Dear Representatives Joyce and Lee,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 2853, the “Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.”
Organized retail crime is a serious issue. It threatens worker safety, contributes to violence, and drains resources from communities. According to the National Retail Federation, retail larceny incidents increased by 93 percent from 2019 to 2023, including a 90 percent increase in actual dollar loss. Stores lost $121.6 billion to retail theft in 2023, compared to $93.9 billion in 2021, $61.7 billion in 2019, and $46.8 billion in 2017.
Your bill would establish a center within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to coordinate Federal, state, local, and private-sector efforts against these crimes. This center would allow multi-agency collaboration, similar to existing centers for intellectual property crimes, to improve information sharing and response efficiency. It also addresses jurisdictional gaps, enhances national security by protecting supply chains, and supports State efforts.
On behalf of the more than 382,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you for your leadership on this issue. If I can be of any help or provide additional information in support of this proposal, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President