Fighting Organized Retail Crime

eBay collaborates with retailers and law enforcement agencies across the country to disrupt and prevent organized retail crime.

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eBay partners with brands, retailers and law enforcement agencies to dismantle crime rings.

Organized retail crime — when groups of bad actors steal goods with plans to resell them — has grown unfortunately common across the United States in recent years. 

At eBay, we’re committed to preventing stolen goods from appearing on our platform. Beyond intensive monitoring by in-house experts, powered by AI tools, our Criminal and Regulatory Investigations Team works with law enforcement agencies, brands and retailers to dismantle crime rings.

“I’m proud of what we do,” Christian Hardman, the head of the division, said. “It’s not just about preventing theft but helping people feel safe where they shop.” 

Leading Joint Investigations

eBay launched the Partnering with Retailers Offensively Against Crime and Theft (PROACT) program in 2007, a program that brings together retailers and law enforcement to identify, remove and prosecute sellers of stolen products. In the years since its launch, more than 300 retailers have joined PROACT. Under the program, retailers, brands, law enforcement, and eBay share intelligence, conduct test buys, examine suspicious listings and users, and support  successful prosecutions.

Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA)

eBay is proud to support CORCA, led by [name House and Senate sponsors]. This legislation would strengthen tools for law enforcement to crack down on organized retail crime. 

In 2025, eBay collaborated with multiple law enforcement agencies and Home Depot to break up the largest crime ring in the home improvement store’s history. The effort, known as Operation Kill Switch, resulted in 14 arrests. The crime ring allegedly committed 60 thefts at 71 different Home Depots across Southern California, stealing more than $10 million in merchandise.

“This wasn’t shoplifting. It was a criminal enterprise that allegedly stole millions of dollars, and it was finally stopped here,” Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said following the Home Depot bust.