Leading experts presented a general session titled “Organized Retail Crime (ORC) and Theft — Industry Best Practices and Insights” as part of ICSC NEW YORK last week.
Speakers shared strategies for combating the growing threat of organized retail crime and its impact on both businesses and communities. Gary Smith, LPC, senior director, Assets Protection Field Operations for Target gave details about the pervasive nature of the issue facing Target stores across the country. Christopher Sapienza, Yonkers police commissioner, addressed what he and his colleagues are doing at the local level to help fight the epidemic. Moutray McLaren, ICSC vice president for Public Policy, discussed recently passed and pending legislation at both the State and Federal levels aimed at addressing ORC. The event was moderated by Stephanie Cegielski, ICSC vice president, Research and Public Relations.
“Legislators and public policy officials are taking notice that the retail community isn’t simply facing an uptick in shoplifting. Organized retail crime is so much more than that,” McLaren said. “We need to encourage decision makers at all levels of government to give investigators and other law enforcement officials the tools they need to combat these sophisticated criminal enterprises.”
The ICSC-supported “Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023” (CORCA) currently has 13 Senate and 100 Congressional cosponsors. Click here to ask your lawmakers to help pass this important legislation.
For more information contact icsc@gpp.com.
L to r: Stephanie Cegielski, Moutray McLaren, Christopher Sapienza and Gary Smith.