BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has joined a bipartisan coalition of 38 states and territories urging Congress to pass legislation addressing the rise of organized retail crime. The coalition highlighted the significant financial losses and impact on consumers and businesses caused by this growing problem.

Organized retail crime, which includes cargo theft and other forms of coordinated criminal activity targeting retailers, has resulted in over $121 billion in losses nationwide. According to the coalition, 76% of retail asset protection managers reported employee violence at the hands of organized criminals.

“Organized retail crime harms businesses and devastates entire communities that rely on these retailers for groceries, medications, and everyday household items,” said Attorney General Brown. “When these stores are forced to charge higher prices or close altogether, Marylanders end up paying the price. These critical resources will enable our Office to protect consumers who rely on these shops for essential goods like food, baby formula, and clothes.”

The coalition is urging Congress to reintroduce legislation from the previous Congress, specifically the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 and the Organized Retail Crime Center Authorization Act of 2023. These bills aim to provide resources and establish a framework for state and federal collaboration to combat organized retail crime.

The proposed legislation would create an Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center at the Department of Homeland Security to improve information sharing and facilitate cross-border efforts. The coalition emphasizes the need for increased federal penalties for supply chain theft to deter the ongoing disruption of supply chains and price inflation caused by stolen goods.

Attorney General Brown joined attorneys general from Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and South Carolina in co-leading the letter to Congress, emphasizing the need for a coordinated national response to this growing threat.

A copy of the letter can be viewed online here (PDF).

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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