NACDS recognizes legislators fighting organized retail crime

ALEXANDRIA, Va. Two new pieces of legislation that were recently introduced into the Senate and House respectively titled, The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008 and the E-Fencing Enforcement Act of 2008, are aimed at fighting organized crime in retail settings like drug stores.

In response to these pieces of legislation, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores thanked Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. and Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va. for their leadership in introducing their respective bill.

“Your legislation will stem the growing problem of organized retail crime by providing much needed clarity within the U.S. criminal code to prosecute such criminal behavior as a federal felony, including the facilitation of such illegal activities,” said NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson. “Organized retail crime is responsible for over $30 billion in losses annually, resulting in increased costs for merchants, higher prices for consumers, and lost tax revenue for state and local governments.”