Ohio Retailers Join Forces to Combat Theft

A task force has been created in north-central Ohio by several big-box retailers to target shoplifting and organized crime.

According to the Marion (Ohio) Star, Kroger, Meijer, Walmart and Kohl’s are cooperating through technology and increased cooperation to reduce costly theft.

Steve Shepard, Kroger’s organized retail crime investigator, said grocery and drug losses from both Kroger stores in Marion have been reduced by $80,000 in six months.

The task force shares information between these competing chains in hopes of reducing the overall retail theft problem, including photos of suspects and certain suspicious trends to watch out for.

“With today’s technology, we can take a suspect’s face and get it to every network and every major retailer that’s a part of the group,” Shepard said.

The task force was formed among the four retailers who were all leading victims of shoplifting attempts reported in 2013. Employees at each chain started talking about habitual shoplifters in their stores in the Marion area, leading to the group effort.

“We were all sharing the same stories because we get together, whether it’s in Columbus, Marion, Delaware,” Shepard said. “We contacted [the Marion County sheriff’s office], and we decided to put together a task force.”

In the first nine weeks the task force was operating in 2013, the county sheriff’s office made 37 shoplifting arrests and charges. So far this year, deputies have made 46 arrests and charges.