What is Organized Retail Crime?

Organized Retail Crime (ORC) refers to large-scale, coordinated theft and fraud activity targeting retail businesses with the intent of illegally obtaining merchandise, cash, or cash equivalents for financial gain—not personal use.

Unlike typical shoplifting, ORC involves repeat offenses often carried out:

• Across multiple retail locations,

• In different jurisdictions,

• Over multiple incidents,

• By two or more individuals, or by a single person acting in multiple roles—such as both stealing goods (booster) and reselling them (fence).

These criminal enterprises often include teams of offenders who steal significant quantities of goods, then resell them online, at flea markets, or through other underground channels. Tactics may include:

• UPC or barcode switching to trick point-of-sale systems

• Credit card fraud or cloning

• Fake receipts or refund scams

• Cargo theft or theft from distribution centers

ORC causes billions in losses annually and often overlaps with other criminal activity, including drug trafficking, identity theft, and violent crime. Combating ORC requires strong collaboration between law enforcement, retail professionals, and solution providers.