Attorney General Mayes has joined a coalition of 38 states and territories, urging Congress to address the rise in organized retail crime. This bipartisan effort seeks legislative action to combat what is described as a significant threat to communities, workers, and families.
"Organized retail crime isn’t just about stolen merchandise—it’s about criminal networks exploiting communities, threatening workers, and driving up costs for families," stated Attorney General Mayes. "Congress must act now to provide stronger tools to disrupt these operations, hold offenders accountable, and protect businesses and consumers alike."
The financial impact of organized retail crime is considerable, with losses exceeding $121 billion in the United States. A reported 76 percent of retail asset protection managers have indicated that their employees have faced violence from such criminals. Cargo theft remains a major issue, affecting supply chains and contributing to inflationary pressures on various goods.
During the 118th Congress, legislation was introduced with bills H.R.895/S.140 – Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 and S.139 – Organized Retail Crime Center Authorization Act of 2023. These proposals aimed to enhance resources at both state and federal levels to address this problem comprehensively. The coalition is now calling on the 119th Congress to reintroduce this legislation with increased penalties for supply chain thefts.
In response to the growing concern over organized retail crime, several attorneys general have established task forces and prosecution units dedicated to tackling this issue. The proposed legislation would facilitate coordination between state and federal efforts through an Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security.
The letter addressed to Congress was co-led by attorneys general from Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and South Carolina. Attorney General Mayes joins them along with representatives from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Dakota Tennessee Utah Vermont Virginia U.S Virgin Islands Washington West Virginia
A copy of the letter has been made available.