Gallego Backs Bipartisan Push to Combat Organized Retail Theft
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) announced his support for the bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, legislation to empower federal law enforcement to address organized retail crime groups targeting American businesses and consumers.
“Organized efforts to rob Arizona business owners is on the rise. Enough is enough,” said Rep. Gallego. “State and local leaders are working tirelessly to root out these organized retail crime rings, and today I’m proud to bolster their efforts on the federal level with the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. This legislation will effectively target organized retail crime efforts and provide law enforcement with the tools needed to protect Arizona businesses.”
Organized retail crime, the coordinated, large-scale theft of retail merchandise with the intention to resell that merchandise for financial gain, regularly involves a larger criminal enterprise that converts stolen goods into cash through physical and online marketplaces.
“While retailers remain vigilant in the fight against these unprecedented levels of theft and retail crime, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act is critical to keep employees, customers and our communities safe. We are grateful to Rep. Gallego for his support of this critical bipartisan legislation and urge Congress to move quickly to approve this measure,” said National Retail Federation Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French. The bill would establish the Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center at DHS’s Homeland Security Investigations unit, combining expertise from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to create a cohesive national strategy to address organized retail crime. It would also create new tools and additional federal authorities to assist in the investigation and prosecution of organized retail crime, while helping recover lost goods and proceeds to protect the economic security of American consumers and businesses.
Rep. Gallego previously sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting their agencies increase efforts to re-prioritize and counter an alarming rise in organized retail crime across the nation. This legislation is supported by the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and the PASS (Protect America’s Small Sellers) Coalition. The full text of the bill can be found here.