Retail leaders ask Congress for crime wave crackdown
The CEOs of 20 major U.S. retailers have asked Congress for assistance with the growing trend of organized retail crime.
In a letter to Congress, the executives are urging Congress to pass the INFORM Consumers Act.
The legislation is designed to modernize consumer protection laws and safeguard families and communities from the sales of illicit products, according to the Retail Industry Leaders Association.
“While we constantly invest in people, policies, and innovative technology to deter theft, criminals are capitalizing on the anonymity of the Internet and the failure of certain marketplaces to verify their sellers,” the letter reads. “This trend has made retail businesses a target for increasing theft, hurt legitimate businesses who are forced to compete against unscrupulous sellers, and has greatly increased consumer exposure to unsafe and dangerous counterfeit products.”
The letter to Congress was signed by Craig Menear, CEO of The Home Depot; Brian Cornell, CEO of Target; and Corie Barry, CEO of Best Buy, among others.
Retailers who have been robbed have also complained that their stolen products are turning up for re-sale online.
“Deterring these crimes starts with making it harder for thieves to sell stolen goods online,” the letter states. “We urge Congress to seize this opportunity to help protect communities, families, and consumers.”
Read the full letter to Congress here.
Amazon.com has countered with sharp criticism of the INFORM Act bills in general. Earlier this year, Brian Huseman, Amazon vice president of public policy wrote: "This legislation favors large brick-and-mortar retailers, at the expense of small businesses that sell online, while doing nothing to prevent fraud and abuse or hold bad actors accountable."
