched on December 6th in partnership with Vaughan Mills, the Retail Council of Canada, and retail loss prevention officers. Through the initiative, officers have recovered stolen merchandise worth over $150,000.
Police in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, have arrested 14 people in the past week as part of a crackdown on retail theft. The thefts range in value from $20 worth of merchandise stolen from a Wawa to $1,830 at Target. The arrests are part of a campaign called “Bensalem Secure,” which aims to reduce theft with practical and sustainable solutions.
