Golden State Today

State law enforcement officials continue to address organized retail crime at a record pace. Since January, California’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has made 717 arrests and recovered nearly a quarter of a million stolen goods valued at more than $6.8 million, as this year’s enforcement continues to outpace previous years.

SACRAMENTO – Continuing the aggressive push to reduce organized retail crime in California, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) achieved a record number of arrests and recovery of stolen goods so far in 2024. Since January, the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has conducted 320 investigations, made 717 arrests, and recovered nearly 230,000 stolen goods valued at more than $6.8 million. CHP’s operations are part of the state’s comprehensive efforts to combat organized retail crime, which also includes new measures to crack down on property crime and the state’s unprecedented police funding to local communities, including Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Bay Area counties.

“California continues to crack down on organized retail crime through coordinated efforts up and down our state. We’re taking down criminal enterprises in record numbers and securing accountability and justice for the businesses and communities hurt by these crimes,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

Since the inception of this task force in 2019, the CHP has been involved in more than 2,600 investigations, leading to the arrest of more than 2,800 suspects and the recovery of over 838,000 stolen goods valued at nearly $45 million.

“Through collaborative efforts with retailers and our law enforcement partners, our dedicated task force continues to make incredible strides in combating organized retail crime throughout the state,” said California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The CHP remains steadfast in our commitment to dismantling organized retail crime networks throughout California, ensuring those who prey on our businesses and communities are brought to justice.”

In 2023, as part of California’s Real 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. This plan continues California’s ongoing commitment to safeguard communities; since 2019, the state has invested $1.1 billion to fight crime, help local governments hire more police officers, and improve public safety.

As part of this investment strategy against organized retail crime last year, Governor Newsom announced that $267 million was distributed to 55 communities statewide. These funds have enabled cities and counties to hire more police officers, make more arrests, and secure more felony charges against suspects. The funding included over $38 million for Orange County, over $41 million for Los Angeles County, over $11 million for Riverside County, and over $43 million for the San Francisco Bay Area.