Retail theft and organized retail crime (ORC) continue to present challenges for retailers, employees, consumers, and communities across the country. A new report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) found that retailers experienced a 12.4% decrease in shoplifting incidents and an 8.1% decrease in merchandise theft incidents from 2024 to 2025.
The report also highlights the continued evolution of ORC networks. Criminal groups are increasingly involved in activities including cargo and supply chain theft, gift card and loyalty fraud, phone scams, and cyber-enabled crime. Some groups use artificial intelligence and other technologies to expand their operations, which can extend across state and national borders.
Retailers have responded by increasing investments in loss prevention, merchandise protection, employee safety, training and risk intelligence. The report found a slight decrease in in-store violence associated with theft, although other forms of violence involving customers and other individuals have increased.
Despite these efforts, retailers and law enforcement continue to identify limited resources, coordination challenges, and prosecutorial support as barriers to disrupting sophisticated criminal organizations.
The NRF report calls for greater federal support and coordination, including passage of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA). The U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation in May 2025 with broad bipartisan support. The proposed legislation would strengthen information sharing and provide additional resources and coordination for state and local law enforcement and prosecutors addressing ORC that crosses jurisdictions.
Supporters say the legislation would complement existing state and local efforts rather than federalize retail theft, with the goal of improving coordination and helping disrupt organized criminal networks.
