THE RISE OF ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME AND HOW THE HOME DEPOT IS TACKLING THE PROBLEM

Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is a large-scale, multi-jurisdictional operation where criminals steal merchandise from a retailer with the goal of re-selling the stolen goods - not theft for need, but theft for greed. Scott Glenn, vice president of Asset Protection at The Home Depot, explains, "It's not the average person coming in and stealing one item and walking it out the door for personal consumption. It's a well-organized orchestrated organization, not your typical opportunistic shoplifter."

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, ORC has caused more than $125 billion in lost economic activity. It has also triggered a loss of more than 650,000 jobs, affecting retailers of all sizes.

Hear from Scott on how Organized Retail Crime is connected to larger, more dangerous crimes in our communities and how partners at the local, state, and federal level are working together to solve it:

Associate and customer safety is The Home Depot's top priority, and there are several safeguards in place. From extensive training to in-store asset protection measures, the company is focused on reducing the dangers posed by ORC. The Home Depot has also implemented new technologies to make in-store theft more difficult, and it continues to work closely with local law enforcement and federal law makers to help combat the problem.

The INFORM Consumers Act, passed in 2023, has helped prevent the sale and monetization of stolen products on the web. It requires retailers with an online marketplace to verify information about "high-volume third-party sellers," but it will take more legislation for all states to get on the same page.

"What we're advocating for now is the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), which is a federal bill to say, first and foremost, there is a crime when you cross state lines and sell stolen products. It would also help create more resources for investigation and prosecution," Glenn said.

CORCA would not only establish a centralized place for law enforcement to share resources and collaborate but also broadens the scope of what qualifies as an offense related to ORC. It's currently in the hands of Congress.