Gallego Backs Legislation to Combat Organized Retail Theft

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)backed the bipartisanCombating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025to crack down on flash mob robberies and intricate retail theft schemes. The legislation would establish a coordinated multi-agency response and create new tools to tackle evolving trends in organized retail theft.
“Organized retail theft is a growing threat to Arizona’s businesses, workers, and families,”said Senator Gallego.“When criminal rings target our stores, it drives up prices, puts workers at risk, and hurts small businesses just trying to get by. I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation to crack down on these crimes and keep Arizona safe.”
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), more than 84 percent of retailers report that violence and aggression from criminal activities has become more of a concern since 2022, resulting in injuries and deaths among employees, customers, security officers and law enforcement personnel. NRF also estimates that larceny incidents increased by 93 percent in 2023 compared to 2019. In recent years, criminal organizations have increasingly turned to retail crime to generate illicit profits, using internet-based tools to organize flash mobs, sell stolen goods and move money.
In 2022, Arizona retailers lost an estimated$1.5 billionin revenue to theft. The State of Arizona lost out on $84 million in retail sales tax dollars due to theft, reducing funding that provides vital services to Arizona families. In 2024, the amount of organized retail theft cases the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office received almostdoubledcompared to the year before.
TheCombating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025would:
The legislation was introduced bySenators Chuck Grassley (R-IA)andCatherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). In addition to supporting the bill as a member of the House last year, Gallegocalled for actionto combat organized retail crime and introduced theSafer American Family Enterprise (SAFE) Retail Act of 2024to support small businesses seeking to invest in storefront security.
Read the full text of the legislationHERE.
Read a summary of the billHERE.
4/21/25