enforcement has a new tool to help tackle organized retail theft.

The Illinois organized retail Crime Association says it's launching a platform intended to make it easier for agencies to investigate and solve these crimes.

And advocates say retail theft is costing Illinois businesses.

Nearly 2 billion dollars every year.

Here to talk more about it.

Our Rob Carr, president and CEO of the Illinois retail Merchants Association and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul gentleman.

Welcome back.

And thank you for joining us.

Kwame, let's skews me Rob.

Let's start with you, please of if you would tell us what the Illinois organized retail Crime Association is and how it works.

>> Well, first, it's the it's present in most states already around the nation.

So Ellen just beginning this adoption, but it is an intelligence gathering platform that will enable all of the interested parties in the continue trying to fight organized retail crime to gather intelligence, to share intelligence and hopefully to get ahead of that give them a better right now.

You know, the attorney general doesn't task forces, which I'm sure he'll speak about it.

Fraud investigations together, but this will enable local law enforcement state, federal as well as asset protection professionals, attorney, the attorney general's office.

But states attorneys as well to to be able to piece together cases that they might not ordinarily be able to piece together.

Now.

>> And rob, give us a sense of what role the Illinois Retail Merchants Association plays.

>> We will cooperation with the state.

We're administrating the platform taking it statewide.

So will be administering.

It will be screening.

The people who applied to participate in a 10 to make and ensure they're eligible will be convening a board of a little over 30 people that be made up of retailers as well as various entities, including law enforcement of these at the state, federal and local level to talk about the best policies.

Boyd going forward, how best to use it and to create educational content for all of those entities in users as well to help again, bring bring better knowledge skill to this fight.

>> And I'm gonna bring the AG and in just a second.

But Rob, first, how do you define organized retail crime?

>> Under state laws to find a someone who's trying steal into the in with the intent to monetize the not just talking about someone who stole a loaf of bread.

All that should be something that we don't just minimize.

But you're talking about people who are stealing 10's or hundreds of things at a time and they're looking to monetize it for the for the purposes of funding other illicit activities.

>> Ag your office established, as we mentioned, the first organized retail crime task force in 2021. where you partnered with law enforcement agencies across the state to investigate and stop individuals who are engaging in this organized retail theft.

What we know about who is committing these crimes and what trends have you noticed?

>> With task force started out, not only is a collaboration law enforcement, but also collaboration with brick and mortar.

The retailers as well calling online platforms, which usually the vehicle to monetize.

The proceeds of things to to collaborate with law enforcement to sell these problems.

With regards to the actions and the trends unfortunately Is this because usual?

Is to monetize the proceeds of these 14 ayes retail Koran.

seen all sorts of back the international active such as the cartel organized gangs and other organized crime and 2 teens, domestic and then a local operators the nay have initially utilizes meals in the process organizing with with for themselves within a municipality some counties and and within states.

>> Are you are there specific retailers who are more likely to be targeted than others?

>> You know, if there is historically, it be you unfortunately, characterize it's been characterized in the media is something that happens.

But by way of smash-and-grabs urban areas.

But this is happening in rural areas.

Many of our operations are staying said then it's while state.

You are happy to I myself traveled the state with that individuals from regards different brick and mortar retailers to educate local law enforcement.

>> Prosecutors offices, has to be important focusing on this indistinguishable from boarding.

retail that is Rob said you're not ignoring or know that would mean we that.

But this is something that is usually connected to other crime like human trafficking, drug trafficking, down trafficking and even terrorism.

Some some instances.

And and so it's it's really cool.

is just critically important us value would what focus.

>> Ag to that point, what some of the ripple effects of this kind of crime?

>> Well, you know, we get part, particularly with seniors seniors less likely to be shot shopping online platforms.

They like to shop in person.

No, it's my birthday today, I qualify as one of those seniors in the eye to shopping for.

I think.

And but want to feel safe in doing so.

And to the extent that matches, if you think of our neighbors miles fences to state that people don't comfortable shopping in person because some of these brazen acts, it impacts not just the retailer, but impacts city of large in terms of its 2 others.

We've just celebrated a very successful.

Do you see where law enforcement to tremendous job?

We want to sustain that.

want to sustain time.

And that's in addition to to the legislation, addition to the platform is champions we have also the Legislature's also given U.S. funding to incentivize support local law enforcement.

just focus on organized retail crime and for instance, Cook County sheriffs as tremendous job, supplementing Chicago Police Department our Central business district.

there's also obviously there's the last of the items that get stolen right to the business is losing money, not being able to sell it.

But there's also the loss of the tax revenue to the state because, again, those items can be sold.

>> Rob, today, you all are launching a roar.

It's a platform to help share this intel.

We've been teasing it during this discussion.

But tell us how it works.

Please.

>> There a roar is actually the the platform itself.

is underneath orca its the technology piece of it how it works is once people are screened to be in it, they can upload it since that are occurring.

It in their area.

You could be the pictures of the individuals that could be the type of car license plate that they're driving or utilizing.

It could be the types of merchandise they're targeting or the methods that they're using.

it's a variety of factors that go into it that enables now others to see.

Okay, we have a group that's targeting these items in this area and it puts them on alert.

It puts law enforcement work.

It helps law enforcement, for example, the local level who might a car you know, 10 items in it not think anything of it realize.

Wait a second.

We saw him on the own You know, platform that similar items were stolen 30 miles away.

And so they can start to piece these things together.

Contact the attorney general or someone else and start the investigation.

So I think it helps constrain and provide points of reference for law enforcement.

>> Okay.

That's a good place to leave That or cause also gonna be working on implementing it with regards to getting businesses and agencies.

Retailers loss prevention experts on board with a including that Intel on a roar.

So we look forward to learning more about it down the road and how it goes for now.

My thanks to Rob car at the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and of course,