Retail industry leaders are throwing their support behind a Colorado bill that would stiffen penalties for organized retail theft and establish a statewide task force to tackle the crime.
House Bill 1380 is scheduled for its first hearing before the House Judiciary Committee this afternoon. Sponsored by Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley, the bill targets sophisticated shoplifting rings responsible for millions of dollars in losses.
“This is an important issue for us because it is estimated by federal law enforcement officials to be a $32 billion problem nationwide,” said Christopher Howes, president of the Colorado Retail Council.
HB 1380 follows on the heels of national legislation that, in January, established an FBI task force and a national database to track retail theft.
The state bill would impose mandatory sentencing for any person convicted of felony shoplifting twice in 10 years. Current state law requires mandatory sentencing if two convictions occur in four years. Under the bill, the mandatory sentence could not be served in community corrections.
The bill would also establish a statewide interagency task force to deal with organized retail theft and would require resellers of certain products – including baby formula, razor blades and cosmetics – to provide proof of ownership to law enforcement officials.
“We’re seeing professional shoplifting groups of five to seven individuals stealing high-dollar goods that are easily resold on the secondary market,” said Joseph LaRocca, vice president of loss prevention for the National Retail Federation.
While resellers often sell goods at flea markets and swap meets, the Internet has also emerged as an easy place to dump stolen goods, LaRocca said.
Representatives from Safeway and King Soopers are among those expected to testify in favor of the bill. Nationally, Safeway loses $100 million a year to organized theft rings, spokesman Jeff Stroh said.
The company has captured surveillance video of shoplifters working the store with lookouts, diversions and getaway drivers. The rings often clear out entire shelves.
“With organized retail theft, it is carted out by the buggyload,” Stroh said.
The National Retail Federation estimates that 2 cents of every retail dollar spent by consumers goes to cover such losses.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-820-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
