Ohio State Representative Haraz N. Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) recently announced his intent to introduce legislation focused on combating rising losses from organized retail crime in the Buckeye State.
Ghanbari’s Fight Organized Retail Crime & Empower Law Enforcement (FORCE) Act will “protect the safety and well-being of Ohio retailers and consumers while simultaneously targeting Organized Retail Crime (ORC) theft rings.”
Specifically, the bill, if enacted, would update Ohio laws and policies to “empower local law enforcement and prosecutors to respond to these incidents accordingly.”
“Ohio is not going to tolerate our retailers and communities being preyed upon by organized theft rings,” Ghanbari said in a statement. “We are not going to stand idly by. The FORCE Act prioritizes the safety and well-being of Ohio retailers and their customers. This legislation is a comprehensive approach to the complex challenge of organized retail crime. I look forward to advancing the FORCE Act with the support of my fellow members of the General Assembly.”
Ghanbari’s bill comes as organized retail crime has skyrocketed across the nation in recent years.
Data from the National Retail Federation shows retailer losses amounted to $112.1 billion billion dollars last year, of which organized retail crime was a significant driver.
A total of 3.59 percent of all U.S. retail crime in 2021 took place in Ohio costing businesses in the state approximately $3,944,650,700, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Gordon Gough, the President and CEO of the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, applauded Ghanbari for his plan to introduce the FORCE Act, saying, “Far more than this financial impact, the FORCE Act also addresses Ohioans’ growing concern over violence and safety for customers and store associates. This legislation will give Ohio law enforcement officials and our judicial system more tools to apprehend and punish criminals while protecting consumers and retailers. We look forward to working with Ohio leaders to tackle this problem effectively.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “State rep. Haraz Chanbari” by State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari.
