(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — A new law aimed at combating the rising tide of organized retail theft in Ohio was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on Wednesday. The legislation, co-written by Attorney General Dave Yost’s office, seeks to address the crime rings responsible for stealing billions of dollars worth of merchandise each year, which ultimately drives up prices for consumers.
“Consumers bear the cost when organized retail theft goes unchecked,” said Yost. “With this law, we aim to ensure that thieves, not Ohio consumers, are the ones who pay the price.”
The Fight Organized Retail Crime and Empower Law Enforcement Act introduces stronger penalties for retail theft rings and creates a statewide task force to investigate these crimes. The law also establishes an advisory council within the Attorney General’s Office. Yost’s office worked in collaboration with the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and state lawmakers to craft the law. State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari and state Sen. George Lang sponsored the legislation.
The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants estimates that organized retail theft costs Ohio businesses between $2 billion and $3 billion annually. Organized groups typically steal large amounts of goods from multiple retailers and sell them for profit, causing businesses to raise prices to cover the losses.
One of the key provisions of the new law is the creation of a felony offense for organized retail theft, with penalties that escalate based on the value of the stolen merchandise. Repeat offenders will face harsher charges, with a minimum fourth-degree felony charge for individuals convicted of theft in the last three years.
“These criminals rely on safety in numbers, but it’s a false sense of security,” Yost said. “We now have the ability to charge them as a group, making it easier to convict and imprison thieves who target retailers as part of a larger crime ring.”
The law also forms a new task force under Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission to focus on investigating retail theft across the state. The task force will be supported by the Organized Retail Theft Advisory Council, which will include representatives from law enforcement, retail organizations, and prosecutors.
Several key figures involved in the creation of the law expressed their support for its passage:
State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari commented, “This legislation is a critical step in combating organized retail theft, providing law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools they need to hold offenders accountable and protect Ohio businesses.”
State Sen. George Lang added, “Ohio is once again leading the way in protecting our retailers, customers, and communities.”
Gordon Gough, president and CEO of the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, praised the law for its ability to bring valuable resources to law enforcement and for enabling better collaboration between retail loss prevention teams, law enforcement, and prosecutors.
Steve Stivers, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, also expressed his support, noting that the new law would help to strengthen the security of Ohio businesses and support their growth.
With the signing of this law, Ohio is taking significant steps to combat organized retail theft and protect both businesses and consumers across the state.
