MIDLAND/ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) – The growing problem of organized retail theft has caught the attention of state officials. Texas Auditor Glenn Hegar visited a Walmart Supercenter in Midland to address the issue and discuss potential solutions. Hegar emphasized the importance of cracking down on this growing crime that affects both businesses and consumers.
In 2023, the Texas Legislature directed the Comptroller’s Office to create a task force to address organized retail theft, and now Hegar and his team are traveling around the state assessing the scope of the problem as well as raising awareness.
“We want to get rid of low-level criminals, but it’s the people at the top that we really want to get rid of.”
Unlike traditional shoplifting, organized retail theft is a coordinated effort by local and international criminal gangs to steal merchandise and resell it for a profit. Commonly targeted items include beauty and hygiene products, which are easy to conceal and have a high resale value. Electronics, computer equipment, and children’s toys are also frequently targeted due to their secondary market demand.
Heger likened the organizational structure of these theft rings to an assembly line.
“There are those who steal, there are those who sort, there are those who sell, but there are those at the top of the organization who are profiting off of everyone below them. Those are the people we want to prosecute and put out of business.”
The task force is made up of in-store and online retailers and law enforcement agencies, and its mission is to assess the severity of the problem and identify legislative solutions.
“We will either change our laws to increase penalties to deter offenders, or provide additional resources to law enforcement, or help ensure that individuals are not only arrested, but that individuals are prosecuted and that we deter such behavior in this state.”
Organized retail theft has serious consequences, including higher prices on shelves as retailers try to recoup losses, higher taxes due to an erosion of the tax base, and increased public safety concerns.
Local police have urged the public to be vigilant, with Community Relations and Public Information Officer Corporal Steven LeSuer emphasising the importance of CCTV footage and how simply speaking up can make the difference in solving these crimes.
“One of the most effective ways to solve crime is through CCTV footage, which can even be obtained from a mobile phone. If an incident occurs in an area where the cameras are not good, take a photo and, most importantly, report it. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably is.”
Next month, the inspector general’s task force will review the data it has collected and present its findings to the Texas Legislature. The information will help guide new laws aimed at combating organized retail theft in the state.
This effort is part of a larger effort to protect Texas businesses and consumers from the growing threat posed by organized crime networks.
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