USA-IT partner and president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association Alex Baloga featured on why retailers are being forced to hire private security.

“According to United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA-IT), in 2021 alone retail thefts in Pennsylvania totaled nearly $5.6 billion and cost more than $510 million in state and local taxes. In a recent DVJournal podcast, Alex Baloga with the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association talked about how “sophisticated” retail crimes like shoplifting and smash-and-grab robberies have become.”

“And, Baloga said, criminals take advantage when communities decline to enforce laws against these property crimes, moving from place to place. ‘We have seen where laws have been relaxed, there have been more brazen acts. These are organized, sophisticated criminals, not an average person who’s just down on his luck.’”

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