Newsom: $4.4M in stolen goods found, 383 arrests in 3 months
In March alone, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force made 174 arrests and seized more than $2 million in stolen assets, the governor's office said.
This statement came from Gov. Gavin Newsom's office Thursday. It has been republished in full with minor edits.
Citing ongoing progress to take down organized retail crime statewide, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that, since January, the state’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force conducted 211 investigations that led to 383 arrests and the recovery of nearly 41,000 stolen goods valued at $4.4 million.
Spearheaded by the California Highway Patrol, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force in March alone made 174 arrests and recovered $2,134,742 in stolen assets.
The CHP coordinates with local law enforcement statewide to take down organized retail theft operations.
During a notable incident in February, CHP officers busted an organized retail theft ring in the Bay Area, recovering stolen merchandise valued at more than $779,000.
In March, thanks to quick coordination and real-time tracking, the CHP apprehended a suspect involved in the theft of 137 beauty items in Lincoln, which resulted in over $19,000 in stolen goods seized and $10,000 in store damage.
Every seizure is cataloged and photographed and, if the retailer it was taken from can be identified, it is returned as soon as possible.
New data suggests violent and property crime went down in 2024 in California.
According to an analysis of Real Time Crime Index data by the Public Policy Institute of California, property crime dropped by 8.5% and violent crime dropped by 4.6% in 2024 compared to 2023. Burglary and larceny also went down by 13.6% and 18.6%, respectively, compared to pre-pandemic levels.
"The CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force teams have demonstrated exceptional dedication and coordination, leading to significant disruptions of criminal networks targeting California’s businesses," said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. "Their proactive investigations, strategic partnerships and relentless pursuit of offenders have resulted in numerous arrests and recoveries, restoring a sense of safety and accountability in our communities."
Since the inception of this task force in 2019, the CHP has been involved in over 3,700 investigations, leading to the arrest of approximately 4,200 suspects and the recovery of over 1.3 million stolen goods valued at more than $56 million.
Cracking down on retail theft
Last August, Gov. Newsom signed into law the most significant bipartisan legislation to crack down on property crime in modern California history.
Building on the state’s robust laws and record public safety funding, these bipartisan bills offer new tools to bolster ongoing efforts to hold criminals accountable for smash-and-grab robberies, property crime, retail theft and auto burglaries.
While California’s crime rate remains near historic lows, these laws help California adapt to evolving criminal tactics to ensure perpetrators are effectively held accountable.
California law provides existing robust tools for law enforcement and prosecutors to arrest and charge suspects involved in organized retail crime — including up to three years of jail time for organized retail theft.
The state has the 10th toughest threshold nationally for prosecutors to charge suspects with a felony, $950.
Forty other states — including Texas ($2,500), Alabama ($1,500) and Mississippi ($1,000) — require higher dollar amounts for suspects to be charged with a felony.
Saturating key areas
Working collaboratively to heighten public safety, the governor tasked the California Highway Patrol to work with local law enforcement areas in key areas to saturate high-crime areas, aiming to reduce roadway violence and criminal activity in the area, specifically vehicle theft and organized retail crime.
Since the inception of this regional initiative, there have been nearly 6,000 arrests, about 4,500 stolen vehicles recovered and nearly 300 firearms confiscated across Bakersfield, San Bernardino and Oakland.
Diana Crofts-Pelayo
Stronger enforcement. Serious penalties. Real consequences.
California has invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety.
In 2023, as part of California’s Public Safety Plan, the governor announced the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.
As part of the state’s largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime, Gov. Newsom announced last year the state distributed $267 million to 55 communities to help local communities combat organized retail crime.
These funds have enabled cities and counties to hire more police, make more arrests and secure more felony charges against suspects.
