Organized Retail Crime (ORC)

In late 2023, the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) partnered with the Loss Prevention Foundation and Loss Prevention Magazine to distribute the ORC Across the States Survey to multi-store loss prevention managers and ORC investigators throughout the country.

While shoplifting is on the rise nationwide, the response to this crisis is often insufficient. The problem is not solely about the frequency of reported incidents but also about the frustration stemming from the lack of coordination between store teams, law enforcement, and prosecutors.

Investigators assigned to the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Golden Gate Division Organized Retail Crime Taskforce (ORCTF) recovered over $450,000 in stolen merchandise from an Oakland residence following a month-long investigation.

California Governor Newsom Signs New Retail Theft Package | Meijer Out $800K after ORC Scheme | Fired Walmart Employee Recovering after Being Stabbed by Shoplifter

The new laws provide tougher criminal penalties for repeat offenders and additional tools for felony prosecutions.

Cop Faces Murder Charge in Shooting of Pregnant Black Woman Accused of Shoplifting | Dept. of Labor Cites Circle K for Safety Violation after Gunmen Shoot Cashier | 8-Year-Old Girl Beats Robber with Baseball Bat at Liquor Store

The package is now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, and while he said he plans on signing them quickly, his office has not indicated when exactly he will sign them.

UK Retail Staff Fearing for Their Safety Following Looting and Vandalism | California Democrats Push Retail Theft Reduction Bill to Counter Prop. 47 Reform | Burglars Tunnel Through Walls of Multiple Stores to Take $1.5M in Jewelry

To give you a better feel for the vast impact of the organized retail crime problem, here are just a few of the incidents that took place in the month of July.

In the coming weeks, ORCAs across the country will be holding their annual conferences, which provide tremendous training and awareness opportunities, networking, and investigative support for retailers, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors.