Maricopa County, Ariz. — Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced a new “Safe Shopping” campaign to combat organized retail crime. At a press conference on November 15th.

Shoppers may already be aware of the impact organized retail crime has on their holiday shopping. More products, from skin care products to cold and flu medicine, are located behind locked shelves.

Spanish version: La Fiscal del Condado Maricopa anuncia camaña 'Safe Shopping' para ir de compras de manera segura

According to a press release from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Maricopa County will receive 301 organized retail crime cases from local law enforcement agencies in 2022, and will “easily exceed” that number in 2023.

“They steal large amounts of merchandise worth thousands of dollars. They sometimes come in with bags ready to grab shelves full of merchandise, and they typically resell this stolen merchandise. will be held online,” Mitchell said.

Organized retail crime (ORC) is different from shoplifting. Shoplifting is often a one-time occurrence in which he steals one item from a store. ORC occurs when a group of people work together to steal large quantities of goods with the intention of reselling them.

Recently, ORC was busted in Maricopa County after two California women stole $24,000 worth of merchandise from stores across the Valley.

Michelle Ulmer, executive director of the Arizona Retail Association, said thieves are stealing everything, leaving stores out of stock and jacking up prices for customers.

“This is a traveling group. “It's a traveling group, and they're doing damage everywhere they go,” Almer said. “What's popular seems to be the thing that gets everyone's attention, good or bad.”

According to the Arizona Retail Federation, stores in Arizona have lost a total of $1.4 billion to organized retail crime.

The campaign, launched on Wednesday, is an extension of the MCAO's Organized Retail Crime Task Force and will “expand our partnership” by asking local residents to report crime incidents.

Mitchell and MCAO provided shoppers with tips for practicing “safe shopping” this holiday season.

• Please be patient with retailers. It may take an extra minute to retrieve items (like a nasal decongestant) from behind a locked display, but it's worth it. Know that you are doing your part to keep prices low and criminals out.

• Never interact with thieves. If in doubt, please contact your store manager. Never confront a thief alone.

• Please keep your personal belongings locked away. If you carry a handbag, keep it closed and nearby. If you plan to leave your purchases in your car between shopping destinations, make sure your car is securely locked.

“What I want to say to the thieves who committed these crimes is we will find you, we will arrest you and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” Mitchell said.

Under current law, offenders are charged on their first offense, Mitchell said. Subsequent violations are grouped together.

Michel said he is asking the state Legislature to make an exception for organized retail criminals.

Ahlmer said this type of action benefits both stores and shoppers.

“Because of these efforts, we're seeing changes in Arizona that we don't see in other states,” Almer said.

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