"Retail theft is forcing stores to close, reducing choice for Arizona consumers, and making food deserts worse and contributing to retail worker shortage as people do not want to put themselves in danger," Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said during a Dec. 8 press conference. "People that suffer the most are those working-class people that now have to travel further to get the basic goods that they were just getting down the street and this is why retail is a working-class issue," he added. Last year, Arizona retailers lost an estimated $1.5 billion in revenue because of retail theft, according to Capitol One Shopping Research. Return fraud cost state retailers an estimated $1.6 billion, which takes total losses to over $3.1 billion. Additionally, the State of Arizona lost more than $175 million in tax dollars because of retail theft. Michelle Ahlmer, executive director for the Arizona Retailers Association, says that her organization has been working with an organized retail crime task force at the attorney general’s office, and warned that retail theft has harmful community impact. “It does impact everyone's pocketbook and it impacts our communities,” she said during the press conference. “Every time a store closes, it really causes a problem, not just for shopping, not just for retail, but your communities are based on a network. And one of the key elements of that network is retail.” She added that her organization has worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as other agencies, calling them “great partners” before thanking Gallego for his work on reducing retail theft. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced the arrest of eight people involved in an alleged scheme to defraud retailers and consumers. "The agents and investigators that make up the Organized Retail Theft Task Force in the Attorney General's Office have demonstrated our commitment to protecting Arizonans from fraud by uncovering this complex gift card cloning scam," Mayes said in a statement released the day of the press conference. "The successful seizure of thousands of cloned cards and the arrest of several individuals reflects my office's unwavering dedication to stopping organized retail theft across Arizona."A surge in shoplifting is forcing Arizona businesses to shut their doors as local authorities step up efforts to prosecute fraudsters.
