Organized Retail Crime (ORC)

Despite official crime stats suggesting retail theft is down, new research shows it's actually rising—underreporting, shifting policies, and strained police resources are masking the true scale of the problem and fueling a misleading public narrative.

Police Search for Burglars Who Stole $300K in Clothing | Suspicious Death Outside Goodwill Store Under Investigation | Lululemon Is Suing Costco for Allegedly Selling Knockoff Versions of Its Clothes

Celebrating its 25th year, the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) continues its mission to advance evidence-based retail crime prevention through collaboration, innovation, and rigorous research—growing from a bold idea in 2000 into a global leader in loss prevention strategy.

To give you a better feel for the vast impact of the ORC problem, we have provided a glimpse into just a few of the incidents that took place in the month of June, 2025.

Amid rising retail theft and violence driven by legal, social, and economic shifts, retailers and security professionals must adapt strategies, collaborate across sectors, and advocate for reform to restore safety and accountability in retail environments.

Shoplifter Jumps from Second Story of Mall onto Ice Rink | Security Guard Charged after Woman Killed | Task Force's 'No Price Is Right' Operation Nets 8 Arrests

$100M in Diamonds, Rolex Watches, Emeralds Stolen in Largest Jewelry Heist in US History | Apple Disables iPhones Stolen in LA Looting | Thousands of Nintendo Switch 2 Consoles Stolen in $1.4M Cargo Theft

What's new from the Mid-Atlantic ORCA? Conferences, partnerships, resources, and more!

Spearheaded by the Cook County Regional Organized Crime Task Force (CCROC) and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in the Chicago market, a nationwide crackdown on organized retail crime, or “National ORC Blitz,” was implemented on May 30th.

Twenty retail loss prevention leaders joined a delegation from the National Retail Federation (NRF) on May 14 in Washington, DC.., to continue the education of congressional and Senate representatives on the effects of ORC and keep up the momentum on the CORCA legislation.