The creation of a Northwest Ohio Retail Crime Task Force is a smart response to the organized crime that is targeting greater Toledo.

Blade Columbus Bureau Chief Jim Provance reported Monday on the creation of the task force following passage of House Bill 366, the Fight Organized Retail Crime and Empower Law Enforcement — or FORCE — Act.

Northwest Ohio is serving as the prototype for a plan to create similar task forces around the state. So what works here will be replicated elsewhere.

Toledo’s proximity to major north-south and east-west thoroughfares isn’t just good for economic development. It also makes our retail establishments attractive to professional theft rings. Retailers and business associations say organized retail theft costs retailers $2 billion to $3 billion a year in O

See Full Page