This week, along with the Florida Retail Federation and law enforcement leaders, I announced the launch of Florida’s first statewide task force to combat large-scale retail theft, as well as a new tool designed to help better coordinate prevention and prosecutorial efforts.

The new tool called FORCE, or Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange, is an interactive database that will help law enforcement and retailers spot trends, identify suspects and take down massive, organized retail theft rings.

Videos from major cities across the country show mobs of criminals ransacking department stores—burglars smashing display cases and running away with ill-gotten gains.

A recent study by the National Retail Federation showed that nearly 70% of store owners nationwide reported an increase in crime over the past year—most alarmingly, retailers report gangs are more aggressive and violent than in years past. About 65% of respondents noted an increase in violence.

While many of the violent cases are taking place outside our state, in cities that entertain anti-police, pro-chaos policies, we continue working hard to ensure diligence against crime to protect our communities.

In addition to FORCE, I am assembling a task force of law enforcement, statewide prosecutors, state attorneys and retailers to help us examine the data from a secure online portal.

Making connections between similar cases, law enforcement agencies will have the ability to piece together information, giving them the tools to consolidate multiple investigations into one and increase penalties for criminals.

By using this new crime-fighting tool, we can prevent these violent crime sprees from taking root in our state and build a Stronger, Safer Florida.