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RAM Participates in Press Conference on Organized Retail Crime RAM wants to thank everyone that showed up at the press conference to offer their support. We had a great turnout and got some great press out of the event. Jon Hurst, Congressman William Delahunt, State Representative Joseph Driscoll and Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan all spoke at the event. Additionally, Kevin Plante and RJ Gaites, members of RAM's Loss Prevention Board, did an amazing job speaking on behalf of the retail industry! We are hopeful that the added attention given to ORC will help push our legislative efforts. Meet the RAM LP Committee Board Boston Herald Article 11-2-09 on Press Conference http://www.necn.com/Boston/Business/2009/11/02/Movement-to-make-organized/1257217458.html http://wbztv.com/consumer/organized.retail.crime.2.1287188.html http://www.patriotledger.com/business/x1659494742/Legislators-target-organized-retail-theft-rings http://www.wickedlocal.com/braintree/news/opinions/x1156072837/Push-to-end-Organized-Retail-Crime
Don't forget to visit our votervoice system on our website to ask your legislators to support ORC legislation and pass this link on to your colleagues. We need all the support we can get in order to move this legislation. It will only take a few minutes of your time. Please click on the following link to begin. Additionally, please be sure to pass this link on to your colleagues. We need all the support we can get in order to move this legislation.
RETAIL THEFT IS A CRIME THAT ANNUALLY COSTS THE INDUSTRY AND CONSUMERS $34 BILLION NATIONALLY, AND $1 BILLION IN MASSACHUSETTS. Retail theft can come in the form of shoplifting, employee theft, and vendor fraud. In addition, other issues of fraud are on the rise and becoming increasingly costly for consumers, including credit and debit card fraud, identity theft, and bad checks. A disturbing trend is the increasing involvement of organized crime in retail. Professional thieves today are sophisticated and deliberate in their efforts to steal merchandise, and then illegally return the products, or fence them through questionable channels ranging from certain stores, to flea markets, street vendors, and overseas markets.
In order to fight these costly crimes, the retail sector needs to be educated, coordinated, technologically advanced, and have strong cooperation with law enforcement and the courts. Organized Retail Crime presentation prepared by RAM LP Committee
During the 2009-2010 Massachusetts Legislative Session, Representative Joseph Driscoll filed "An Act to Improve Criminal Laws Relative to Organized Retail Theft" that would address our biggest concerns. Please contact your legislators to ask for their support of this important bill. CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR GRASSROOTS ACTION CENTER TO BEGIN. RAM LOSS PREVENTION COMMITTEE For two decades, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts has operated the RAM Loss Prevention Committee to attempt to achieve all of the objectives listed above. The RAM LP Committee is comprised of industry experts, loss prevention professionals and law enforcement. By networking and sharing information, we arm ourselves with the knowledge to stop loss before it occurs or prevent it from happening again. The Committee is run by a 4 member Board and has over 150 participants. We meet quarterly to discuss relevant LP topics and share information. Additionally, the RAM LP Committee plans the Annual New England Organized Retail Crime Trade Show & Symposium. Our goal is to broaden our network and open the lines of communication between retailers, law enforcement and policy makers. Together, we can make a difference in our stores and push a common agenda that addresses shortfalls in our state and federal laws. If you are interested in joining the Committee, please contact Erin Trabucco, RAM General Counsel, at 617-523-1900. Expand your network by joining the RAM LP Committee Group on LinkedIn! |