Retail theft a ‘national crisis’ Congress must address, US Chamber says

The Chamber of Commerce stated federal and state lawmakers ought to take motion to curb shoplifting.
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The US Chamber of Commerce is demanding that Congress take motion to handle the rise of organized retail theft – arguing the problem has turn out to be a nationwide emergency that's hurting companies and contributing to increased costs for shoppers.

The enterprise advocacy group outlined its issues this week in a letter addressed to Congress, the Nationwide Governors Affiliation and different policymakers — noting a survey by which 54% of small enterprise house owners stated they skilled elevated shoplifting in 2021.

Retailers that had been already struggling to rebuild their companies and appeal to prospects as a result of COVID-19 pandemic are “now confronted with large-scale theft and looting, a lot of it stemming from organized crime,” Neil Bradley, the US Chamber of Commerce’s chief coverage officer, stated in an announcement accompanying the letter.

“Retail theft is changing into a nationwide disaster, hurting companies in each state and the communities they serve,” Bradley added. “We name on policymakers to deal with this drawback head-on earlier than it will get additional uncontrolled. No retailer ought to have to shut due to theft.” 

New York and different main cities across the nation have seen a spike in organized retail theft through the pandemic.

The Chamber of Commerce stated the disturbing development is hurting companies and resulting in increased costs for purchasers.

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The common giant retailer misplaced $700,000 per $1 billion in gross sales as of 2020 — a rise of greater than 50% over a five-year interval, in line with the Nationwide Retail Federation.

The Chamber of Commerce referred to as on federal and state lawmakers to take concrete steps to handle the issue.

Proposed steps embrace the passage of bipartisan laws geared toward cracking down on the sale of stolen items on on-line marketplaces; an growth of the authorized definition of and ensuing prison penalties for “organized retail theft,” and a lowered threshold for the worth of stolen items that may set off felony fees.

“These crimes are usually not victimless. Along with the rising variety of thefts that flip violent, harmless shoppers, workers, native communities, and enterprise house owners and shareholders bear the prices of rising retail theft,” the chamber’s letter to Congress added.

One survey discovered 54% of small enterprise house owners stated they skilled elevated shoplifting in 2021.

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Some critics have argued that loosened penalties for shoplifting offenses in some states have contributed to the issue.

A number of main retailers have publicly spoken out a couple of rise in organized retail crime over the previous couple of months. As The Put up reported in November, the incidents have grown more and more organized and violent in nature.

Late final 12 months, the CEO of Greatest Purchase famous the toll the incidents had been taking up the corporate’s workers.

“We're seeing increasingly more, significantly organized retail crime,” Greatest Purchase CEO Corie Barry stated. “You possibly can see that stress in our financials. And extra importantly, frankly, you possibly can see that stress with our associates. It’s traumatizing.”