Senate leaders from both parties are fighting back against the surge in organized retail and cargo theft. Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada have brought back the “Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025.” This bill takes aim at the criminal groups behind flash mob robberies and large-scale theft by creating a powerful team of federal agencies to tackle the problem.
The bill would create an “Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center” within Homeland Security. This central command post would bring together police at all levels with retail experts to share information instantly, gather intelligence, and work on cases together. The legislation also provides new ways to recover stolen merchandise, cut off criminals’ profits, and stop thieves from selling stolen goods online or exploiting weaknesses in supply chains.
“Retail crime has cost Iowa billions, and it’s even worse across the nation. Organized theft rings deploy innovative tactics to pilfer goods, and it’s causing financial harm to businesses, putting employees and consumers at risk and funding transnational criminal organizations throughout the world. It’s time for the law to catch up and prevent criminals from exploiting the internet and online marketplaces. Our bill improves the federal response to organized retail crime and establishes new tools to recover stolen goods and illicit proceeds, and deter future attacks on American retailers,” said Senator Grassley.
“Large criminal organizations are constantly evolving their tactics to steal goods from retailers and the supply chain in communities across the Silver State,” added Cortez Masto. “The rise in organized retail crime has left businesses scrambling, and it is time for Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation to help law enforcement agencies keep our communities safe.”
The Rising Threat: How Retail and Cargo Theft Impacts the National Supply Chain
The urgency behind the bill is underscored by troubling data. Retail theft is hurting profits, but the rising violence during these incidents is now the bigger worry. Store owners care most about keeping their employees and shoppers safe. Recent research from “The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2024” reveals alarming trends: nearly three-quarters (73%) of retailers say shoplifters have grown more aggressive and violent in the past year, while an overwhelming 84% are increasingly concerned about the violence that accompanies theft incidents.
Meanwhile, CargoNet reported a 57% surge in reported cargo theft incidents in 2023, often tied to organized criminal enterprises that coordinate thefts across state lines and digital platforms.
NRF also reported a staggering 93% increase in larceny incidents in 2023 compared to 2019, emphasizing the scale of the problem. These thefts don’t just hit store shelves, they disrupt supply chains, hurt small businesses, and endanger frontline retail workers, warehouse personnel, and transportation providers.
The bill is backed by a broad coalition of public and private sector supporters, including:
- Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association
- National Retail Federation
- Retail Industry Leaders Association
- American Trucking Associations
- Association of American Railroads
- UPS, DHL, Amazon
- National District Attorneys Association
- ICSC
- And numerous others from the logistics, transportation, agriculture, and small business sectors.
The National Retail Federation fully backs the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025, as the bill represents crucial progress in keeping organized retail crime out of neighborhoods and builds on the bipartisan INFORM Consumers Act passed in 2022. The NRF championed that earlier law, which brought transparency to high-volume sellers on online marketplaces and helped fight counterfeit goods. But while helpful, marketplace transparency alone can’t stop organized retail crime.
Meanwhile, more than 30 states have changed or created laws since 2022 specifically to combat organized retail crime. These changes have strengthened law enforcement’s ability to target these criminal networks, but the challenge remains complicated.
The bill is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators, including Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and others, signaling strong cross-party support for addressing this national security and economic threat.
A companion bill has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, raising hopes for swift congressional action.
This is not the first time that Congress has taken steps to fight back against this ongoing threat to supply chains across the US. Earlier, in a decisive step welcomed by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the U.S. House Appropriations Committee took action to confront the growing threat of cargo theft. As part of the fiscal year 2025 Department of Homeland Security funding bill, the committee included a provision, championed by Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), that directed Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to establish a dedicated Supply Chain Fraud and Theft Task Force. The initiative was to be backed by $2 million in federal funding and designed to bolster efforts to investigate and disrupt criminal operations targeting freight and logistics. This move directly supported ATA’s strategic goals and reflected a broader push to safeguard the integrity of the U.S. supply chain from organized theft and fraud.
Smarter Surveillance Helps Stop Cargo Theft
Real-time monitoring helps prevent cargo theft by watching large areas and tracking everyone entering and leaving truck yards, distribution centers, parking lots, and other high-risk locations.
Modern surveillance systems combine AI with live monitoring for commercial properties. Security professionals can spot and respond to threats before they escalate. Cameras with AI analytics give you complete visibility across your property. Smart algorithms detect unusual activity and alert monitoring staff to investigate.
When the system spots a security breach, like an intruder after hours or suspicious parking lot activity, monitoring staff can immediately respond by activating alarms or calling police. Video footage provides crucial evidence for law enforcement. Security teams can track suspects in real-time and keep officers updated as they arrive.
By providing critical information to police, remote monitoring security staff help keep officers safe during response. Responding units approach situations more cautiously and confidently when they know what they’re facing. These AI-powered systems combine advanced threat detection, quick response, and smooth coordination with law enforcement.
Security, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness are at the heart of every smart supply chain strategy. For property owners and managers, the right solution does more than just monitor, it protects people, property, and the public from evolving threats.
As security risks become more sophisticated, commercial and industrial facilities must stay one step ahead. AI-powered surveillance offers a smarter, more proactive approach by helping to deter crime, reduce loss, and create safer environments across the board.
Want to learn how a proactive security solution can help prevent cargo theft and secure your operations? Contact us today.
