Organized Retail Crime (ORC)

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.

Amid high rates of property crime, police staffing challenges, a fentanyl crisis, and widespread social instability, Albuquerque has emerged as an unexpected hotspot for retail theft, prompting retailers and law enforcement to push for reforms, partnerships, and tougher enforcement to turn the tide.

Thieves Steal $13M in Illinois Jewelry Store Heist | Woman Accused of Stealing $375K From Perdue in Ghost Employee Scheme | Chicago Man Faces Felony After $400K in Stolen Nike Merchandise Recovered

The Chicago Police Department’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force secured charges against a 22-year-old offender who stole more than $43,000 worth of merchandise from a Streeterville business.

Nationwide Coordinated Retail Crime Crackdown Results in Hundreds of Arrests | Colorado Cop Kills Alleged Shoplifter with Vehicle | Blowtorch Burglars Hit Another Jewelry Store in Encino

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 May, 2025.

Thieves Get Away with $2M in Cash and Merchandise in Jewelry Store Heist | Woman Accused of Making Phony Kidnapping Claim to Escape Shoplifting Arrest | Hammer-Wielding Crooks Steal Thousands of Dollars Worth of Pokemon Cards

Pennsylvania AG Charges Father and Son Members of Crew That Targeted Stores for Blitz-Style Thefts | Texas Man Executed 13 Years to the Day of Store Robbery Where He Set Clerk on Fire | Colombian Man's NJ Shopping Spree Ends with ICE Arrest

In this episode of LPM's Inside Scoop Podcast, David Johnston, VP of AP and retail operations at the NRF, tells Stefanie Hoover about his May 14th trip to The Hill. A select group of retail LP executives partnered with the NRF to visit members of Congress and the Senate who can help get CORCA across the finish line.