GOP Rep. Jim Jordan demands judiciary hearing on retail crime surge

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Tuesday sent a letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) demanding that he hold a hearing on the "unprecedented spike" in retail theft in cities nationwide.

"The criminals carrying out these acts are emboldened by 'soft on crime' policies and progressive prosecutors who refuse to enforce the law," House Judiciary Ranking Member Jordan wrote to Nadler.

Crime has increased overall in the United States since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Grab and run" heists have started occurring more frequently in and around major cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis and Los Angeles.

San Francisco police officers in September 2020 sized $8 million in items stolen from Walgreens, CVS and Target, Jordan wrote. On the other side of the country, a Manhattan RIte Aide closed after staff said thieves had stolen more than $200,000 in goods just in December 2021 and January 2022, he added.

"These retail businesses are already suffering due to record inflation, a massive labor shortage, and supply chain issues," the Ohio Republican said. "Now this surge in theft is forcing some retail stores to close permanently."

Stores have started locking up common items such as deodorant and toothpaste in an effort to thwart theft, Jordan noted. Other stores are implementing complex, expensive security devices.

"This rise in retail theft is a direct result of 'soft on crime' laws and progressive district attorneys refusing to enforce the law," Jordan told Nadler before citing examples of liberal prosecutors in San Francisco and New York.

"For example, in San Francisco, the new District Attorney announced in 2021 that he would deemphasize prosecution of drug and property crimes. Since his election, burglaries have increased 52 percent, representing one of the largest increases in the country," he said.

Jordan mentioned a quote from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. 

"[R]etail thefts that do not involve a risk of physical harm, the Office will continue to assess the charges based on all of the aggravating and mitigating circumstances presented,'" the Democrat DA said.

Jordan pointed to "dangerous bail elimination measures" as contributing to the crime surge. 

He quoted New York City’s Police Commissioner: "'Insanity. No other way to describe the resulting crime that has flowed from disastrous bail reform law.'"

Retailers are asking Congress to act on the increase in crime, Jordan added. 

"According to a 2020 study by the National Retail Federation (NRF), retail theft has risen sixty percent since 2015 and now amounts to retail-store losses of $719,548 per $1 billion in sales," the ranking member wrote. "In the NRF survey, retailers 'cited relaxed law enforcement guidelines, changes in shoplifting laws and decreased penalties for shoplifting among the causes for increased organized retail crime.'"