Organized retail crime continues to pressure retailers nationwide, and the role of private security is changing fast. In the latest episode of Retail’s Most Wanted, WGS Group CEO Marcus Skeen breaks down what’s shifting on the ground and why deterrence still matters.

Why it matters

Even with tougher penalties in some states, ORC remains a daily operational issue. Shrink, safety concerns, and store disruptions continue to ripple across the industry.

What Skeen is seeing

Threat levels may have dipped slightly, but complexity hasn’t.

He notes that many security providers drifted into passive roles—observing and recording incidents rather than actively deterring them.

The shift back to deterrence

Skeen argues the industry needs a reset.

That includes better training, clearer expectations, and tools that support professionalism, like body-worn cameras monitored in real time and supervisors who can respond quickly when situations escalate.

What retailers often underestimate

Visible, confident security presence influences more than theft.

It affects how employees feel at work, whether shoppers choose to stay in the store, and how likely repeat offenders are to target the same location again.

The bigger picture

Retailers frequently hesitate to leverage stronger security measures due to liability concerns.

Skeen’s view: risk grows when expectations aren’t clear, and training isn’t consistent.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

The big picture:

Retailers and law enforcement are collaborating in ways they weren’t just a few years ago. On the latest episode of Retail’s Most Wanted, Marty Carpenter talks with Matt Kelley, SVP at LV, about how real-time data and smarter partnerships are reshaping the response to organized retail crime (ORC).

Why it matters

ORC continues to rise, but the industry’s ability to respond is strengthening. Kelley says momentum is picking up as retailers, police, and solution providers share information more quickly and more openly.

Inside the new collaboration model

Summits like the Utah Organized Retail Crime Alliance (UTORCA) gathering are accelerating progress. Leaders leave aligned on priorities, expectations, and proven tactics. That clarity turns conversation into action.

Tech is the turning point

Real-time data is giving retailers and law enforcement a shared view of what’s happening. LV’s tools serve as “eyes and ears” where traditional surveillance doesn’t exist, helping teams deploy resources faster and more precisely — especially during retail blitz operations.

What’s ahead

Kelley sees the future in “data stitching” — seamless information flow from solution providers to retailers to law enforcement. The goal: faster insights, quicker case building, and more efficient outcomes.

Utah helped set the national standard with one of the first ORCAs. The next opportunity is deeper collaboration across states.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

West Jordan, Utah, is growing fast — and so is its exposure to organized retail crime (ORC). With new developments, big-box clusters, and major highways cutting through the area, law enforcement faces a challenge that extends far beyond city lines.

Why it matters:

ORC isn’t about one-off shoplifters. It’s organized networks targeting retailers across jurisdictions, and the costs ultimately reach consumers through higher prices and tighter margins.

The challenge:

West Jordan’s retail corridors attract professional theft crews who move quickly between neighboring cities. Rapid development means new retail centers open faster than police resources can expand, creating opportunities for repeat offenders who exploit the gaps.

The response:

The West Jordan Police Department is focused on specialized training, technology, and cross-city coordination to stay ahead. Investigators are being trained specifically in organized retail crime and are embedded in regional task forces that share intelligence and resources across Utah’s Wasatch Front. The city also works closely with retailers through the Chamber of Commerce to maintain open, fast communication when new threats emerge.

Tech advantage:

Improved surveillance systems, merchandise tracking tools, and store design updates are making a measurable difference. Stronger evidence means faster prosecutions and better deterrence, while visibility upgrades help stop theft before it starts.

What’s next:

As development continues westward, collaboration will be the key. Utah’s law enforcement and retail leaders are building a model based on information sharing and mutual support — proving that interdependence, not independence, is how communities keep retail crime in check.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

What’s happening: Taylorsville Police Chief Brady Cottam says organized retail crime (ORC) is keeping officers busy and driving up costs for consumers — even if it doesn’t always make headlines.

Why it matters: ORC drains local police resources and impacts prices across communities. With major retailers like Target and Walmart in Taylorsville, Cottam says the issue is both local and regional — requiring coordination across city lines.

Big picture:

• Collaboration across jurisdictions and with retailers has improved thanks to shared radio and report systems.
• But the biggest challenge? Staying focused amid competing priorities like violent crime.
• Cottam calls for an “old school” approach — more community awareness and willingness to speak up.

The takeaway: Combating ORC isn’t just a police issue — it takes partnerships, technology, and a watchful public to make a real dent.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

Why it matters:

Organized retail crime (ORC) isn’t petty theft — it’s a complex, fast-evolving threat that touches everything from consumer prices to workplace safety. Amber Bradley, founder of TalkLP News, says it’s time for the industry to start talking honestly about it.

The big picture:

Bradley launched TalkLP to cut through decades of “fluff” in loss prevention news. Her mission: give LP professionals quick, unscripted insights that help them stay ahead of evolving threats — and strengthen ties between retailers and law enforcement.

Between the lines:

• LP roles have expanded far beyond shrink and theft. Post-COVID, they now include safety, violence prevention, and legislative awareness.
• Conferences like UTORCA and CLEAR are helping that collaboration become personal and actionable.

The takeaway:

Bradley’s message to retailers is simple — get real, get connected, and get involved. ORC is everyone’s problem, and solving it starts with honest, unscripted conversation.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

The Big Picture

Organized retail crime (ORC) is evolving fast—blending in-store theft with digital fraud. Retailers making progress through tougher laws, AI, and collaboration, but big gaps remain.

Key Challenges

• Retailers still silo store vs. e-comm investigations
• ORC definition is outdated, focused mainly on physical theft
• Too many platforms for intelligence sharing—no single standard
• AI fraud tactics (deepfakes, social engineering) are advancing rapidly

Emerging Solutions

• AI video analytics for faster theft detection
• Unified commerce + loss orchestration: merge data, teams, and systems
• Federal push for broader fraud/ORC intelligence sharing
• Solution providers teaming up across physical + digital

Bottom Line

Progress is real, but uneven. The future of fighting ORC lies in unifying channels, data, and defenses—and moving from reactive whac-a-mole to proactive, AI-powered prevention.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

The Big Picture

Former Utah Commissioner of Public Safety Jess Anderson discusses the growing challenges in retail crime and law enforcement's technological gap.

By the Numbers

• Shoplifting has surged 94% since 2019
• 14% increase from 2024 to 2025 alone

Key Challenges

• Government agencies lag 3-5 steps behind criminal elements and private sector
• Legal restrictions on using advanced technology like facial recognition and AI
• Limited ability to share data between private sector and law enforcement
• Increasing violence in retail theft incidents

Solutions Proposed

• Better communication between law enforcement agencies
• Improved collaboration between private sector and law enforcement
• Updates to legislation allowing better use of modern technology
• Environmental design improvements in retail stores

Bottom Line

Success requires aggressive enforcement, better inter-agency communication, and modernized approaches to using private sector technology in law enforcement.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

Why it matters: Dr. Read Hayes, Director of the Loss Prevention Research Council, explains how modern surveillance technology impacts crime prevention, particularly in retail settings.

Key findings:

• Surveillance platforms offer three core benefits: Deterrence (visible presence), detection (through audio and visual sensors), and documentation (evidence collection).
• Modern systems outperform legacy tech: Higher resolution, day/night capability, and networked integration dramatically improve suspect identification.
• The future is multi-sensor fusion: Hayes predicts advancements will combine visual, digital, and audio signatures with cross-organizational data sharing.

Between the lines:

Retailers facing crime surges are implementing these technologies defensively, balancing loss prevention with maintaining customer access to products.

The bottom line:

Surveillance technology creates both deterrence through visibility and accountability through better detection and documentation capabilities.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.