SACRAMENTO – Nearly 500 people have been arrested and more than $4 million in stolen property has been seized so far this year as part of an ongoing crackdown on shoplifting, the California Highway Patrol announced.
In a statement Wednesday, the agency released data from its Organized Retail Theft Task Force for the first three months of 2024. In 185 investigations, the task force arrested 474 suspects and recovered 160,000 stolen items worth nearly $4.2 million.
“These criminals are negatively impacting California businesses and our communities,” said Deputy Commissioner Troy Lukkes. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners across the state and use all available resources to dismantle these criminal networks and hold them accountable for their actions.”
The CHP said the number of items seized in the first quarter of the year was nearly half of all stolen items recovered by the task force in 2023.
A statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office noted that the crackdown will surpass previous years.
“California will continue to lead more takedowns and make more arrests to keep our communities safe,” Newsom said. “It is through the coordinated efforts of our enforcement partners – police, sheriffs and district attorneys – that the state can continue to close the door on this unacceptable crime.”
According to the CHP, since its creation in 2019, investigations by the task force have led to the arrest of more than 2,500 suspects and the recovery of $42.3 million in stolen property.
