SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Governor J.B. Pritzker is signing a new law to crack down on organized retail theft in Illinois.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul helped draft the legislation and says we’re not talking about petty shoplifting.
Organized gangs are stealing retail items and then re-selling them online.
However, Raoul says this is about more than just stolen goods.
“It’s important to note that organized retail crime is very much linked to other dangerous criminal activity, such as human trafficking, gun trafficking, drug trafficking and sometimes terrorism.”
The law lets prosecutors go after criminals in other jurisdictions and gives the Attorney General the ability to prosecute via a statewide grand jury.
Additionally, online third-party sellers will have to verify their identity in hopes of reducing the sale of stolen property.
