A Brief History of ORCAID

Stronger Together: Fighting Retail Crime Across Idaho.

The Organized Retail Crime Association of Idaho (ORCAID) is dedicated to combating Organized Retail Crime through strong partnerships between law enforcement, retailers, and solution providers. By fostering collaboration, information sharing, and supporting prevention efforts, we work to protect Idaho’s businesses and communities from the impact of retail crime.

History of ORCAID

In 1989, law enforcement in Boise, Idaho, began noticing a shift in criminal behavior. Known career offenders were moving away from traditional crimes like burglary, auto theft, and robbery, instead turning to retail theft and fraud. These schemes offered financial gain with less perceived risk—and they were right. At the time, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the courts had not yet grasped the full scope and impact of Organized Retail Crime (ORC). It became clear that education, collaboration, and a new approach were urgently needed.

The first step was to bring all affected stakeholders together—law enforcement, prosecutors, and retail loss prevention professionals—to better understand the growing problem. Understandably, there was initial hesitation about sharing information across disciplines. However, those concerns were addressed through the development of clear information-sharing guidelines, created with input from both prosecutors and retail industry partners.

As collaboration began, law enforcement started analyzing shoplifting and theft cases for patterns. It quickly became evident that multiple organized theft rings were operating across the region. Retail partners possessed a wealth of intelligence, yet there had been little to no communication with law enforcement—until now.

To bridge that gap, we launched monthly meetings between law enforcement and retail loss prevention teams. As trust grew, so did the momentum. These meetings became the foundation for an evolving partnership that now includes patrol officers, detectives specializing in fraud, property and violent crimes, narcotics investigators, and prosecutors. The intelligence gathered through this collaboration has been vital in tackling a wide range of criminal activity.

Today, all major retailers in the region participate in these meetings. Together, our partnership has resulted in thousands of arrests, not just for retail theft, but for related crimes including fraud, drug activity, robbery, vehicle burglaries, and even violent offenses. We've successfully disrupted organized crime groups operating in Idaho and across the Northwest—proving the power of communication and cooperation in keeping our communities safe.

About ORCAID

The Organized Retail Crime Association of Idaho (ORCAID) is a statewide alliance of law enforcement professionals, retail investigators, and industry partners working together to combat Organized Retail Crime (ORC). Founded in 2014, ORCAID was established to respond to the growing impact of ORC on Idaho’s businesses and communities.

Through information sharing, real-time alerts, and collaborative investigations, ORCAID empowers members to proactively identify trends, track suspects, and prevent criminal activity. Members can submit incident details, photos, and surveillance footage through our secure online platform, which supports law enforcement analysis and enhances cross-agency communication.

In addition to our digital tools, ORCAID hosts regular meetings and training opportunities to promote networking, professional development, and strategic planning. Membership is free and open to law enforcement, loss prevention professionals, and corporate partners committed to reducing ORC throughout Idaho.

Together, we’re building safer communities and stronger partnerships—one case at a time.