Shaken, Not Stolen: 007 Reports on Nationwide Retail Crime Crackdown

A License to Lift… Suspended

The world it seems is not enough for some people. I've tangled with SPECTRE dodged Oddjob's hat and even faced down Jaws but nothing quite prepares you for the sheer audacity of organized retail crime. Last week a coordinated blitz across 28 states – imagine the logistics! – led to hundreds of arrests. It appears the authorities are finally saying 'No Mr. Bond I expect you to pay!'

Diamonds Are Forever… or At Least Until They're Tagged

This operation spearheaded by Illinois' Cook County involved over 100 jurisdictions and enough retailers to make Q branch blush. Home Depot Macy's Target Ulta Beauty Walgreens Kroger and Meijer all joined forces. It seems they were tired of seeing their profits disappear faster than a shaken martini at a poker game. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart put it rather succinctly: deterring conduct is the name of the game.

The Spy Who Shoplifted Me

Organized retail crime you see isn't your average five finger discount. We're talking about groups of thieves working in concert turning stolen goods into cold hard cash. 'The name's Bond James Bond and I don't approve of your financial strategies.' The rise in this nefarious activity is staggering. Retailers reported a 93% increase in shoplifting incidents since 2019 with dollar losses soaring by 90%. Clearly these criminals have been living by the motto: live and let steal!

From Russia With… Shoplifted Goods?

Some critics blame lenient enforcement and high felony thresholds. But Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke is changing the game. She's decided that felony retail theft charges will be pursued when the goods exceed $300 or if the suspect has a prior felony shoplifting conviction. It’s a bold move. Before that they practically needed to steal Fort Knox to get a felony charge. Since December 1st her office has filed charges in 1,450 felony retail theft cases. Clearly she's not messing around.

Collaboration: For Your Eyes Only

The key it seems was coordination. Ulta Beauty's Dan Petrousek emphasized that "Collaboration is key to making a meaningful impact." Ulta Beauty even deployed teams across nine states providing law enforcement with intel. Walgreens' Marty Maloney echoed the sentiment noting their work with law enforcement in nearly 20 cities. Even Home Depot though seeing overall theft down reported that investigated incidents of organized retail crime are up double digits. It’s a sign that these guys are getting smarter.

The World Is Not Enough… Stolen Merchandise

Now that the dust has settled the operation is pooling data. Other retailers like Macy's T.J. Maxx and Target are all committed to partnering with law enforcement. It’s clear that they're taking a zero tolerance approach. As for me I'll stick to foiling global conspiracies and ordering my martinis – shaken not stirred and definitely not stolen. Until next time stay vigilant and remember nobody does it better… except maybe these retail crime fighters.