Have you ever heard of ORC? And no, I am not talking about an “orc” from The Lord of the Rings. Really, ORC stands for Organized Retail Crime, described as theft and professional shoplifting of merchandise from retail stores. What is happening is the stolen products are sold for financial gain. These organized rings have become increasingly bold, committing violent acts and risking communities’ safety across the United States. One of their biggest victims to date is Target.
Retail crime is not new to Target, as there have been large-scale thefts taking place in various store locations for quite a while. On Tuesday, the company, which has nearly 2,000 stores nationwide, announced the devastating news. It will close nine stores across four states, with one in New York City, three in Portland, three in San Francisco, and two in Seattle. All closings are set to occur on October 21st. In a statement, the company remarked, “We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance.”
Target’s decision left customers in disappointment. Some of them shopped at the nearby stores regularly for groceries. In spite of that, this did not come as a huge shocker since theft was a common occurrence in the area. Many assume the crime goes deeper, possibly tied to drug addiction on the rise. Target’s CEO, Brian Cornell, later spoke out on the company’s attempt to keep doors open as best as it can while looking out for employees, customers, and finances.
Changes are being made, as Target stores are hiring armed security guards. They are also putting locks on valuable items filling shelves. At the moment, the company is in support of the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. The bill will impose strict penalties for ORC offenses and allow retailers to communicate with law enforcement through an ORC center. Although numerous retailers have shut down their stores, they claim to do it for differing reasons.
If customers want these stores to come back, we need to make sure people are protected and out of harm’s way. Who knows what will happen next for this big-box retailer and others just like it?
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