Authorities in California have busted 177 sticky-fingered grinches who were part of an organized holiday shoplifting ring.
California Highway Patrol recovered 767 stolen items worth more than $38,000 in the coordinated daylong crackdown Friday that resulted in the sweeping arrests.
“Through proactive enforcement operations and strong partnerships with local law enforcement and retailers, we were able to protect the state’s businesses and consumers during one of the busiest times of the year,” California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee said.
“Our efforts send a clear message that retail theft in California will not be tolerated,” Duryee said.
Officers also recovered two illegal firearms and three stolen vehicles during the busts.
The arrest effort was undertaken by California’s retail theft task force, which involves 10 law enforcement agencies and 56 retailers, officials said.
The task force was formed in 2019 and is dedicated to combatting the exploding prevalence of organized retail theft rings.
Earlier this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation to renew the Golden State’s laws targeting organized theft rings. The new legislation included such tactics as beefed-up penalties.
“These new laws present a better way forward — making our communities safer and providing meaningful tools to help law enforcement arrest criminals and hold them accountable,” Newsom said when he signed the legislation in August.
New York passed similar legislation to implement new retail theft penalties and dedicate resources to crack down on organized retail theft rings.
