Retail's Most Wanted

One big thing In this episode, Dan Merkle, chairman and CEO of FaceFirst, discusses the evolution of facial recognition technology and its application in the retail industry, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between the technology and its use cases. Why it matters While facial recognition is widely used for everyday conveniences, such as unlocking smartphones, FaceFirst specializes in...

As a leading retail crime intelligence platform, Auror is revolutionizing how retailers combat organized retail crime (ORC). Auror helps retailers report, solve, and prevent crime, reducing violence and loss in communities. Auror Vice President of Retail Partnerships, Bobby Haskins, envisions a future where the industry collaborates more efficiently, leveraging cutting-edge technology to stay ahea...

In this episode, we had the privilege of hosting two industry titans, Mike Lamb and Tom Arigi, who collectively boast over 84 years of experience in the retail sector. They offered invaluable insights into organized retail crime (ORC) and leadership. Organized retail crime: Then and now ORC has always existed, but was historically mistaken for individual shoplifting incidents. Modern collaboration...

Phil Brock, mayor of Santa Monica, discusses the state of retail crime in the city, where stores report frequent daily incidents of theft by individuals, often from the unhoused population, creating an unsustainable business environment. Increasing theft Brock attributes the rise in theft to a lack of prosecution and enforcement by the county's judicial system. He highlights the $950 threshol...

NRF Protect brings together retail security leaders from across the country. Held in Long Beach this year, the conference boasts over 2,200 attendees, surpassing last year's turnout. The Core Mission: Prevent, Protect, Prevail NRF Protect focused on three key themes: Prevent, Protect, and Prevail**.** These themes encapsulate the conference's mission to address today's threats while...

David Iorillo, a founder of the San Diego Organized Retail Crime Alliance, shares insights on how the alliance’s long-standing public/private collaboration has been pivotal in combating organized retail crime (ORC) in San Diego and beyond. Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance. 

The fight against ORC is a shared responsibility. Consumers, businesses, lawmakers, and law enforcement must work together to mitigate the impact of this criminal activity. Dave Davis, president of the Utah Retail Merchants Association, discusses how ORC drives up consumer costs, and the innovative ways Utah is combating this problem. We also talk about the use of technology in preventing theft an...

Tackling Organized Retail Crime in Utah: Insights from James Russell of the CASE Strike Force Supervising Special Agent James Russell of Utah’s CASE Strike Force discusses the significant progress of the four-year-old coalition of major retailers and law enforcement established to address the rising tide of organized retail crime (ORC) in the state. The scope of CASE Strike Force The CASE Strike F...

Episode 15 features a conversation with David Johnston, vice president of asset protection and retail operations for the National Retail Federation on the evolution of challenges in loss prevention over the past three decades. Johnston highlights the shift in theft landscape, particularly the rise of organized retail crime, which now includes not only shoplifting but also cargo theft, e-commerce f...

District Attorney Jeff Reisig of Yolo County, California, is at the forefront of innovative criminal justice reform, focusing on redirecting individuals from the criminal justice system into community-based programs. During his tenure, he has spearheaded various projects, including the development of neighborhood and mental health courts, aimed at addressing the underlying factors contributing to...

In episode 13, we talk with Jason Bier, president of Treuth, a public benefit corporation focused on building community safety through innovative software. The Treuth platform, initially aimed at combating organized retail crime (ORC), has evolved to address broader crime prevention and prosecution challenges. Treuth facilitates collaboration and information sharing among law enforcement agencies,...

The genesis of GROC The Georgia Retailers Organized Crime Alliance (GROC) began in 2012 in response to the surge in smash-and-grab incidents plaguing Atlanta. The collaborative effort between retailers, legislators, and law enforcement agencies has evolved into a formidable alliance dedicated to bridging the gap between various stakeholders in the retail ecosystem. In today’s episode, Chad McManus...

Established over 70 years ago, the California District Attorney's Association (CDAA) represents 3,500 prosecutors statewide, including 56 elected district attorneys. Beyond professional training, the association serves as a vital advocacy platform, engaging with policymakers on issues crucial to law enforcement and crime victims. In episode 11, we speak with Greg Totten, CEO at the CDAA, abou...

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan illuminates the ongoing battle against organized retail crime (ORC) in Southern California, particularly in San Diego County. With over three million residents, San Diego County faces unique challenges in combating ORC syndicates, many of which originate from Los Angeles and other states. DA Stephan advocates for greater collaboration and legislati...

Organized Retail Crime (ORC) poses a significant challenge to communities and businesses, not only in Georgia but across the nation. Episode 9 explores the gravity of the issue, its impact on the economy, and Georgia’s ongoing efforts to combat it. State of organized retail crime in Georgia ORC has had a staggering $3 billion impact on Georgia's economy. This impact extends beyond direct reta...

Far from being a stand alone offense, the intricate web of organized retail crime (ORC) is invariably connected to more sinister activities and has significant impact on businesses and communities. In this episode, Michigan Assistant Attorney General Eric Sterbis emphasizes the importance of collaboration and proactive measures in combating rising ORC.  Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LV...

In episode 7, we explore the complexities of organized retail crime (ORC) from an industry perspective with Paul Jaeckle, vice president for asset protection at Meijer. We delve into the evolving landscape of ORC and the strategies employed by retailers to address this growing issue. Understanding Organized Retail Crime Despite being a family-owned company with a 90-year legacy, Meijer faces subst...

In recent years, the United States has witnessed a concerning surge in organized retail crime, affecting both small businesses and large corporations alike. ORC impacts not only the economic stability of enterprises but has also led to profound consequences for communities across the nation. In this episode of Retail’s Most Wanted, Tom Wickham of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shares firsthand accou...

In Retail’s Most Wanted Episode 5, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul details the alarming threat of organized retail crime to communities, customers, and tax revenue. The podcast explores the brazen and violent nature of these crimes, prompting store closures, instilling fear, and driving a shift to online shopping. General Raoul's proactive measures, including the establishment of the Or...

Despite being a top destination for business, Georgia faces a $3 billion annual problem due to the rise of organized retail crime. Attorney General Carr advocates for a comprehensive approach, emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships, effective training for law enforcement, and active involvement of the general public. Highlighting the interconnected criminal elements associated w...

Episode 3 of Retail’s Most Wanted features Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares discussing the strides his administration has made in addressing organized retail crime, including creating legislation that classifies these offenses as a felony. General Miyares provides insight into forming a collaborative working group of pertinent perspectives and explains why ORC can never be called a victimle...

In this episode of Retail’s Most Wanted, we look at a framework used to understand and prevent retail crime. Our guest is Dr. Reid Hayes, who serves as director of the Loss Prevention Research Council. With over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, retail, and research, Dr. Hayes shares key strategies for reducing theft, fraud, and violence in the retail industry. Dr. Hayes gives an overview...

In the premiere episode of Retail’s Most Wanted, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes talks about the growing issue of organized retail crime, his first-in-the-nation task force to combat it and how ORC funds broader criminal enterprises.  Reyes is joined by retail security expert, Mike Combs, recently retired as head of asset protection at Home Depot, who explains how criminals running out of stores...

Welcome to Retail’s Most Wanted , the podcast that examines the latest issues related to organized retail crime and how retailers and policymakers are fighting against today’s organized crime syndicates. In each episode, we’ll take you inside the most recent headlines related to ORC and so much more. We’ll also have some great guests - most weeks that will include an attorney general from somewher...