The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) and Illinois Office of Attorney General (OAG) have collaborated to create

a comprehensive legislative package to address organized retail crime (ORC). Highlights include:

Focuses on Organized Retail Crime The legislation creates and specifically defines a violation of organized retail crime
(ORC). The legislation focuses on the individuals that plan, finance, or organize other individuals who work together to
steal merchandise with value over the current retail theft threshold and resell the item(s) for profit to fund other illegal
activities such as gun, drug, and human trafficking. The legislation targets the individuals who plan, finance, and carryout
thefts in Illinois.

Deters Smash-and-Grab Thefts Smash-and-grab thefts occur when a group of individuals rush into a retailer and destroy
retail property or threaten retail team members while stealing a great amount of inventory in a short period of time.
This sometimes involves the use of vehicles and other tools to gain entry into the retailer or to the merchandise.

Deters Supply Chain Thefts Individuals are increasingly involved in stealing merchandise while it is in transit between
the manufacture and distributor and the retailer. This involves raiding delivery trucks and cargo containers on trains.

Reduces Criminals’ Ability to Avoid Prosecution The legislation provides jurisdiction to any state’s attorney where any
element of ORC takes place to prosecute the whole crime. For instance, if the conspiracy, theft, and selling all occurred
in different jurisdictions, each jurisdiction would have the ability to prosecute the whole crime. It also provides the
Attorney General the use of the statewide grand jury to prosecute ORC.

Provides Dedicated Enforcement Resources The legislation seeks to provide annual funds to the Office of the Attorney
General for additional investigators and attorneys to focus exclusively on ORC. It also provides grant money to states
attorneys across Illinois whose communities tend to be the focus of ORC. This grant money will be used to add additional
states attorneys dedicated exclusively to ORC.

Addresses Online Fencing ORC rings increasingly use technology and the anonymity of online third-party marketplaces
to sell their stolen goods. The proposal requires online third-party marketplaces to verify the seller and the goods
offered for sale and the seller to provide contact information. This action will help police outlets used to monetize stolen
merchandise, which often funds other illicit activities including gun, drug and human trafficking. The proposal mirrors an
agreement that was reached on the federal level by stakeholders and currently sponsored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin
and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.

Enhances Public and Private Coordination The legislation calls for a formal collaboration of all stakeholders involved in
addressing ORC. The collaboration is designed to provide real-time information and intelligence-sharing and
collaboration between asset protection investigators and federal, state, and local law enforcement partners involved in
combating ORC related issues at the local, regional, and national levels

Requires Timely and Proper Notice The legislation requires timely and accurate notice of court proceeding to retailers
that are victims of ORC, ensuring they can participate in the legal process.