NJBIA is supporting legislation that would combat organized retail crime by targeting the professional criminal rings that have been moving quickly through stores and then across state lines causing billions of dollars in losses for businesses.
The bill, A-4755 sponsored by Assemblymen Joe Danielsen (D-17) and Alex Sauickie (R-12), would increase penalties for leading retail theft rings, repeated shoplifting, assaulting a retail worker and attempting to sell stolen goods. The bill is also strongly supported by the New Jersey Food Council, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, and other groups.
In a recent op-ed published in NorthJersey.com and other Gannett newspapers across the state, Rutherford Police Chief and NJSACOP President John Russo noted that retailers faced an estimated loss of $112.1 billion nationwide from organized retail crime. New Jersey loses an estimated $200 million in sales tax revenue because of these thefts, Russo said.
“Police departments across New Jersey continue to expend precious resources responding to organized theft, as retail crime rings regularly steal baby formula, over-the-counter medication and other high-demand items from store shelves and then sell them on the gray market,” Russo wrote in his op-ed. “The problem is evident at your local store, where everything from razors to cosmetics are now displayed behind lock and key.”
“Our association’s leadership strongly supports the bill because it specifically targets professional theft rings that methodically move throughout New Jersey and beyond state lines,” Russo wrote. “Police chiefs are also pleased to see the proposed bill will help curtail gift card fraud, another expensive crime that pulls resources from law enforcement to investigate.”
Other states, including New York and Pennsylvania, have already passed legislation to toughen penalties for organized retail theft, which has made New Jersey a more vulnerable target for thieves.
Bill A-4755 was unanimously released by the Assembly Public Safety & Preparedness Committee last month and referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee for further action. Sen. John Burzichelli (D-3) is sponsoring an identical bill (S-3587) in the Senate.
Go here to read Russo’s entire op-ed.
