Survey results released by the National Retail Association (NRF) last week reveal worsening safety conditions in the retail security industry. The National Retail Security Survey was conducted among senior lost prevention and security executives across the retail sector.

One of the overarching issues related to ORC is its effects on human life. As the nation’s largest private-sector employer, retail supports one in four U.S. jobs — 52 million working Americans. Over 80% of retailers have reported an increase in violence and aggression towards retail customers and employees.

Much of the stolen goods are listed for sale on online platforms, and the thieves use these profits to support drug and human trafficking and other heinous causes.

With the marked increase in ORC activity, the need has never been greater for the passage of the bipartisan Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act. In response to the increase, NRF sent congress an urgent letter encouraging them to pass INFORM.

The survey’s results confirm $94.5 billion in 2021 retail losses, up from $90.8 billion in 2020. Organized retail crime (ORC) was a key component of the losses, reported to be up 26.5% over the previous year.