One of the major difficulties in ORC investigations (organized retail crime) is maintaining open lines of communication between the public and private sectors. I often wonder what truly effective information sharing looks like among retailers, corporate security investigators, and law enforcement agencies related to criminal activity impacting businesses on a real-time basis while preventing other partners from being victimized.
Throughout my career, I have had the fortunate experience to work alongside some amazing investigators (both public and private sector) and have had some first-hand experience in dealing with the criminals involved in ORC organizations. Many of us investigators are self-driven and detail-oriented. We have a good level of understanding as to what it takes to successfully investigate these groups and identify their entire organizational structure. We know and understand the importance of providing credible investigative evidence to law enforcement agencies to attack these criminal organizations effectively.
Recently, I had an opportunity to chat about this very subject with Detective Sergeant Nick Ferrara of the Financial and Organized Crimes Unit of the Gainesville, FL Police Department. Nick and I met a few years back at a Florida Retail Federation event, sponsored by Wicklander-Zulawski (WZ). We shared a table, discussed our backgrounds and eventually shared business cards. Over the years, Nick and I have had multiple opportunities to contact each other when seeking information or insight into various ORC investigations. I learned early on; Nick loves to chase bad guys.
As Nick and I reminisced about the event where we first met, he shared the benefits he has identified from attending various networking events. “These connections have allowed me to have a feel for the current climate or trends. In addition, I’ve had opportunities to meet LP/AP higher-ups who have access to great information and can connect crimes taking place within my community to other jurisdictions.”
Throughout our conversation, Nick referred to various Organized Retail Crime Associations as key to information flow. These alliances promote intelligence-sharing relating to the business and communities served. This is crucial for ORC investigations. As a result of the intelligence-sharing (i.e. BOLO, PC TO ARREST, a single photo or trend), many have resulted in multi-jurisdiction arrests. Nick went on to share how he became an active member of these platforms or communities, and the information sharing allowed him to start solving cases.
Connect with an ORCA: Alliances promote intelligence sharing and provide law enforcement with a better opportunity to solve cases.
As I recounted early on in my career, the days attempting to coordinate a time conducive to my schedule for a detective to meet me and provide to him or her video or information often presented itself as challenging. Nick agreed and pointed out the challenges the responding officer or he would face while waiting for some manager to find the information meanwhile, the calls for police assistance start backing up. Additionally, processing video or photos into and out of evidence takes time. It is often not determined until that point that the video quality was poor or did not convert to disc. Sadly, because of inadequate information sharing, these can become cold cases.
“I’m amazed by the synergy that results from these Organized Retail Crime Association platforms and connections I make. The value of those open lines of communication is priceless. We have been able to increase efficiency, react quickly, and most importantly, these opportunities for information sharing have increased the chance of these cases, with minimal information, being solved.”
Nick went on to share how impressed he is by major retailers’ investigations teams. “They have some great investigators working for them. It can be challenging to understand vague excel spreadsheets passed along to the responding officer when reporting a theft. The level of research presented to me by these investigators is remarkable; be it combing through social media accounts and other public information sites, presentation of clips of video compared to a booking or DL photo, establishing patterns or timelines in a clear, chronological format.”
Be Prepared: Recognize what exactly is needed to bring these cases to closure.
This conversation reminded me of how my own evolution of data collection and information sharing came about. I recall the hours spent surveilling fence locations and recording the comings and goings; mobile surveillance as the suspect traveled not only from mall to mall, but across the state too; those 4am trash pulls and the fun that comes with processing those bags of trash; posing as a customer and completing a controlled buy. I even recall conducting knock and talks with an industry leader who had an amazing way of speaking with people who initially were completely resistant to speaking with us.
In many cases, once PD arrives at a scene, ORC suspects may become uncooperative or reluctant to give further information. I have found much success in taking an opportunity in the non-custodial setting to develop rapport, establish credibility, show some understanding, obtain information and substantiate the details, and essentially allow the suspect to proceed with an uninterrupted narrative. This pre-planned, fact-gathering conversation, using question structure as a technique has allowed me to link suspects, identify multi-jurisdictional incidents, and identify additional fencing locations, all to support my law enforcement partners and prosecutors and ultimately closure of the case.
Proper Information Sharing: Be thorough when gathering all information and review quality of evidence prior to meeting with the detective to avoid delays and prevent cold cases.
Establishing connections, remaining active within the ORCA communities and approaching each interaction with a ‘What I can do for you is…’ mindset, versus ‘I can’t do that’ will allow the opportunity to present yourself as a good partner and resource. ORC investigations can’t be done alone. Who and what you know truly can go a long way in both the private and public sectors.
Join or start a local networking event: Getting both public and private sectors together within a specific market or metro has many benefits. Be it an in-person meeting or an email distribution, establish those connections locally.
For more information on Organized Retail Crime Associations and a complete list of associations, check out the below link: https://losspreventionmedia.com/organized-retail-crime-associations-complete-list/
Nick Ferrara began his career with the Gainesville Police Dept in 1997 as patrol operations. Aside from being promoted to corporal, he attained multiple specialties while in patrol to include DUI enforcement, Traffic Homicide Investigations, SWAT, Rifle Team, and Police Mountain Bike Team. In 2006, Nick was promoted to the detective bureau and worked grand theft autos, frauds, sex crimes, child abuse, child sex crimes, and child homicides until his promotion to Sergeant in 2011. He worked in patrol as a sergeant from Sept 2011 to February 2015 where he was transferred back to Detectives to head the Financial Unit in early 2015 and have been here since that time. Nick is heavily involved in finance crimes, grand theft autos, frauds, ORC investigations, ID thefts, and advancing the department’s utilization of investigative technology (license plate readers, facial recognition, online searching, carfaxforpolice, pawn networks, RING Neighborhood LE portal, etc.). Nick graduated University of Florida in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in criminology.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
WZ Webinar on ORC Interviews
Obtain proper questioning techniques to determine if a shoplifting incident is a crime of opportunity or if the subject may be connected to an organized theft ring. Get more details HERE.
The growing issue of organized retail crime (ORC)
Discover additional insights with Hedgie Bartol, Retail Business Development Manager at Axis, who caught up with Dave Thompson, CFI, President of Wicklander-Zulawski to take a closer look at ORC and its impact on retail today HERE.
Amanda Weaver, CFI, PHR brings over 18 years of private sector experience. She brings a diverse retail background, including specialty, luxury, big box, and distribution/fulfillment center segments. Amanda is well versed in all areas of investigations, loss mitigation, inventory management, and strategic planning.
