The Maricopa County Attorney’s office is stepping up its campaign for safe purchasing practices with “Safe Shopping II: The High Cost of a ‘Good Deal,'” as the Christmas season approaches once more. In an effort to educate customers about the hidden costs of shady deals, an issue that is far more widespread and significant than simple stealing, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell unveiled an expanded program that builds on last year’s successful project.
Organized retail crime, or ORC, is becoming more prevalent in the consumer market, and Maricopa County is bearing the brunt of it. As these crimes increase, they steal not only candies but also large quantities of inventory to resell elsewhere, like from pickup beds, private residences, or online marketplaces. In a statement obtained by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Mitchell identified a troubling connection between the act of buying these ostentatiously inexpensive items and the financing of reprehensible activities such as drug abuse, human trafficking, and money laundering: “You re paying for foreign nationals who make money off the pain of American citizens.”
More than 600 ORC cases have reached the courts since the Organized Retail Crime Task Force was established in 2022, convicting offenders and recovering a fortune in goods. The number of ORC cases and convictions submitted has increased by almost 25% and 46%, respectively, compared to the previous year, indicating the growing offensive against these criminal operations.
The Attorney’s office warns and advises prioritizing one’s safety by informing a store manager or calling the police, as stated on the Maricopa County official website. Mitchell’s campaign also serves as a sobering reminder of the risks associated with witnessing such thefts; these are becoming more violent, and confronting a suspect could be dangerous.Michelle Ahlmer, Executive Director of the Arizona Retailers Association, reinforced this argument when she described the possible threat posed by a drug-addled criminal who may be guided by an invisible ORC operator.
“A little bit of knowledge goes a long way toward preventing tremendous damage,” according to the Maricopa County official website, encapsulates the main points of this year’s campaign. As the shopping season heats up, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell ends with a stark assessment of the wider effects of ORC, including increased costs for law enforcement and prosecution, store closures, and the eventual decline of community spaces.
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