West Jordan, Utah, is growing fast — and so is its exposure to organized retail crime (ORC). With new developments, big-box clusters, and major highways cutting through the area, law enforcement faces a challenge that extends far beyond city lines.

Why it matters:

ORC isn’t about one-off shoplifters. It’s organized networks targeting retailers across jurisdictions, and the costs ultimately reach consumers through higher prices and tighter margins.

The challenge:

West Jordan’s retail corridors attract professional theft crews who move quickly between neighboring cities. Rapid development means new retail centers open faster than police resources can expand, creating opportunities for repeat offenders who exploit the gaps.

The response:

The West Jordan Police Department is focused on specialized training, technology, and cross-city coordination to stay ahead. Investigators are being trained specifically in organized retail crime and are embedded in regional task forces that share intelligence and resources across Utah’s Wasatch Front. The city also works closely with retailers through the Chamber of Commerce to maintain open, fast communication when new threats emerge.

Tech advantage:

Improved surveillance systems, merchandise tracking tools, and store design updates are making a measurable difference. Stronger evidence means faster prosecutions and better deterrence, while visibility upgrades help stop theft before it starts.

What’s next:

As development continues westward, collaboration will be the key. Utah’s law enforcement and retail leaders are building a model based on information sharing and mutual support — proving that interdependence, not independence, is how communities keep retail crime in check.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

What’s happening: Taylorsville Police Chief Brady Cottam says organized retail crime (ORC) is keeping officers busy and driving up costs for consumers — even if it doesn’t always make headlines.

Why it matters: ORC drains local police resources and impacts prices across communities. With major retailers like Target and Walmart in Taylorsville, Cottam says the issue is both local and regional — requiring coordination across city lines.

Big picture:

• Collaboration across jurisdictions and with retailers has improved thanks to shared radio and report systems.
• But the biggest challenge? Staying focused amid competing priorities like violent crime.
• Cottam calls for an “old school” approach — more community awareness and willingness to speak up.

The takeaway: Combating ORC isn’t just a police issue — it takes partnerships, technology, and a watchful public to make a real dent.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.

Why it matters:

Organized retail crime (ORC) isn’t petty theft — it’s a complex, fast-evolving threat that touches everything from consumer prices to workplace safety. Amber Bradley, founder of TalkLP News, says it’s time for the industry to start talking honestly about it.

The big picture:

Bradley launched TalkLP to cut through decades of “fluff” in loss prevention news. Her mission: give LP professionals quick, unscripted insights that help them stay ahead of evolving threats — and strengthen ties between retailers and law enforcement.

Between the lines:

• LP roles have expanded far beyond shrink and theft. Post-COVID, they now include safety, violence prevention, and legislative awareness.
• Conferences like UTORCA and CLEAR are helping that collaboration become personal and actionable.

The takeaway:

Bradley’s message to retailers is simple — get real, get connected, and get involved. ORC is everyone’s problem, and solving it starts with honest, unscripted conversation.

Retail's Most Wanted is presented by LVT and the Attorney General Alliance.