Washington, DC – The Coalition Against Organized Retail Crime applauded Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott’s (D-VA) announcement that the Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, which Scott Chairs, will hold a hearing this fall to address the growing criminal activity known as organized retail crime.

The hearing will consider the E-fencing Enforcement Act of 2009 (HR 1166) introduced by Chairman Scott earlier this year.  The Organized Retail Crime Act of 2009 (HR 1173), introduced by Congressman Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), will also be addressed at the fall hearing.  

Scott announced the hearing before an audience of loss prevention professionals attending the Annual Virginia Retail Loss Prevention Conference in Norfolk, VA.

Organized Retail Crime involves sophisticated criminal networks made up of many individuals who steal large quantities of goods from retailers and sell the goods for profit though pawn shops, flea markets and increasingly on the Internet. Experts estimate organize retail crime losses in the tens of billions of dollars annually.

Organized retail crime puts consumers at risk when stolen goods are mishandled or altered in ways that jeopardize the safety of end users.   In most cases, consumers are unaware of the unlawful source of the products purchased from anonymous sellers.  This is of particular concern when sensitive items such as baby formula, diabetic test strips and over the counter medicine is involved.  Recent investigations have uncovered sensitive health and beauty items stored at high temperatures damaging the safety and reliability of the product.

“Organized retail crime is a growing problem that puts consumers at risk and costs retailers billions,” said Scott.  “Federal legislation is necessary to effectively deter the growth of this crime and protect consumers from harm.”

“The coalition thanks Chairman Scott for his commitment to meaningful legislation to address this growing public safety matter.   Federal legislation that gives law enforcement the tools necessary to effectively deter this crime is sorely needed,” said the Coalition Against Organized Retail Crime.
The E-Fencing Enforcement Act of 2009 would impose reasonable duties on online marketplaces when there is good reason to believe that items listed for sale were acquired unlawfully.
 
The Organized Retail Crime Act of 2009 modifies the federal criminal code to include ORC activities, and makes the facilitation of ORC a crime.  The legislation also imposes practical reporting requirements on the operators of online marketplaces and sellers when goods are suspected of having been acquired through ORC.
 
Hearing details will be announced when the House of Representatives convenes again in September.

About the Coalition Against Organized Retail Crime
The Coalition Against Organized Retail Crime, formed in 2001, is composed of national manufacturing and retail companies and organizations committed to enacting meaningful legislation to fight organized retail crime. To learn more about the coalition and organized retail crime visit http://www.stopretailcrime.com/articles.php.