NRMA is the fastest growing retail-only theft database in the United States. It was the brain child of Bob Ralicki, who invited Loss Prevention industry leaders to our Western headquarters in 2004 to discuss the impact of retail theft on retailers and to brainstorm possible solutions. At that time, retail theft databases were available to retailers but they were wrought with bogus data, lack of incident participation by all members and a lack of executive level leadership. Bob wanted to provide a better, more credible solution for retailers—a solution that would have a real, positive impact on their bottom lines.

Since many retailers do not prosecute for certain theft related incidents and courts of law typically have no record of retail theft incidents that occur below a certain threshold of monetary value loss, it makes sense for retailers to turn to other retailers for the information they need to protect their businesses. The concept has been around for a while, but it was Bob Ralicki and the loss prevention experts he rallied in 2004 who made the important distinction that a retail theft database should be more than just a dumping ground for various types of theft or criminal data – it should be a closely monitored data pool that retailers can trust as part of an effective loss prevention strategy platform.

It was decided that NRMA would be formed and that through the sharing of information about retail theft incidents at member locations, NRMA members would have access to the database which would have the following attributes:

• It would be a pure theft product (no intermingling of theft of time or other company policy violations or criminal history data unrelated to retail theft)
• A verification of ALL incidents reported
• Facilitated by a system interface that would allow easy submission of incident information from members
• Use of the database only granted to members that submit incidents in a timely fashion ( if you’re going to fish from the pond, you are required to stock the pond.)
• The database would be managed in strict compliance with FCRA procedures

Over the course of 2004, Bob Ralicki continued to build the infrastructure which was eventually termed, NRMA (National Retail Mutual Association). On October 8th, 2004 the NRMA Retail Advisory Board met in person for the very first time in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Attending the inaugural 2004 board meeting was:

• Jerry Snider - Former Director of Asset Protection-Dollar General Stores
• Lorri Murphy-Corporate Loss Prevention Manager- GNC
• Doug Marker -Vice President of Loss Prevention and Safety-Michaels Stores, Inc.
• Vic DeBlassi -Director of Loss Prevention-Toys r Us
• J. Patrick Burns -Director of Loss Prevention-Trans World Entertainment
• George Slicho - Former Senior Vice President of Loss Prevention-Zales Corporation

Throughout the next year Bob Ralicki continued to grow and develop NRMA into a powerful networking tool that has since yielded quantifiable results for its members. Bob passed away on December 4th, 2005 at the age of 58. He will be missed by his family at NRMA and GIS.