Crime continues to be a major problem for businesses large and small across the country. Federal, state, and local officials have pursued anti-crime efforts but further action is needed. Here are the Chamber's policy recommendations.
"Like most areas, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the times and frequency customers visit our shop, which has impacted our operations. We’ve also seen a rise in crime, both stealing and property damage at our shop and in the neighborhood, as well as an increase in trash, abandoned personal belongings, drug paraphernalia, and human waste in the areas around our shop."
Communities and businesses large and small across the United States are facing a significant increase in retail theft and organized retail crime that requires the swift response of policymakers.
Congress passed the Integrity, Notification, and Fairness Online (INFORM) Consumers Act to require disclosure of high-volume third-party sellers in online marketplaces and establish transparency to minimize the coordinated exploitation of online marketplaces
The federal government must now enforce these changes and provide support to states and local prosecutors.
Congress and the states must act to stop organized retail theft
States should take action to prosecute organized retail theft by passing legislation to enable the aggregation and prosecution of offenses across state lines, and by establishing statewide task forces to take down organized retail theft rings.
States need to more clearly define the crime “organized retail theft” to provide prosecutors with the tools to target organized theft rings, which differ greatly from the average shoplifter.
States also need to adjust the thresholds for the value of goods stolen to trigger a felony charge to prevent thieves from avoiding prosecution and heavier charges. States can further address this through passing legislation allowing for the aggregation of a pattern of organized thefts across multiple jurisdictions over a period of time.
According to new data from the U.S. Chamber, over half of small retailers say they have experienced theft and 50% say retail theft has become worse over the past year.
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Organized retail theft rates have spiked significantly in the past year, affecting communities across the nation. This theft is perpetrated by organized criminal rings that steal large amounts of goods from businesses of all types and sizes with the intent to resell them.
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce – the world's largest business organization – is imploring Congress to step up enforcement against rampant retail theft.
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Communities and businesses large and small across the United States are facing a significant increase in retail theft and organized retail crime. Here's what policymakers should do.
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This letter was sent to the Members of the United States Congress as well as to the National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National District Attorneys Association, on retail theft and organized retail crime.
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