Prosecutors need new tools to dismantle organized retail crime

Published April 24, 2026 11:00am ET



Every day, prosecutors across the country show up ready to do their jobs: enforce the law, protect communities, and hold offenders accountable. But when it comes to organized retail crime, they are increasingly confronting a sophisticated national and transnational criminal threat with inadequate tools designed for isolated local offenses.

Organized retail crime has real consequences beyond the loss of product for the retailer. It reaches distribution centers, warehouses, transportation networks, and most importantly, our communities. Workers feel less safe. Consumers pay higher prices. Economic stability and public safety are eroded.

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