The U.S. National Retail Federation (NRF) has urged U.S. Congress to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act — CORCA (S. 140/H.R. 895) — a bill that would increase federal coordination with state and local law enforcement to fight retail crime.

“Organized retail crime continues to impact the retail industry at alarming rates,” the NRF said in a statement April 22. The organization says momentum is gaining in Congress to pass CORCA, thanks to NRF’s advocacy efforts, including Fight Retail Crime Day, which aimed to mobilize the retail industry to raise awareness of the urgent need for Congress to act. “While the momentum from this day was positive, retailers and local communities need Congress to finish the job and pass CORCA before the end of the year,” the statement said. 

NRF and retail advocates on Capitol Hill for Fight Retail Crime Day 2023. Jason Dixon Photography

According to NRF’s 2023 National Retail Security Survey, more than two-thirds (67%) of respondents said they experienced an increase in violence and aggression from ORC perpetrators compared with a year ago. Organized retail crime groups extend into other criminal activities, including transnational groups involved in human, weapons and drug trafficking.

The NRF argues a federal response to organized retail crime is critical, as law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions often lack sufficient resources to quickly catch and prosecute retail criminals. CORCA would establish a new Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center to combine expertise and resources from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and retail industry representatives to curb organized retail crime. 

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