New Michigan ORC law takes effect
The law makes it a felony punishable by up to five years in prison to knowingly commit organized retail crime. The law covers theft of retail merchandise with the intent or purpose of reselling, distributing or transferring it to another retailer or seller. It also covers use of the mail or any electronic medium such as the Internet. It also establishes an organized retail crime advisory board that includes members of the state police and the attorney general's office. Public Act 455-456: http://1.usa.gov/XMzk2u (Source hollandsentinel.com)

We're advocating this type of legislation around the country. We're actually trying to get a federal law like this passed, said Rich Mellor, VPLP for the National Retail Federation in an article in the Detroit Free Press March 30th. The prevalence of shoplifting has risen nationwide at annual rates of 3%-4% for the last five years, forcing the average American household to pay an estimated $500 yearly to cover the losses, said Richard Mellor, vice president for loss prevention with the National Retail Federation in Washington, D.C. Michigan is one of about 15 states to have passed special laws to deal with organized shoplifters, Mellor said. (Source freep.com)

Florida’s Organized Retail Theft Bill passes Senate Criminal Justice Committee.  Senate Bill 1404 according to Attorney General Pam Bondi will, “provides prosecutors and law enforcement with the tools needed to properly prosecute individuals and hold them accountable for organized retail theft”. (Source capitalsoup.com)

Two NY South Bronx arraigned yesterday for more than 100 gift cards linked to stolen credit cards in East Providence, RI  Luc Beaubrun, 25, an ex-con with a criminal record in multiple states, and Sherlyn Oplan, 29, were arrested Friday after the police vice squad stopped their rental car on Route 195, said Inspector Craig Sroka. Beaubrun is charged with 138 counts of forgery and counterfeiting, and Oplan is facing 147 counts. Both are each charged with 138 counts of conspiracy. (Source providencejournal.com)


Three sought in retail theft ring hitting Walmart stores in Portland
Detectives are seeking three suspects who are reportedly stealing items from a Wood Village Walmart store and then returning them for a cash refund. The alleged thefts occurred on Jan. 27 and March 20 at the Walmart located at 23500 NE Sandy Blvd. The suspects stole several household items, and later returned them to different Walmart stores for the refund, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s. Anyone with information on their identities should contact the sheriff’s office Tip Line at 503-261-2847. (Source koinlocal6.com)


Husband and wife team-up to shoplift $6000 fro H-E-B store in San Benito, Texas.  The two suspects are also believed to have hit H-E-B stores in Mission, Harlingen, and Brownsville. Investigators believe the two are connected to a wide scale theft ring. (Source krgv.com)





Tampa Police focus on recent ORC investigation at Abercrombie and Fitch. Thieves stole over $2000 of Abercrombie and Fitch cologne, working as a three person team. Police believe the shoplifters may have had a source to re-sell the merchandise. (Source wtsp.com)