What you need to know: In July, California’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force operations conducted 128 investigations leading to the arrests of 167 suspects, more than doubling the total arrests from the previous month. Since January, the task force continues to outpace previous years with 884 arrests and nearly a quarter of a million stolen goods valued at more than $7.2 million seized.
August 15, 2024 - SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced record progress by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in combating organized 
retail theft, with July seeing a 212% increase in criminal investigations and 106% more arrests than the month prior. Last month, California’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) conducted 128 investigations leading to the arrests of 167 suspects, more than doubling the total arrests from the previous month. Since January, the ORCTF has facilitated 884 arrests and 448 investigations in 2024 and recovered over $7.2 million worth of stolen goods.
This effort led by the CHP is part of the state’s comprehensive approach to combat organized retail crime, which includes new measures to crack down on property crime and unprecedented police funding to local communities
“The state’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force is responding readily and at record pace to crack down on organized criminals attempting to rip off California’s storefronts — demonstrating a continued commitment to enforcing public safety and protecting our communities. I’d like to thank the dedicated officers of the California Highway Patrol for their diligent work enforcing our laws and holding criminals accountable.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
Since the task force’s inception in 2019, the CHP has arrested more than 2,900 suspects and recovered over $45 million worth of stolen assets.
“Our relentless pursuit of organized retail crime continues to yield significant results, month after month,” said California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Through targeted investigations and numerous arrests, we are actively disrupting and dismantling these crime rings that threaten our communities and businesses. Our message is clear: we will not allow organized retail crime to go unchecked in California.”
Local support to fight organized retail crime
Governor Newsom has invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. That investment has helped bring the task force results reported above. Today’s announcement is part of the Governor’s Real Public Safety Plan – which focuses on strengthening local law enforcement response, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable, and getting guns and drugs off our streets, including by deployment of California Highway Patrol to hot spots including Oakland, Bakersfield, and San Francisco.
The Governor 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.
Last year, the California Highway Patrol reported an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.
Source: Office of the Governor
