Garden State Times

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Holly Schepisi aimed at addressing the growing issue of organized retail crime. This legislation seeks to increase penalties for retail theft and enhance law enforcement's capabilities in tackling these crimes.

Senator Schepisi highlighted the impact of organized retail crime, stating, "The rampant rise of organized retail crime has cost businesses billions, raised costs for consumers, and endangered the safety of employees who are increasingly subjected to violence from organized theft rings." She noted that New Jersey has seen a significant increase in large-scale theft operations where stolen goods are quickly sold for illegal profits. The bill aims to deter criminals through tougher penalties and improve safety for retailers and customers.

Organized retail crime involves professional theft rings stealing large quantities of goods from various retailers to resell them, often across state lines or internationally. The proposed bill, S-3587, introduces changes to New Jersey law concerning organized retail crime, online sales of stolen goods, gift card fraud, and assaults on retail workers. It also allows prosecutors to consider aggregated shoplifting violations when determining offense severity.

Gift card fraud is notably linked to organized crime in China and the fentanyl trade. To address this issue, the bill proposes stricter packaging and consumer notice requirements.

Senator Schepisi emphasized community safety as a core concern: "At the heart of this issue is the safety of our communities," she said. "Retail employees shouldn’t have to fear for their safety, and shoppers deserve peace of mind that the products they buy are safe and haven’t been tampered with in any way."

For those interested in further details, the full text of the bill is available online.