Crackdown urged on theft rings

CARSON CITY -- Retailers urged state lawmakers Friday to pass a bill that would crack down on organized retail theft rings that steal millions of dollars worth of merchandise and then repackage and resell it.

A report from the Retail Association of Nevada to the Senate Judiciary Committee states that the thefts result in an estimated $16 million in lost sales tax revenues each year and create health hazards because stolen items often aren't stored properly.

The perpetrators steal small items such as razor blades, batteries, drugs and baby food, take them to warehouses where they're stripped of any identifying information, and sell them on the Internet or at flea markets, panel members were told.

Assembly Bill 421 would make it a felony to participate in an organized retail theft ring, which is defined as three or more people who get together to commit a series of thefts against more than one retailer or more than one branch of a retail business.

Only a handful of states have passed similar legislation, but the retail association said all states with legislatures meeting this year are being lobbied to consider similar measures.

Walgreen Co., Safeway Inc. and Scolari's Food and Drug Co. are backing the proposal.

A trend in organized retail theft has appeared over the past few years, said Ken Lightfoot, director of loss prevention for Scolari's.

He said Las Vegas was at one point among the top 10 places in the country targeted by such thieves.