ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL IS UNVEILING A NEW PROPOSAL TO FIGHT ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME.

ALONG WITH THE ILLINOIS RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION, ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL IS PUSHING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD GIVE PROSECUTORS MORE POWER TO GO AFTER THESE CRIME RINGS AND ALLOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO CONVENE A STATEWIDE GRAND JURY.

HE SAYS THE THEFTS ARE NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS, BUT PART OF AN ORGANIZED EFFORT.

OFFICIALS SAY ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT HAS INCREASED BY 60 PERCENT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. RAOUL SAYS GROUPS ARE STEALING LARGE AMOUNTS OF MERCHANDISE AND THEN SELLING IT TO FUND ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.