A recent report on Organized Retail Crime (ORC) highlights a troubling trend of increasing retail theft across the United States, with significant implications for Washington State. The study, conducted by the Loss Prevention Research Council, reveals that ORC continues to escalate, with 68.27% of respondents reporting an increase over the past 12 months. Notably, Washington retailers face challenges as retail crime remains underreported, complicating efforts to accurately track and address these incidents.
The report underscores the need for better data collection to understand crime trends fully, as many retail crimes go unreported to law enforcement. This underreporting varies by jurisdiction, further obscuring the true scope of ORC. While states like California and Indiana saw the most significant increases, Washington’s retail sector is not immune to these rising threats.
As ORC evolves, Washington retailers must be vigilant and proactive in addressing these challenges. The full results of this study will be detailed in a series of upcoming reports, which will also explore the changing dynamics of ORC, including the rise in violence and the impact on retail employees.
