Never trust the corporations excuses.

PS: I wasn’t sure if this was a good fit for this community, but I couldn’t think of another. Any suggestions?

  • clearedtoland@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Known as the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, the bill seeks to create an “Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center” under the Department of Homeland Security. The authors of the bill claim that “organized retail crime…has been a growing concern to retailers, industry, and law enforcement.” The center, the bill says, will oversee “federal law enforcement efforts related to organized retail crime” and align these activities with state and local investigations. Its director would be appointed by the head of ICE.

    This sounds eerily similar to the creation of TSA and the federalization of air security.

    • Uriel238 [all pronouns]@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 year ago

      It also sounds like the creation of the DEA. Special crime-specific law enforcement subdivisions di not actually reduce crime but get people killed and fill up impacted prisons.

      No one should ever take Target public relations at their word. DHS either.

    • Pennomi@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It’s overstepping far more than the TSA, since at least air travel IS a matter of national security. Retail theft absolutely is not.

    • CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      Every mention of Organized Retail Crime can be traced back to the National Retail Federation and their ORC reports.

      https://cdn.nrf.com/sites/default/files/2023-04/NRF-K2OrganizedRetailCrimeReportFinal.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjhxJnE4qGCAxVeSGwGHdcRDAMQFnoECAoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1_aWNL7Fr8VTdTI2YH4tKe

      Here’s how they define ORC

      “The violation of a state prohibition on retail merchandise theft or shoplifting, if the violation consists of the theft of quantities of items that would not normally be purchased for personal use or consumption and for the purpose of reselling the items or for reentering the items into commerce;.”

      Okay, you’ve lumped two very different crimes together there, and also most theft is for reselling… I’m not stealing car radios for personal use…

      Okay but if that’s your definition where are the stats coming from…The report states clearly “Although the above general definition of ORC is widely accepted, there is a lack of consensus among retailers, law enforcement officials and researchers on various aspects of crimes that constitute ORC.” Great so even though you’re saying it’s a problem, you haven’t even been able to agree what the problem actually is.

      Fine well if that’s the data why is everyone so worried about it now…

      “The National Retail Federation’s Retail Security Survey between 2020 and 2022 reported annual increases in ORC activity at their stores and retailers reported the number of ORC incidents increased by an average of 26.5% in 2021”

      wait you’re comparing 2022 to 2020 and 2021? When the whole world was in a fucking lockdown? Yeah I bet it looks like a big increase, I bet there’s also been a big increase in the amount of daily foot traffic in retail outlets.