The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) is endorsing a legislative effort aimed at curbing organized retail crime. This legislation targets professional criminal rings that move swiftly through stores and across state borders, causing significant financial losses for businesses.
Assembly Bill A-4755, sponsored by Assemblymen Joe Danielsen (D-17) and Alex Sauickie (R-12), seeks to impose stricter penalties on those leading retail theft operations, engaging in repeated shoplifting, assaulting retail workers, and attempting to sell stolen goods. The bill has also garnered support from the New Jersey Food Council, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP), among others.
John Russo, Rutherford Police Chief and NJSACOP President, highlighted in an op-ed that retailers have faced estimated losses of $112.1 billion nationwide due to organized retail crime. He pointed out that New Jersey alone loses about $200 million in sales tax revenue annually as a result of these thefts.
Russo stated, "Police departments across New Jersey continue to expend precious resources responding to organized theft, as retail crime rings regularly steal baby formula, over-the-counter medication and other high-demand items from store shelves and then sell them on the gray market." He added that this problem is evident locally with many products now secured behind lock and key in stores.
Russo further emphasized support for the bill by noting its focus on professional theft rings operating within New Jersey and beyond state lines. "Police chiefs are also pleased to see the proposed bill will help curtail gift card fraud," he wrote.
New York and Pennsylvania have already enacted laws to strengthen penalties against organized retail theft, leaving New Jersey more exposed as a target for such crimes.
The Assembly Public Safety & Preparedness Committee unanimously approved Bill A-4755 last month. It now awaits further consideration by the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Meanwhile, Sen. John Burzichelli (D-3) is sponsoring a similar measure in the Senate under Bill S-3587.
