Free Republic

Retailers across New York state say there’s no end in sight to the rising epidemic of organized shoplifting rings — and warn it could lead to more store closures, increased costs for consumers and threats of violence against store employees. Store owners said they lost $4.4 billion last year as a result of retail theft — which they say adds to the urgency for Gov. Kathy Hochul to crack down. However, Hochul vetoed a bipartisan bill last week — to the chagrin of store owners — that would have created a task force to combat organized theft. ... The Retail...

Virginia lawmakers approved legislation on Thursday that will make organized retail theft a Class 3 felony. Those convicted of the crime will be eligible for prison sentences as long as 20 years. It will be a Class 3 felony for anyone to conspire or act in concert with one or more people to steal retail merchandise with a value exceeding $5,000 in a 90-day period, with the intent to sell the stolen goods for profit. Approximately $1.3 billion in merchandise is stolen this way annually, according to a state report. Virginia lawmakers approved legislation on Thursday that will make organized...

A Chicago woman is charged with stealing more than $17,000 in goods from the Neiman-Marcus department store at Oakbrook Center in Oak Brook. Bail was set Sunday at $50,000 for Terri Collins, 21, of the 100 block of West 110th Street, according to a news release from the DuPage County state's attorney's office. Collins is charged with felony burglary and felony retail theft. Authorities allege that around 2:54 p.m. Saturday, Collins and several other people entered the store and met with two men in the store. They all went to a coat section, cut security wires off 14 Moncler brand...