Organized Retail Crime Costs U.S. Economy $130 Billion a Year

Organized retail crime drains nearly $130 billion a year from the U.S. economy, according to Rep. Brad Knott, who made the figure the centerpiece of a roundtable hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce in Smithfield, North Carolina.

The session focused on the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), a bipartisan bill Knott has championed, and on how retail crime and cargo theft hit local businesses and communities in his district, NC-13.

"Organized retail crime hurts all Americans. It drives up prices, puts businesses at risk, and costs our economy nearly $130 billion a year," Knott said. "What may look like isolated theft is often part of a larger criminal network, and we need to shut down the loopholes these bad actors exploit."

The stakes for retailers are concrete. According to Kelly Wallace, President and CEO of the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, the problem hits businesses of every size through increased costs, employee safety concerns, and disruptions to daily operations. Johnston County employers gave Knott firsthand accounts at the roundtable.

"We appreciate Congressman Knott taking the time to hear firsthand from Johnston County employers, because informed public policy begins with listening to the experiences of the businesses it serves," Wallace said.

What CORCA Would Do

CORCA is a bipartisan bill designed to increase collaboration between jurisdictions to curb retail crime and cargo theft. It would also strengthen the partnership between law enforcement and businesses to dismantle the criminal syndicate networks behind these theft schemes.

The House passed the bill on May 16. Knott emphasized that legislative milestone in his remarks.

"I'm proud of the work the House has done to pass CORCA, because law enforcement, businesses, and local leaders need the tools to stop this crime before it spreads further," Knott said.

The U.S. Chamber, which co-hosted the event, framed the legislation as a resource problem for police and prosecutors at every level of government.

"The U.S. Chamber is proud to support Rep. Knott and his work on the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act. This bill will help provide the necessary resources to local, state, and federal law enforcement to combat retail crimes and the criminal syndicate rings that plague communities across the country," said Brince Manning, Senior Manager of the Southeastern Regional Team at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Why the Roundtable Format Matters

Knott cast the Smithfield event as a working session rather than a listening tour. "Bringing local leaders and stakeholders together for a roundtable is about more than conversation, it's about results for our communities," he said.

For chamber leaders, the local angle is the point. Retail crime that originates with national or multi-state syndicate networks lands on the balance sheets of individual county employers — through higher costs, safety risks for workers, and operational disruption. The Triangle East Chamber positioned the roundtable as a way to route those on-the-ground experiences into federal policy.

The U.S. Chamber's Southeastern Regional Team has been running similar engagements across the region, pairing members of Congress with local employers to build support for the legislation.

What Comes Next

CORCA has cleared the House. Its fate now rests with the Senate, and business groups like the U.S. Chamber are keeping pressure on lawmakers by connecting the bill to the $130 billion annual cost Knott cited. The Smithfield roundtable signals that supporters intend to keep retail crime on the political agenda through the summer, one district at a time.