What is Organized Retail Crime?
What is Organized Retail Crime?
Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is a massive issue at businesses and retailers across the country. The methods used by ORC rings are often complex and have multiple layers. Boosters are the individuals who steal the items with the intent to resell. Fences are the individuals who knowingly purchase the stolen items. The scale of their operations can vary drastically, but their impact on commercial retail’s bottom line, the lack of safety for retail employees, and the cost inevitably passed on to consumers cannot be ignored.
According to the 2022 National Retail Security Survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF) – 52.9% of survey respondents reported that Organized Retail Crime had increased, while no one reported a decrease in ORC.
The ORC issue plaguing businesses is not siloed to a small set of retail segments either. NRF further details in their survey that the top categories targeted by ORC include: apparel, health and beauty, electronics/appliances, accessories, food and beverage, footwear, home furnishings and housewares, home improvement, eyewear, office supplies, infant care, toys and other.
However, the theft of goods is not the only impact of ORC. According to NRF, “organized retail crime is likely contributing to retailers’ concerns about violence, as the majority of respondents suggest that organized retail offenders have become more violent and aggressive since last year.” With these upticks in violence related to ORC, employee safety and retention becomes another factor for businesses to address.
According to 2022 NRF Survey Respondents:
-> 52.9% reported an increase in ORC
-> 0% reported a decrease in ORC
Which U.S. cities are seeing a surge in ORC?
According to NRF research, the following metropolitan areas are the top 10 most heavily affected by ORC in fiscal year 2021.
- Los Angeles, California
- San Francisco/Oakland, California
- New York, New York
- Houston, Texas
- Miami, Florida
- Chicago, Illinois
- Sacramento, California
- Seattle, Washington
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
How Flock Safety plays a role in addressing ORC
Flock Safety’s license plate reading cameras help reduce and prevent crime on your commercial properties, while improving the customer experience and employee safety.
By using Flock Safety devices to capture objective evidence 24/7 and send real-time alerts to security teams, you can watch over your entire portfolio of properties and take action to protect your business assets.
While there is no one way to truly future-proof your business, implementing a proactive strategy for tackling ORC today is a necessity for protecting your business interests tomorrow. To learn more about partnering with Flock Safety to address Organized Retail Crime, protect your bottom line, and improve the safety of your employees, book a demo today.
