Yang Rohr Fights for Public Safety, Passes Measure Combating Organized Retail Theft

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Law enforcement will have new tools to combat ‘smash and grab’ retail theft under a new law passed by state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville.

“Families and businesses are facing a lot of challenges, and predatory organized theft rings are making it more difficult for everyone,” Yang Rohr said. “I wanted to take action against this illegal and dangerous behavior. These organized and dangerous groups set businesses back and create perilous, reverberating effects throughout our community.

Working alongside business groups like the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Yang Rohr sponsored House Bill 1091, which creates the new offense of Organized Retail Crime (ORC) to target conspirators and ring leaders behind large “smash and grab” crimes. Any two or more people working together to commit retail theft can be charged with the new crime, which will be considered a Class 3 felony under the new law.

In addition to targeting the direct perpetrators of retail theft, people can be charged as leaders of these operations if they manage those who directly steal products worth more than $300 or retrieve and resell the stolen goods.

The bill was signed into law recently by Gov. JB Pritzker.

“Keeping our community safe has always been top priority as a representative,” said Yang Rohr. “With this measure, law enforcement can work in a smart and targeted manner to take down these organizations and stem the destruction of our Illinois small businesses.”