NJ AR112

New Jersey Assembly Resolution urges Congress and the President to enact the federal "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023" (H.R.895 and S.140)

The federal legislation would establish a Center to Combat Organized Retail Crime within the Department of Homeland Security to collaborate with retailers and provide enforcement reporting

Organized retail crime costs U.S. retailers an estimated $100 billion annually, averaging $720,000 per $1 billion in merchandise sold—a 50% increase since 2015

The federal bill would strengthen money laundering statutes and allow federal judges to order criminal forfeiture after organized retail theft convictions

Resolution cites that 86% of retailers report verbal threats to employees from organized retail crime perpetrators, 75% report physical assaults, and 40% report weapons used against staff