Gov. Gavin Newsom Tuesday promised the state would crack down on organized retail theft organizations during the busy holiday season.
The Governor says the CHP Tetail Crime Task Force will team up with other allied law enforcement agencies and retailers to conduct confidential operations during the holiday season.
"Several proactive and confidential operations are planned in collaboration with allied agencies statewide, with investigators working diligently to dismantle known boosters and fencing operations tied to organized retail crime," Newsom said in a news release.
The CHP increased enforcement is directed at protecting shoppers and retailers. Investigators are also targeting organized shoplifting gangs and fencing operations.
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Shoppers should expect an increased CHP presence in high-traffic shopping centers like Las Americas Premium Outlets, where a crackdown this month led to nearly two dozen arrests.
Photographs provided by the California Highway Patrol Border Division, were taken at one of its, “retail theft blitz operations” at Las Americas Premium Outlets on Nov.15. Investigators say 23 people were arrested and 264 stolen items were recovered worth nearly $12,000.
“Definitely it is crazy. It makes you more alert when you are going out places,“ shopper Dangelo Wanson said.
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Carlsbad police say Monday night they arrested two women attempting to leave Sephora with nearly $7,000 worth of stolen merchandise. One of the suspects fled in her car but crashed into three parked cars and was stopped. Police found five children inside the vehicle. Both women were charged in connection with the theft, also resisting arrest, grand theft and hit-and-run.
“When you have your baby and stuff like that it is uncool. You do feel a little bit unsafe,“ Wanson said.
“I just feel ashamed for the stores because they are trying to do business and everything,” another shopper said.
The governor’s office released Tuesday CHP Organized Retail Crime Task Force results since January. Statewide there have been, 1,200 arrests, 677 investigations, and $9.3 million worth of stolen items recovered.
Since the task force was formed in 2019, investigators recovered $47.4 million worth of stolen merchandise.
“I feel relatively safe. I have not heard any of the gang shoplifters. I imagine at this time of year there is more of that because it’s Christmas,“ shopper Ary Ramirez said.
According to state statistics, year-to-date, this is the most investigations the CHP has conducted in the task force’s history.
The Governor’s office says recently passed legislation adds tough new penalties for repeat offenders, provides additional tools for felony prosecutions, and cracks down on serial shoplifters.
