Organized Retail Crime in Philadelphia, 2013-2023

• In Event: Innovative Intervention Strategies: A Focus on Public Order and Property Offenses

Abstract

Organized Retail Crime (ORC) has become a major concern for retailers, law enforcement, and policymakers. Industry groups claim ORC causes billions in losses and have successfully pushed for harsher laws. Yet data on ORC is often based on self-reported estimates from retailers, not independent analysis. This study critically examines the scope and organization of ORC through a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research in Philadelphia.
The first component analyzes ten years (2013–2023) of theft-related arrests, charges, and sentencing data to identify trends in ORC enforcement, demographic disparities, and legal changes. The second component involves interviews with Assistant District Attorneys and others involved in ORC cases. These interviews explore the organization of alleged “ORC gangs,” prosecutorial strategies, and shifts over time. Together, these methods offer an empirical assessment that challenges sensationalized claims of a retail theft crisis. By analyzing actual case data and prosecutorial narratives, this study questions the framing of ORC as a distinct and escalating threat, providing a more grounded understanding of retail theft and its treatment in the criminal legal system.

Authors

• Brendan McQuade, University of Southern Maine

• Betsey Caroll, District Attorney Transparency Analytics (DATA) Lab Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office

• John Eason, Brown University

• Chloe Haimson, Justice Policy Lab at the Watson Institute for International & Public Affairs at Brown University