[20220114]IN11840_有组织零售犯罪与联邦应对措施.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Organized Retail Crime and the Federal Response January 14, 2022 Retailers and retail industry advocacy groups have expressed concern about what they see as a general increase in retail crime, and more specifically an increase in organized retail crime (ORC). Reports of criminal groups, acting in flash mobs, storming stores and at times assaulting employees, have underscored these concerns. Some retail organizations have cited certain elements of the COVID-19 pandemic as possibly contributing to this apparent increase in ORC and have urged policymakers and law enforcement to take steps to educate the public and crack down on ORC. Some law enforcement agencies have increased resources and information sharing to counter these crimes. Organized Retail Crime ORC is a form of retail crimea broader category of crime that also includes employee theft, shoplifting, and robberies. ORC typically refers to large-scale retail theft and fraud by organized groups of professional shoplifters, or boosters. Organized crime rings resell illegally acquired merchandise via a variety of fencing operations such as flea markets