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Government Relations & Public Policy

ICSC Submits Testimony for House Committee Hearing on ORC

January 12, 2024

This week ICSC submitted testimony to the House Small Business Committee Hearing titled “Crime on the Rise: How Lawlessness is Impacting Main Street America.”

The testimony focused on the different ways ORC negatively impacts businesses and communities.

“ORC puts a more serious strain on business owners, particularly small businesses, in multiple ways, including shopper and employee safety, reputational risk, and financial stability,” the testimony stated. “ORC syndicates focus on the theft and resale of high value branded items that are in demand from shoppers from designer handbags to name-brand laundry detergent. When these goods are resold using an online marketplace or other means of sale, most consumers are unaware that they are purchasing stolen goods. While high profile ‘smash-n-grab’ robberies and nationwide cases involving major retailers garnered the headlines this holiday season, the problem is pervasive, impacting shopping centers large and small in all regions of the country. One major enclosed mall owner reports that retail crime theft incidents of over $1,000 have nearly doubled over the past eight years. Violent crime, including aggravated assault, battery, and armed robberies have nearly tripled at those retail centers.” 

On both sides of the political aisle, members of the Committee acknowledged the spike in ORC. 

“Throughout the country organized retail crime is the large-scale theft of retail merchandise with the intent to resell that merchandise for financial gain,” Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY-1) said. 

“Sadly, retail theft is proving to be a lucrative crime enterprise and emboldened bad actors throughout the country to use force and fear to defraud hardworking Americans,” Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI-3) said.  

In-person witnesses at the hearing included representatives from StopAntisemitism, Elmer’s Restaurants, Inc., the Norwich Police Department and the Center on Public Safety and Justice at the University of Chicago.

ICSC also testified last month at a similar hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee On Homeland Security.

For more information contact ICSC at gpp@icsc.com.