Collaboration and Evidence-Sharing Solutions Help Combat ORC

According to a 2024 study by the National Retail Federation (NRF), retailers reported a 93 percent increase in average shoplifting incidents in 2023 vs. 2019. During the same time, 91 percent of retailers stated shoplifters were exhibiting more violence and aggression. Retailers also noted a 90 percent increase in dollar loss due to shoplifting in 2023 vs. 2019.

To help retailers combat organized retail crime (ORC) and repeat offenders intending to resell stolen goods, federal lawmakers recently reintroduced the bipartisan Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025. The bill aims to establish new tools to mitigate retail theft, recover stolen goods, and deter future attacks across the enterprise.

While legislative efforts may help bolster collaboration and maximize efforts to combat ORC, retail organizations can maximize those initiatives by using their security systems to simplify data sharing and streamline investigations.

Easily Collect Evidence

Gathering forensic information for investigations is key to fighting ORC. With a unified security system, retail loss prevention teams can easily gather evidence, spot theft patterns, identify suspicious activity, and share evidence from multiple sources.

A unified system's components use shared core building blocks, such as maps, schedules, users and privileges. Events and data from all connected sensors and systems are aggregated and visualized in a single user interface. The result is a security solution that looks like a single system and brings applications and sensors from multiple providers onto one platform.

Having one platform streamlines investigations and allows operators to gather related video and interactions. Access control, door props, vehicle footage, or body camera interactions involving the same person, for example, can be found quickly with analytics. Investigators can even find additional dates, locations, or timestamps of incidents.

Another key benefit to a unified platform is having real-time visibility into the health of systems and technology across the enterprise. Operators can pull regular reports or receive automated alerts when a device is not performing. If a video camera isn't working at the time of an incident, the investigation team could miss critical evidence.

Securely Share Data … With a Few Clicks

Video and other evidence that retailers gather help build strong cases for investigations and prosecutions. Forensic data sharing must be simple, secure and cost effective.

To combat ORC with an eye on efficiency and effectiveness, retailers need:

• easy-to-use technology to securely share video and other evidence with law enforcement;
• the capacity to retain evidence for the minimum standards of criminal and civil cases; and
• the ability to maintain privileged access and verify the integrity of evidence.

Digital evidence management systems (DEMS) can remove the pain points of data sharing and collaboration. With DEMS, you can use a web-based platform to store and share video or other data securely.

With the click of a button, media is uploaded from various sources and shared with authorized individuals inside or outside an organization. This eliminates the need to manually copy information to DVDs or exchange external drives. Such solutions also track the chain of custody of evidence, ensure the integrity of timestamps and video, and retain forensic information.

Combating ORC Through Unified Solutions

The ultimate goal is to get ORC groups off the streets and create a safer environment for employees and customers. Retailers can work with law enforcement and incorporate tools to streamline and boost the investigation process. A unified platform with a secure and easy-to-use evidence-sharing solution helps retailers take steps to thwart ORC activity.

Scott Thomas is the national director of sales for Signature Brands in the U.S. for Genetec, a video surveillance and access control solutions provider.