NW Ohio Times

State Representative Haraz N. Ghanbari announced the signing of the Fight Organized Retail Crime & Empower Law Enforcement Act by Governor Mike DeWine at a ceremony held at the Statehouse. Officially known as House Bill 366, this legislation focuses on improving safety for Ohio retailers and customers.

“I am honored and excited to see House Bill 366, The FORCE Act, signed into law by Governor DeWine,” stated Ghanbari. He emphasized that the legislation is a significant step toward addressing organized retail theft by equipping law enforcement and prosecutors with essential tools to hold offenders accountable and protect businesses in Ohio.

The new law will come into effect in 90 days, aiming to strengthen the legal framework against organized retail crime networks. A prominent feature of the FORCE Act is the creation of a statewide task force in partnership with the Ohio Attorney General and the Organized Crime Investigations Commission. This task force is expected to provide crucial resources and support to local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost commented on the implications of unchecked organized retail theft: “Consumers bear the cost when organized retail theft goes unchecked. With this law, we aim to make sure the thieves are the ones who pay the price.” He expressed gratitude towards State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari and State Sen. George Lang for their efforts in advancing the FORCE Act.

Additionally, House Bill 366 introduces resources for a statewide real-time information sharing platform that enables loss prevention executives and law enforcement to communicate effectively during ORC incidents. The legislation also updates laws to better distinguish organized retail crime from petty shoplifting by aggregating offenses to demonstrate a pattern of behavior.