News 3: Congresswoman Susie Lee pushes action to stop organized retail crime

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Local leaders are calling to action to help curb organized retail crime in the valley.

Congresswoman Susie Lee joined law enforcement at a local Target store on Friday to discuss crime-stopping efforts.

Organized retail theft amounts to a billion-dollar loss annually in Nevada when looking at things like higher insurance costs, the price of goods, and wages.

"This is not like your recreational shoplifting," said Congresswoman Susie Lee. "This is organized crime that is being run by sometimes international criminal syndicates. They funnel some $70 billion of illicit proceeds annually back into their criminal enterprises. They'll go towards human trafficking, drug smuggling, arms dealing, and other activities that put all of our communities at risk."