Retailers, grocers, 3PLs, and other businesses are facing persistent problems with sophisticated organized crime networks. To combat common organized retail crime tactics like cargo theft, flash robberies, or third-party sales of stolen goods (among other types of ORC), companies need to leverage new technology to improve their security posture and protect their assets—people and product—more effectively than ever before.
Not Your Common Pick-Pocketer Anymore
It’s not as simple as catching someone who pockets a few items for personal use at the grocery store; organized retail crime has evolved into a complex and dangerous threat. According to the 2023 National Retail Security Survey of 117 retail brands, a staggering 88 percent reported that shoplifters have grown significantly more aggressive and violent compared to just a year earlier.
“Retailers are seeing unprecedented levels of theft coupled with rampant crime in their stores, and the situation is only becoming more dire,” said David Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations at the NRF.
Locked Up Detergent and Smart Shopping Carts
In recent years, many retailers have implemented stringent security measures to combat theft, resulting in a more controlled and closely monitored environment within their stores.
One of the most visible changes to combat ORC has been the widespread adoption of locked cases and cabinets for high-risk items such as small electronics, cosmetics, and over‑the-counter medications. These products are now securely stored behind plexiglass or metal barriers, requiring customers to seek assistance from store employees to access them.
“You’d be surprised by the lengths shoplifters will go to try and outsmart retailers,” said Tony Sheppard, VP of retail risk solutions at ThinkLP and former LP practitioner. “We’ve heard reports from LP teams about tactics ranging from switching price tags to using aluminum-lined bags to bypass sensors. It’s a never-ending cat-and-mouse game as we constantly have to adapt our strategies to stay one step ahead of these criminals.”
Some retailers have introduced new shopping carts with advanced locking mechanisms that activate if removed from the store without proper checkout. To further reduce theft, companies are leveraging technologies like facial recognition, computer vision, RFID tracking, and license plate recognition.
Cargo Vulnerabilities
ORC extends beyond the walls of stores and increasingly targets vulnerable supply chains, including through cargo theft. Data analytics firm Verisk’s CargoNet recorded 2,852 cargo theft incidents in 2023, marking a 59 percent increase in Canada and the US compared to previous years. Their analytics found that the most targeted location types are warehouses, distribution centers, and parking lots. Sixty-two percent of the incidents involved the theft of either full or partial shipments, with an average estimated value of $188,617 per event and an estimated total loss of $331.9 million.
Since cargo theft statistics were not classified as a separate reportable category in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) until recently, and because many companies choose not to report cargo crimes to avoid negative publicity, higher insurance rates, reputational damage, and embarrassment, the precise dollar losses remain unclear.
Effectively Detect Patterns to Disrupt Criminal Rings
In May 2024, Tulsa woman Linda Ann Been, who led a large retail theft operation, was sentenced to sixty-four months in prison. The case of Been, the leader of the “Operation Booster Buster” retail theft ring, shows how retailers can leverage data analysis to detect patterns and collaborate with law enforcement to dismantle organized crime networks.
The probe into the ORC ring took shape when a retail investigator detected an unusual pattern of thefts occurring across multiple store locations in the Tulsa region. Through a meticulous examination of records and data, the investigator detected patterns linking petty thefts by low-level thieves to crime leader Been. The investigator shared these findings with local law enforcement, paving the way for a broader criminal investigation.
They discovered that Been had been providing her network of thieves with specific lists of merchandise to target and steal from Walmart, Sam’s Club, CVS, Walgreens, and other stores spanning several states. The stolen goods were funneled to a warehouse and boutique storefront in a Tulsa suburb, where Been managed their redistribution. She sold the items to fences outside Oklahoma who resold them through online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon, exploiting the internet’s anonymity to reach unsuspecting buyers.
High-Tech Investigation Software for LP and Supply Chain Teams
Retailers and law enforcement are facing loss and safety challenges that require a multi-faceted approach involving advanced security measures, data-driven strategies, and collaborative efforts to combat these criminal networks effectively.
By sharing intelligence, evidence, and investigative resources, retailers and authorities can work together to disrupt the operations of organized retail crime groups, leading to successful prosecutions and dismantling their illicit crime rings.
Retailers are now increasingly investing in loss prevention safety software platforms that use AI technology and integrate directly into their other key data sources. These systems help them expedite their investigations and tracking of criminal networks across jurisdictions using data analytics and machine learning to identify patterns, connect incidents, and pinpoint key criminals.
Predictive Crime Intelligence with ThinkLP
Now, imagine having crime intelligence so powerful that you can predict crime headed your way. ThinkLP will provide you with the platform you need to stay one step ahead of criminals. 
ThinkLP’s new crime linking solution leverages natural language processing to analyze unstructured data like case narratives and subject descriptions. This helps identify suspect behavioral patterns more accurately, improving the ability to link individuals to crimes.
As a hub for a wide variety of customers’ datasets, ThinkLP is able to match organized retail crime groups targeting specific products or product categories. Most importantly, with secure data sharing across a vast network, ThinkLP equips organizations to collaborate on more investigations across brands, companies, and law enforcement than ever before.
For investigative teams, these new capabilities maintain the flexibility that ThinkLP has always offered while adding a layer of standardization to allow collaborators to work off common language and datasets. In turn, this removes the tedious manual data re-entry effort or errors that retailers may encounter with other rigid point solutions.
“Integrated with our Loss and Safety Intelligence Platform, our tools represent a new era of efficiency and effectiveness in the fight against organized retail crime,” said Spencer Marzouk, CEO of ThinkLP.
In terms of cargo thefts, the ThinkLP platform enables reporting on all related incidents and early detection of loss through floor walks and inventory analytics. The Complex Investigations module effectively addresses ORC by linking incidents across multiple locations and offering a comprehensive view of potential theft rings. It can also track seal discrepancies and identify patterns of driver leakage, helping to isolate suspicious activity and reduce loss.
Capture ORC, Capture Everything
These advanced capabilities are not limited to retail theft alone. Workplace violence incidents are rising, partly due to retail crime. ThinkLP’s comprehensive suite of tools empowers companies to mitigate risks, fostering a safer environment for both employees and customers.
Retailers can safeguard their bottom line, crack down on ORC, and access the world’s most powerful crime-linking network—only on ThinkLP.
