WPBN: In the last days of the holiday shopping season, Governor Gavin Newsom of California made an announcement regarding the success of a coordinated law enforcement operation that was conducted across the state with the intention of tackling organized retail crime.
In conjunction with a number of different local law enforcement agencies, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) was the organization that spearheaded this campaign, which was referred to as Operation Holiday Watch.
During the operation, which took place on Friday, December 20, 2024, a substantial number of individuals were apprehended, and the items that had been taken were recovered.
During the course of the operation, 117 people were taken into custody and charged with a variety of various offenses, ranging from petty theft to grand theft and organized retail crime.
38k recovered in stolen merchandise? That is a joke. Why don’t you post the amount that thieves have taken from California businesses? If you did, the whole world would be laughing at your post.
Why do you hate California businesses so much and protect the thieves? https://t.co/rkvYQTl3nF
— Mark Meuser (@MarkMeuser) December 24, 2024
During the course of the raid, the authorities were able to recover products worth more than $38,000. Besides the recovery of these items, law enforcement agents were also successful in seizing two illegal firearms and recovering three automobiles that had been stolen.
The recovery of a total of 767 goods that had been stolen was one of the most significant highlights of the operation. In addition, law enforcement agencies strengthened their presence in high-traffic shopping districts, which resulted in increased safety and discouraged illegal activity.
With participation from 56 retail shops and 10 law enforcement agencies, including departments from Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and Walnut Creek, the operation demonstrated a strong relationship between law enforcement and private sector retailers. The number of retail businesses that participated in the operation was 56.
It is part of a larger effort that is being made by the Organized Retail Crime Task Force of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), which was established in 2019 to address the growing problem of theft from organized retail establishments.
Since its creation, the task force has played a significant role in leading over 3,200 investigations, which have led to the arrest of over 3,500 individuals and the recovery of almost $51.3 million worth of stolen items.
“The state stands committed to protecting consumers, especially during the busiest shopping days of the year,” Governor Newsom stated in a press release. “I’m proud of the efforts of CHP and local law enforcement to protect Californians and businesses statewide.”
The commitment of the administration to combating crime, particularly organized retail theft, which has repercussions for businesses, communities, and public safety was brought to light by Governor Newsom.
The Newsom administration has allotted a total of $1.1 billion to battle crime since the year 2019, with $267 million being paid to 55 local agencies for various crime prevention projects throughout the course of the previous year alone.
The state’s commitment to combatting retail crime through collaboration, resource investment, and smart enforcement methods is demonstrated by Operation Holiday Watch, which is just one example of an example of this effort.
“Through proactive operations and collaboration, we delivered a clear message: retail theft will not be tolerated in California,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee stated.
It is important to protect businesses from the financial and operational losses caused by organized criminal activities, and our endeavor highlights the importance of ensuring that retail environments in California are safe for residents of the state.
REFERENCE
