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NRF 2009 Organized Retail Crime Survey

NRF’s Organized Retail Crime survey is distributed each spring to senior loss prevention executives nationwide. This year’s survey features responses from 115 different retail companies, including department/large box, discount, drug, grocery, restaurant and specialty retailers. The 2009 Organized Retail Crime Survey is NRF's fifth annual survey.

The purpose of this survey is to understand the impact of organized retail crime on retailers across the country. By measuring trends and operational methods of criminal enterprises, retailers will be in a better position to respond to this industry-wide issue, which has significant repercussions on consumers, brands and local economies. New questions were added to this year’s survey to get a better understanding of the complexity of the issue and how retailers are partnering with law enforcement.

Download the full report
View Press Release
View results from the 2008 Survey

NRF will address organized retail crime and many other loss prevention issues such as return fraud and counterfeiting at its annual Loss Prevention Conference and EXPO.

Highlights from NRF’s Fifth Annual Organized Retail Crime Survey:

Do you believe your company has been the victim of organized retail crime in the past 12 months?
Yes	92.2%
No	6.1%
Unknown	0.0%
Don't know/Choose not to answer	1.7%

In your best estimate, regardless of how your company has been addressing the problem, how has organized retail crime activity in the U.S. changed over the past 3 years?
Organized retail crime activity has doubled.	13.5%
Organized retail crime activity has increased by more than 50%.	26.1%
Organized retail crime activity has increased by more than 25%.	27.9%
Organized retail crime activity has increased by more than 10%.	11.7%
Organized retail crime activity has increased by more than 5%.	8.1%
The amount of organized retail crime has stayed the same.	10.8%
Organized retail crime activity has declined by more than 5%.	0.0%
Organized retail crime activity has declined by more than 10%.	0.9%
Organized retail crime activity has declined by more than 25%.	0.9%
Organized retail crime activity has declined by more than 50%.	0.0%
Organized retail crime activity has been cut in half.	0.0%

Is your company allocating additional resources to address organized retail crime?
Yes	41.8%
No	57.3%
Don't know/Choose not to answer	0.9%

On a scale of one to five, with five being severe, where would you rank ORC as a threat to your company?
5 (severe)	3.6%
4 (significant)	24.6%
3 (important)	37.7%
2 (concerned)	23.7%
1 (non-iussue)	10.5%
Don't know/Choose not to answer	N/A

Do you believe law enforcement understands the complexity and severity of organized retail crime?
Yes	37.7%
No	61.4%
Don't know/Choose not to answer	0.9%

Physical fence - Within the past year, have you identified or recovered stolen merchandise and/or gift cards from a fence location? (A fence is defined as a store, kiosk, swap meet/flea market, pawn shop, temporary store, etc.)
Yes	60.0%
No	40.0%
Choose not to answer	0.0%

eFencing - Within the past year, have you identified or recovered stolen merchandise and/or gift cards that were being e-fenced? (e-fencing locations include online auction sites (eBay), websites, blog listings, etc.)
Yes	60.0%
No	39.1%
Choose not to answer	0.9%

Within the past year, has your company been working with law enforcement or independently investigating any criminal groups responsible for theft in your stores?
Yes	76.5%
No	23.5%

Are any of the criminal organizations you have investigated connected to known street gangs with international connections?
Yes	28.0%
No	64.0%
Choose not to answer	8.0%

This survey was conducted April 21 – May 12, 2009. Senior loss prevention executives from 115 individual retailers participated.

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