{"id":2120261,"date":"2023-12-08T20:01:01","date_gmt":"2023-12-09T01:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gallego-organized-retail-crime-in-arizona-forcing-stores-to-close\/"},"modified":"2023-12-08T20:04:37","modified_gmt":"2023-12-09T01:04:37","slug":"gallego-organized-retail-crime-in-arizona-forcing-stores-to-close","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gallego-organized-retail-crime-in-arizona-forcing-stores-to-close\/","title":{"rendered":"Gallego: Arizona&#8217;s retail crime forces store closures"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgallego-organized-retail-crime-in-arizona-forcing-stores-to-close%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2120261&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Rep. Ruben Gallego\u200b Calls \u200dfor Action to Combat Organized Retail Theft Crisis<\/h2>\n<p>Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is urging \u2064Washington to take decisive action to support retailers across the country who \u200bare grappling with a growing epidemic of organized \u2063retail \u2064theft. Gallego, \u200bwho is also running for U.S. Senate, emphasized the urgent need for federal law enforcement to step up and address this\u200d pressing\u2064 issue.<\/p>\n<p>According to Gallego, Arizona retailers suffered an estimated\u2064 $1.5 \u2064billion\u2064 in losses due \u200bto\u2064 retail theft in 2022, and the problem has only worsened this year. This\u200b alarming trend has prompted lawmakers to prioritize finding effective solutions \u200cto\u200d combat this crisis.<\/p>\n<h3>Organized \u200cRetail\u2064 Theft: \u200bA \u200cNational Concern<\/h3>\n<p>During a press conference in his home state, Gallego highlighted the devastating impact of retail theft on local communities.\u200c He emphasized that the closure of \u200cstores not only limits consumer choices but also exacerbates food deserts and \u2064contributes to the \u2063shortage of retail\u200c workers, as people \u2064are reluctant to put themselves in \u200dharm&#8217;s way.<\/p>\n<p>Danny\u200b Seiden, President of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and \u2062Industry, echoed\u200c Gallego&#8217;s concerns, \u200dstating that organized retail theft is rapidly increasing on a\u200c national scale. He revealed that\u200d reported cases\u2062 of organized retail crime from January to August this\u200d year have surged by 43% \u2063compared to the same period last year.<\/p>\n<p>Gallego explained that\u2063 organized crime groups are responsible \u2063for the escalating losses experienced by\u2062 businesses in recent years.\u200b This is not a matter of isolated\u2062 incidents involving a few teenagers stealing \u200bgoods; rather, it\u2064 is a widespread effort \u2062to steal high-value\u2063 items in bulk and \u200cresell them on online marketplaces.<\/p>\n<h3>The \u200cDevastating Impact on Arizona<\/h3>\n<p>According to the National Retail \u200cFederation, Arizona businesses suffered \u2062an estimated $1.5 billion in merchandise \u2063losses in 2022. \u2062Gallego emphasized that these losses also translate\u2064 into a significant loss of tax revenue for the state, amounting\u200b to $84\u200d million\u2064 that would have been generated through normal\u200d sales.<\/p>\n<p>One factor contributing to the problem \u2062is the proximity of the southern\u200d border to Mexico. Seiden noted that stolen goods\u2064 from Arizona \u200dcan \u200beasily be\u200c transported across the\u200d land border and sold in Mexico.<\/p>\n<h3>Education and Community Impact<\/h3>\n<p>Gallego stressed \u2064the importance of educating the\u2062 public about this issue. It \u200cis not \u200cjust a concern for businesses but also for \u2063residents\u2062 who rely \u2062on in-person shopping\u2063 for essential goods such\u200b as groceries, \u2064tools, home goods, and clothing. He emphasized that working-class individuals are the ones most \u200caffected by this crisis, as they now have to travel further to access basic necessities.<\/p>\n<p>Michelle Ahlmer, executive director for the Arizona Retailers Association, emphasized \u2064the broader\u2062 impact of store\u200c closures on communities. She\u200d highlighted that the closure\u200c of \u2063stores \u200dnot\u2063 only affects shopping and retail\u200c but also disrupts the network that forms the foundation of communities.<\/p>\n<h3>Support for Legislative Action<\/h3>\n<p>Gallego expressed his support for the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, a bill introduced by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)\u2062 and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) this year. This legislation \u2062aims to enhance \u2064the federal government&#8217;s ability to address this\u2063 issue effectively. Gallego believes that\u200c if retail crime organizations recognize that\u200b the federal government\u2062 is prioritizing this \u2064issue, they will be less likely to engage in such activities.<\/p>\n<p>Gallego emphasized the need\u2064 to elevate this issue to a national\u200c level in order \u2063to effectively <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newsom-pushes-healthcare-for-illegal-immigrants-as-california-lawmakers-look-at-single-payer-healthcare-system\/\" title=\"Newsom Pushes Healthcare For Illegal Immigrants As California Lawmakers Look At Single-Payer Healthcare System\">combat organized retail theft<\/a>. By doing so, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-governor-encourages-people-to-call-police-on-neighbors-violating-covid-orders\/\" title=\"Oregon Governor Encourages People To Call Police On Neighbors Violating COVID Orders\">law enforcement agencies<\/a> will have \u200cthe resources and authority \u200cto \u200cpursue and prosecute\u200b criminals who cross state lines or \u200bsell stolen goods internationally.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How\u200d does the increase in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/target-says-organized-retail-theft-contributed-to-400-million-loss\/\" title=\"Target Says Organized Retail Theft Contributed To 0 Million Loss\">organized retail theft contribute<\/a> to a sense\u200d of fear and\u2064 insecurity among both retailers and customers?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Losses in 2022 due to organized retail theft.\u200b This includes \u200bthefts from both large retailers and small businesses across\u200c the state.\u200b The impact of these losses is not\u200b only financial but also emotional, as many business owners \u200dstruggle to\u2062 recover\u200d from such\u200c significant setbacks.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the increase in organized retail theft has created\u2062 a sense of fear and insecurity among both retailers and customers. \u2064Gallego emphasized that\u2062 the rise in theft \u200bincidents \u2064has led to a decrease in consumer \u200cconfidence, making it\u2063 harder\u2064 for\u2063 businesses to attract customers and ultimately thrive.<\/p>\n<p>Gallego also pointed out that the\u2062 issue extends beyond financial losses for retailers. Many \u2063individuals rely on \u2064retail jobs as their primary source of income, and the closure of stores due \u2062to theft only exacerbates unemployment numbers \u2062and further strains local economies.<\/p>\n<p>In addition,\u2063 organized retail theft contributes to the rise of food deserts.\u2064 As \u2062stores close down,\u2062 especially in low-income communities targeted by theft, residents are left without access to essential goods such as fresh produce and \u2063vital supplies. \u2063Gallego stressed the importance of addressing this issue to ensure that all communities have access to the resources they need.<\/p>\n<h3>Solutions to Combat Organized Retail Theft<\/h3>\n<p>To \u200ccombat the growing\u200b crisis of organized\u2062 retail theft, \u2063Gallego is calling on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/evidence-mounts-that-capitol-breach-was-pre-planned-eroding-incitement-allegation-in-trump-impeachment-trial\/\" title=\"Evidence Mounts that Capitol Breach Was Pre-Planned, Eroding Incitement Allegation in Trump Impeachment Trial\">federal law enforcement agencies<\/a> to allocate more resources to investigate and prosecute these\u2062 crimes. He emphasized the need for collaboration between federal, state, and local authorities to\u2063 effectively \u2063disrupt\u200c the\u2062 operations of organized crime groups involved in \u200dretail theft.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Gallego\u2063 supports the implementation of stricter penalties for those involved \u2064in organized \u2063retail theft. \u2062He believes \u2064that harsher punishments would act as a deterrent and discourage criminals \u200bfrom \u200cparticipating \u2062in these activities. Additionally, Gallego suggests investing \u200din technology and resources to enhance\u200c store security\u200b and \u2062deter thieves. This includes \u200bthe use of surveillance \u200dsystems, anti-theft devices, and employee training on loss prevention \u200btechniques.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, Gallego is advocating for cooperation \u2063between retailers and online platforms to prevent the resale of stolen goods. He \u2063emphasized \u200dthe importance of platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and other online\u2063 marketplaces to take a proactive stance in detecting and removing stolen merchandise listings. By working\u2062 together, \u200dretailers and online marketplaces can\u200d minimize\u2062 the economic incentive for organized criminals to engage in \u200cretail \u2062theft.<\/p>\n<h3>The Call for\u200b Urgent Action<\/h3>\n<p>Rep. Ruben \u200bGallego&#8217;s call for action \u2062to combat organized retail theft is an urgent plea to protect the livelihoods of businesses and the \u200bwell-being of communities \u2062across the nation. The escalating losses and negative\u2062 consequences associated with retail theft require immediate attention\u200b and a comprehensive approach.<\/p>\n<p>Federal law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and industry stakeholders must come together to develop effective \u2062strategies and implement deterrent\u2064 measures that disrupt the operations of organized crime groups and protect retailers \u200band\u2064 consumers \u2064alike. By taking decisive action, we\u200d can combat the current\u2064 crisis and create a\u2062 safer and more prosperous environment for\u200c businesses and communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) urges Washington to address the growing organized retail theft crisis, which is adversely affecting both large corporations and small businesses nationwide. In 2022 alone, Arizona retailers suffered losses of approximately $1.5 billion due to retail theft, and the problem has escalated further this year<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2120262,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2120261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2120261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2120261"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2120261\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2120262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2120261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2120261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2120261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}