Organized retail crime is becoming a problem Nationwide, but Kansas is one of the worst places in the Nation for the crime. Retail crime goes way beyond simple shoplifting. It is when groups of thieves hit big box stores, stealing large quantities of high end merchandise with the intent to resell the items for financial gain. The loss estimated last year was over $500 billion. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach will testify before the U. S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Crime. The hearing will examine the increase in crime that is causing businesses to close and endangering the public. Kansas Senate Bill 174 signed recently will allow the Attorney Generals office to prosecute such crimes:
Most of the organized retail crime is occurring in more heavily populated counties, but similar crimes have been reported in smaller communities also.
