California prioritized fighting organized retail theft, those results are paying off with 36,000 arrests and $293 million in stolen goods recovered

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Sep 3, 2026

California prioritized fighting organized retail theft, those results are paying off with 36,000 arrests and $293 million in stolen goods recovered

What you need to know: Governor Newsom announced that California's sustained work fighting organized retail theft with state-funded local agencies has led to 35,907 arrests, 28,667 cases referred for prosecution and more than $293.4 million in stolen goods recovered since October 2023.

SACRAMENTO – As California continues cracking down on organized retail theft through effective strategies and historic state investments, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that state-funded local enforcement efforts have resulted in 35,907 arrests, 28,667 cases referred for prosecution and more than $293.4 million in stolen property recovered.

Giving law enforcement and prosecutors the resources to investigate criminal networks, recover stolen goods and hold offenders accountable, these results build on Governor Newsom's sustained commitment to public safety.

In 2023, the Governor announced California's largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime, providing more than $242 million to 38 law enforcement agencies through the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) to strengthen investigations, enforcement operations, technology, staffing and partnerships with retailers.

California's work to take on organized retail crime is working, with more arrests, more stolen goods recovered, and more criminals held accountable. It's just another example of how we are keeping crime at record lows. We're going to keep investing, keep enforcing, and keep making California even safer.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Taking down organized retail theft

In the most recent quarter alone, agencies arrested 3,294 suspects, referred 2,824 cases for prosecution and the number of stolen goods recovered increased 12.9%.

Notable highlights include:

The Costa Mesa Police Department arrested an out-of-state suspect with a long rap sheet as he attempted to steal a $3,800 jacket from a high-end retailer.  After a long chase, the suspect was arrested for grand theft, obstruction, and organized retail theft.

The Los Angeles Police Department executed three search warrants related to an ongoing cargo theft investigation that led to the impound of 84 stolen container chassis and 25 vehicles, as well as the recovery of over $5 million in goods which included multiple handguns and digital devices and over $300,000 in US currency.

The San Francisco Police Department coordinated investigations into prolific retail theft suspects and expanded upon partnerships with local retailers. Part of the Governor's landmark legislation designed to crack down on retail theft offenders, Penal Code 487(e) now enables aggregation of crimes across multiple cases, which provides the police department the tools needed to address these crimes and hold  those responsible accountable.

The Santa Monica Police Department recently celebrated the opening of the new Santa Monica Analytical Real-Time Center (SMART Center). The SMART Center represents a significant investment in making the community safer by strengthening their ability to address organized retail crime.

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The Ventura County Sheriff's Department arrested individuals responsible for multiple vehicle thefts.  The lengthy, complex investigation led to the recovery of vehicles and seized evidence exceeding $1.3 million.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in January conducted a surveillance operation in Cerritos of the South American Threat Group led to six arrests and the recovery of $60,000 in cash, jewelry, a safe, and purses. That same month, a separate investigation led to a felony organized retail theft and firearm arrest, as well the seizure of $200,000 worth of stolen merchandise from nine impacted retailers and nine firearms. Five felony arrests were made in March after a large-scale, multiple location search warrant arrest operation leading to the recovery of three firearms, $8,595.14 worth of retail merchandise, and $1,514.00 of U.S. currency.

Focusing on vertical prosecution

The state has also provided more than $24 million to 13 district attorneys' offices through a vertical prosecution grant program. The program allows dedicated prosecutors to follow organized retail theft cases from investigation through resolution — strengthening coordination between law enforcement and prosecutors and helping ensure cases do not stop at arrest.

Among grantees, 3,027 people have been convicted of theft-related property crimes, including 1,062 convictions specifically related to organized retail theft and 885 felony convictions.

Notable highlights include:

The Placer County District Attorney's Office utilized grant funds to investigate and successfully prosecute an individual responsible for a series of retail thefts at beauty and other retailers across multiple counties.  The suspect wore a Joker mask to create fear and further intimidate employees.  Responsible for at least $300,000 in theft, the suspect was convicted of felony grand theft and was sentenced to just under ten years in state prison.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office utilized grant funds to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for a coordinated robbery of a jewelry store in Palm Desert.  Suspects used hammers to shatter display cases and steal more than $87,000 in merchandise. The investigation tied the suspects to a crime ring responsible for at least eleven similar incidents.  The suspects were convicted of a variety of offenses, with one individual sentenced to five years in state prison.

The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office noted the investigation of two individuals responsible for twelve felony counts of theft at a beauty retailer. They were both convicted and ordered to pay almost $30,000 in restitution.

"This targeted state funding has provided local law enforcement and prosecutors the resources they needed to disrupt major criminal networks, securing over 35,000 arrests and a steady rise in felony convictions," said BSCC Board Chair Linda Penner. California's investment has left our communities safer, our local agencies stronger, and provided a blueprint for how to aggressively dismantle organized retail theft."

Going after organized crime — not just individual thefts

California's approach is designed to target the networks behind organized retail theft — including repeat offenders, professional thieves, fencing operations and the channels used to resell stolen merchandise.

The strategy combines local enforcement with statewide investigative capacity, stronger laws, dedicated prosecution and partnerships with retailers.

The California Highway Patrol has also been a key part of that effort. Governor Newsom in 2019 launched the Organized Retail Crime Task Force which works with local law enforcement, prosecutors and retailers to investigate organized theft across jurisdictions. In 2022, the Governor announced permanently expanded funding for the Task Force and a push to recruit and hire an additional 1,000 CHP officers.

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Then in 2023, the Governor announced major investments — a total of $267 million to prevent and investigate cases of organized retail theft and arrest and prosecute more suspects.

Organized retail crime enforcement is one part of California's broader public safety strategy — and it comes as crime continues to decline statewide.

California's drops in crime

In 2025, every major statewide crime category declined, including:
  • Homicide: ↓ 18.6%
  • Robbery: ↓ 19.9%
  • Property crime: ↓ 14.3%
  • Motor vehicle theft: ↓ 25.8%
  • Violent crime: ↓ 10.2%

California's homicide rate reached 3.5 per 100,000 — the lowest rate since statewide reporting began in 1966.

The state will continue investing in the people, partnerships, technology and enforcement strategies that are helping communities become safer — while ensuring organized criminals face consequences and businesses, workers and customers are protected.

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