Next Steps for Combatting Organized Retail Crime

Business litigation partner Justin Kay co-authored an article for the Minnesota Shopping Center Association, titled “Next Steps for Combatting Organized Retail Crime.” The article shared that Minnesota is number seven in the list of states most impacted by retail theft.

Organized retail theft is employment by or association with a group (but not necessarily the same group) of two or more individuals with a shared goal involving the unauthorized removal of retail merchandise from a retailer; and at least twice in the preceding six months, the person has engaged in all three of three specific types of “theft” of retail merchandise (theft by taking, theft by fraud, and theft by swindle), was in possession of a device designed to assist in shoplifting, received stolen retail merchandise, burglarized a retailer, or was in possession of burglary tools; and the person or another member of the group sells, intends to sell, or advertises the stolen merchandise or returns the stolen merchandise in exchange for anything of value.

The article discusses next steps for taking action against organized crime, including the creation of a regional retail organized crime task force.