Organized retail crime (ORC) continues to have a significant impact on retailers, the economy, and communities across the nation. Today, October 24, marks Fight Retail Crime Day, an opportunity for retailers, policymakers, and industry leaders to come together and push for stronger measures to combat this growing problem.
A key focus of today’s efforts is support of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 (H.R. 895), or CORCA, which aims to enhance federal enforcement against ORC. This bill expands the scope of criminal offenses related to ORC, making it easier to prosecute organized groups that transport stolen goods across state lines and engage in large-scale retail theft. CORCA also proposes the establishment of the Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security, which would centralize federal efforts to fight ORC and increase collaboration between law enforcement agencies.
CORCA has garnered bipartisan support in Washington state, with the following members of Congress as co-sponsors:
- Rep. Suzan DelBene [D-WA-1]
- Rep. Derek Kilmer [D-WA-6]
- Rep. Rick Larsen [D-WA-2]
- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [R-WA-5]
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez [D-WA-3]
- Rep. Kim Schrier [D-WA-8]
- Rep. Marilyn Strickland [D-WA-10]
WR, along with other stakeholders, is calling on Congress to support CORCA and pass it into law. By doing so, we can strengthen protections for businesses and consumers alike, helping to combat the growing threat of organized retail crime.
