Amid the alarming rise in organized retail crime, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of attorneys general from 38 states and territories, calling on Congress to intensify its efforts against this escalating threat to the retail industry. According to a recent report, retail crime has ripped through the nation, causing over $121 billion in financial damage. Michigan felt the sting acutely, suffering over $2 billion in retail theft revenue loss in 2022 alone.
With the introduction of bills H.R.895/S.140 - the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023, and S.139 - the Organized Retail Crime Center Authorization Act of 2023 during the 118th Congress, these pieces of legislation aimed to bolster state and federal resources to bring the networked perpetrators to justice. However, these bills have yet to become law, leading the coalition to urge the 119th Congress to re-introduce these legislative measures. The emphasis is particularly on enhancing federal penalties for supply chain theft, aiming to act as a more effective deterrent against the sophisticated theft of goods in transit.
The proposed anti-crime legislation includes the foundation of an Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center under the Department of Homeland Security's watchful eye. This center aims to ease the sharing of vital information necessary to tackle these criminal enterprises' intricate and often cross-border nature. "The FORCE Team has had incredible success stopping organized retail crime rings in their tracks through strong partnerships with retailers and local, state, and federal agencies," Nessel stated, as per Michigan Department of Attorney General press release, highlighting Michigan's success in disrupting these costly criminal rings.
Since establishing the FORCE Team and the Organized Retail Crime Unit in January 2023, Nessel's initiative has led to over 85 defendants being charged in 42 cases. Recovery efforts have seized tens of millions of dollars in stolen goods, cash, and cryptocurrency. This unit is notably the first of its kind, pioneering a model for dedicated Department of Attorney General staff to focus exclusively on retail crime. The Biden Administration acknowledged this effort last year, spotlighting the FORCE team's achievement at a roundtable discussion.
