Sacramento County sheriff’s detectives arrested 50 suspects July 13 and 14 during a weekend theft crackdown at a Target store at 5001 Madison Avenue in Sacramento, California’s capital city.
Nine of those arrested were under 18 and about half had been arrested before for stealing merchandise, according to Detective Ryan Drummond of the sheriff’s Property Crimes Bureau.
“About 15 had been already arrested by the team from previous operations,” Mr. Drummond told The Epoch Times. “It’s kind of a constant thing for us right now. They get a citation but can go right down the street to Walmart and continue to steal.”
During the operation, plain-clothes sheriff’s detectives worked with Target security to watch for thieves inside and outside the store.
The other suspects were cited and released.
The shoplifting operation was the first of many planned by the Sheriff’s Department after receiving a $9.4 million grant from the state to combat organized retail theft, according to Sgt. Tiffany Pfau, also with the Property Crimes Bureau.
The county has three Target stores, but the one on Madison Avenue has a high number of theft incidents, which is why it was chosen for the operation. The store is near the freeway and is surrounded by several apartment complexes, Ms. Pfau added.
The suspects arrested were not part of a “flash mob” crew, as seen in viral videos lately, Ms. Pfau said.
The thieves are suspected of stealing makeup, swimsuits and swimsuit coverups, toasters, and comforters, among other items that can be easily resold on Facebook Marketplace and other online marketplaces, according to Ms. Pfau.
“They aren’t stealing food to survive, or diapers and formula for children,” Ms. Pfau said. “These are opportunistic people that take advantage of weak laws.”
A tougher law would make the county a better place for all citizens, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Right now, it’s a “free for all” system, Ms. Pfau said. “We want people to know that the Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper cares deeply about retail theft. That is the priority for us. We just need stronger legislation. We would like tougher penalties.”
Proposition 47—passed by voters in 2014 to reduce California’s prison populations—changed some low-level crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The law allows those caught by law enforcement stealing less than $950 to be cited with a misdemeanor and released.
If approved by voters, the ballot initiative—known as the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act—would increase criminal penalties for repeat offenders of theft and certain drug crimes, while incentivizing those arrested for the latter to participate in drug treatment programs.
