CHP, Local Police Arrest 117 People for Shoplifting

<p><strong>SACRAMENTO<&sol;strong> – On Friday&comma; December 20&comma; CHP and local police departments carried out Operation Holiday Watch in communities throughout California – resulting in 117 arrests&comma; the recovery of over &dollar;38&comma;000 in stolen merchandise&comma; the seizure of two illegal firearms&comma; and the recovery of three stolen vehicles&period; Expected charges range from petty theft and grand theft to organized retail crime&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2><strong>Key Results of the Operation<&sol;strong><&sol;h2>&NewLine;<ul>&NewLine;<li>117 arrests made for organized retail theft and related offenses&period;<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>Recovery of 767 stolen items&comma; valued at more than &dollar;38&comma;000 including clothing&comma; shoes&comma; and fragrances&period;<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li> Enhanced collaboration among 10 California law enforcement agencies and 56 different retail partners to improve in-store security and reporting&period;<&sol;li>&NewLine;<li>Increased law enforcement visibility in high-traffic shopping areas&comma; deterring additional crimes&period;<&sol;li>&NewLine;<&sol;ul>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Through proactive enforcement operations and strong partnerships with local law enforcement and retailers&comma; we were able to protect the state’s businesses and consumers during one of the busiest times of the year&comma;” <strong>said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee&period;<&sol;strong> &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;Our efforts send a clear message that retail theft in California will not be tolerated&period;”<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The daylong operation was conducted in collaboration with the Hemet Police Department&comma; Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department&comma; Los Angeles Police Department&comma; Glendale Police Department&comma; Bakersfield Police Department&comma; Woodland Police Department&comma; Walnut Creek Police Department&comma; Livermore Police Department&comma; and San Ramon Police Department&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>As the holiday season winds down&comma; the CHP will continue working with businesses and communities to prevent retail theft year-round&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Since the Organized Retail Crime Task Force’s inception in 2019&comma; the CHP has been involved in over 3&comma;200 investigations&comma; leading to the arrest of more than 3&comma;500 suspects and the recovery of nearly 1&period;3 million stolen goods valued at &dollar;51&period;3 million&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;