SIG – Special Interest Group – Organized Retail Crime
The Syracuse InfraGard Special Interest Group (SIG) on Organized Retail Crime was formed in May, 2011
This SIG is lead by Public and Private Sector Chiefs -DeWitt Police Department Sergeant Scott Kapral -and Gary Cooper, Market AP Manager-Walmart
Over 60 Retail Security and Loss Provention Professionals are partnered with Law Enforcement to form one of the most comprehensive group of Public & Private Sector Investigators in the country.
InfraGard’s Syracuse Alliance is serving as the pilot location for this program approach for InfraGard. Laurie Venditti, Leadership Committee Chairman for the Syracuse Alliance has helped faciliate the strategic partnerships and assisted in growing this ORC Initiative.
The InfraGard SIG -ORC Initiative is a partnership with the Greater DeWitt Retail Theft Coalition, Syracuse Police Department, Onondaga Crime Analysis Center (OCAC), Camillus Police Department, Manlius Police Department and Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department.
In a local news report the visionary approach of Sgt Scott Kapral was featured:
Catching and prosecuting shoplifters
6/23/2011 – DeWitt (WSYR-TV) – Shoplifting is a crime that costs both stores and customers. For every dollar spent, as much as seven cents goes to cover items that were stolen. A new plan of attack is trying to turn back the tide of shoplifting.
Although better video surveillance and loss prevention teams have helped stores arrest shoplifters, even repeat offenders aren’t penalized that much. The Greater DeWitt Retail Theft Coalition wants to change that.
Made up of 50 store managers, security officers and police from across Central New York, the coalition facilitates the sharing of information and pictures. They say they’ve already identified organized theft groups, including a trio that targeted JC Penny and Sears stores. more….
