How long is the period over which property must be aggregated for organized retail theft?

The period over which property must be aggregated for organized retail theft is 90 days. This timeframe is significant because it allows law enforcement to comprehensively assess the scope of organized retail theft activities, providing a clearer picture of patterns and trends in theft behaviors. By aggregating property over a three-month period, investigators can establish links between multiple thefts, identify organized theft rings, and build a stronger case for prosecution. This aggregation is essential for understanding the scale at which organized retail theft occurs, which can often involve multiple incidents and numerous offenders working in conjunction.

In this context, a shorter aggregation period, such as 30 or 60 days, may not capture the full extent of organized theft activities, while a longer period of 120 days may introduce complications around the timeliness of investigations and prosecutions. Hence, the 90-day aggregation period strikes a balance, ensuring effective law enforcement response.