Retailers ask Kentucky lawmakers to crack down on organized shoplifting rings

GOOD EVENING AND YOU CAN, JOY. AND I’M RICK VAN HOOSE. SHOPLIFTING RINGS HERE IN KENTUCKY HAVE GOTTEN SO BOLD SOMETIMES WALK OUT OF A HOUSE WITH THE STOLEN ITEMS RIGHT PAST STORE EMPLOYEES WHO DON’T DARE RISK BEING HURT TRYING TO STOP THEM. THAT’S WHY TODAY IN FRANKFORT, STATE LAWMAKERS HEARD ABOUT A PROPOSED BILL TO HELP STOP ORGANIZED, ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT. WLKY MARK VANDERHOFF SHOWS US WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO. MARK YEAH. VICKI. RICK THIS IS A PROBLEM HAPPENING ALL OVER COUNTRY. SO LAWMAKERS IN KENTUCKY ARE CONSIDERING LEGISLATION THAT’S BEEN PASSED IN OTHER. IT’S CALLED THE INFORM ACT AND IT STANDS FOR INTEGRITY NOTIFYING, NATION AND FAIRNESS IN ONLINE MARKETPLACES. WHAT’S TAKEN PLACE IS THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE? THERE’S NO OVERSIGHT. IT’S THE NEW WILD, WILD WEST OUT THERE. MATTHEW ROSS STEED IS ONE OF KROGER’S TOP SECURITY OFFICIALS AND HE SAYS ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE KENTUCKY RETAIL FEDERATION, THIEVES ARE STEALING AND RESELLING $727 MILLION WORTH OF GOODS EACH. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ONE TIME SHOPLIFTERS, SHOPLIFTERS STEALING ITEMS THEY CAN’T AFFORD. IT’S A SOPHISTICATED, ORGANIZED THEFT GROUPS AND CRIMINAL NETWORKS. THE STOLEN GOODS END UP BEING SOLD ONLINE THROUGH PLATFORMS SUCH AS FACEBOOK, MARKETPLACE OR EBAY. THAT’S WHY THE FEDERATION LAWMAKERS TO PASS THE INFORMATION ACT. IT REQUIRES ONLINE MARKETPLACE IS TO REQUIRE HIGH VOLUME SELLERS TO FILE INFORMATION SUCH AS THEIR TAX ID AND BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION. IT WOULD ONLY APPLY TO SELLERS WITH 200 TRANSACTIONS IN 12 MONTHS AND 5000 OR MORE IN SALES. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MOM WHO SELLS HER BABY’S USED CLOTHES ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE, YOU KNOW, $50 OR WHATEVER OR SOMEONE SELLING A PIECE OF FURNITURE. ONE WALGREENS EXECUTIVE SAID THEY LOST $12 MILLION IN STOLEN GOODS LAST YEAR JUST IN KENTUCKY ALONE. THAT’S A 52% INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WHAT IT’S GOING TO TAKE IS LAW ENFORCEMENT, COURTS, RETAIL LEGISLATURES WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP THE WOLVES AS BAY. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS INFORM ACT IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD TO HELP US DO THAT. NOW, THE BILL HASN’T BEEN FILED, BUT THE KENTUCKY RETAIL FEDERATION SAYS, IT’S THEIR TOP PRIO

An organization representing Kentucky's retailers is asking state lawmakers to pass a law cracking down on organized theft rings.The request comes as the financial impact of shoplifting – and the brazenness of shoplifters – has risen significantly with the ease or reselling stolen goods online through platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay."It's the wild, wild west out there," said Matthew Rosteet, an asset protection manager for Kroger's grocery chain.The Kentucky Retail Federation is asking state lawmakers to pass a version of the INFORM Act, which stands for Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces. The bill would require online sellers to provide information such as their tax identification and bank account numbers and would only apply to sellers with 200 or more transactions and $5,000 or more in sales each year."We are not talking about one-time shoplifters or shoplifters stealing items they can't afford," said Shannon Stiglitz, vice president for government affairs at the Federation. "It's sophisticated, organized, professional theft groups and criminal networks."The bill has not been filed yet, but Stiglitz said it will be one of their top priorities in 2023

FRANKFORT, Ky. —

An organization representing Kentucky's retailers is asking state lawmakers to pass a law cracking down on organized theft rings.

The request comes as the financial impact of shoplifting – and the brazenness of shoplifters – has risen significantly with the ease or reselling stolen goods online through platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

"It's the wild, wild west out there," said Matthew Rosteet, an asset protection manager for Kroger's grocery chain.

The Kentucky Retail Federation is asking state lawmakers to pass a version of the INFORM Act, which stands for Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces.

The bill would require online sellers to provide information such as their tax identification and bank account numbers and would only apply to sellers with 200 or more transactions and $5,000 or more in sales each year.

"We are not talking about one-time shoplifters or shoplifters stealing items they can't afford," said Shannon Stiglitz, vice president for government affairs at the Federation. "It's sophisticated, organized, professional theft groups and criminal networks."

The bill has not been filed yet, but Stiglitz said it will be one of their top priorities in 2023

Retailers ask Kentucky lawmakers to crack down on organized shoplifting rings

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