U.S. House overwhelmingly passes bill targeting retail crime

Congress is taking aim at retail crime. A bill targeting organized retail theft overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives earlier this week, with sponsors noting that criminal activities by groups had reached “unprecedented levels” that involve both theft and fraud of physical and digital products. The National Retail Federation says larceny incidents across the United States skyrocketed 93% in 2023, with a 90% rise in average dollar loss. In a statement following the vote, Jennifer Hatcher, chief public policy officer at food industry association trade group FMI, said the bill “takes important action to designate organized retail and supply chain crime, including cargo theft, as a federal crime.”