Trending...
- Attn:Lawyers & Legislators: What new Rules & Laws will we need in a World with AI & Humanoid Robots? - 105
- California: Governor Newsom announces appointments 6.4.2026
- 2026 Editorial Freelancers Association Conference Focuses on Building Sustainable Careers
News
Nov 4, 2025
With new laws and 800 new arrests, CHP keeps taking down organized retail theft operations statewide
What you need to know: Through the state's Organized Retail Crime Task Force, officials have made nearly 800 arrests, conducted over 500 investigations, and recovered over 150,000 stolen goods with an estimated retail value of $8.6 million in 2025.
SACRAMENTO – As the holiday shopping season approaches, Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted how California's commitment to tackling organized retail theft statewide is showing results. Leveraging nation-leading new laws and years of state investments to combat crime, Governor Newsom today announced that this year, the state's Organized Retail Crime Task Force has made nearly 800 arrests, conducted over 500 investigations, and recovered over 150,000 stolen goods with an estimated retail value of $8.6 million.
In September, officials conducted 41 investigations, leading to 35 arrests and the recovery of more than 2,050 assets worth over $415,000. The retail value of the stolen assets recovered was up 67.5% from the month prior.
With every arrest and every stolen item seized, we are sending a message loud and clear: California does not tolerate organized retail theft. It's a message we've been sending for years. Through meaningful partnerships between state and local law enforcement, we are ensuring our communities are safer and that our businesses can keep thriving.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Led by the CHP, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force works with state, local, and federal partners to tackle retail crime statewide. Between the inception of this task force in 2019 and September 30, 2025, the CHP has been involved in over 4,050 investigations, leading to the arrest of nearly 4,600 suspects and the recovery of over 1.4 million stolen goods valued at approximately $60 million.
"Our success in combating organized retail crime is rooted in collaboration with our local law enforcement partners, retailers and the communities we serve," said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. "Together, we're protecting California businesses, holding criminals accountable, and helping restore a sense of safety and confidence for everyone who lives, works and shops in our state."
Taking down fencing operations in California
While officers work across the state to take down organized retail theft rings, in recent months, their efforts have resulted in several large busts in the Sacramento area.
During a significant operation targeting potential fencing stemming from a CVS/Walgreens investigation, CHP officers and the Sacramento Police Department worked together to serve a search warrant in September, recovering 655 items and returning them to the impacted retailers. A firearm was also seized.
During another notable operation in August, the task force learned of a potential fencing operation from an investigation into thefts from ULTA Beauty. CHP officers and the Sacramento Police Department served a search warrant and recovered a large quantity of suspected stolen retail merchandise. The value and item count for the suspected stolen retail merchandise are still being determined.
A fencing operation is a criminal enterprise that buys, sells, and redistributes stolen property for a profit. The word "fence" refers to the individual or entity that acts as a middle-person between thieves and the final buyers, allowing them to convert the stolen goods into cash.
Crime suppression teams increase public safety
With crime dropping statewide, the Governor announced the next phase of his crime-fighting efforts in July — deploying new CHP crime suppression teams to work directly with local law enforcement in major cities and regions across the state: San Diego, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Central Valley, Sacramento, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The work these officers do together every day is all in service to their communities and to improve public safety overall.
More on The Californer
Crime is down in California
California is delivering on its promises – significant investments in public safety help ensure safety in communities statewide, with lower crime rates in 2024.
According to the Major Cities Chiefs Association, overall violent crime in major California cities is down 12.5% in 2025 compared to 2024. As evidenced by another data set released by the California Department of Justice, nearly every major crime category, including violent crime and homicides, dropped in 2024. Plus, California's 2024 homicide rate is now the second lowest it has been since at least 1966. The overall number of homicides decreased by nearly 12% since 2023. In addition, total full-time criminal justice personnel increased 1.9% from 2023 to 2024.
Investing in California's public safety
While Republicans in Congress pushed their "big beautiful betrayal" bill, cutting funding to vital public safety programs, California demonstrated what real public safety looks like: serious investments, strong enforcement, and real results.
California has invested $1.7 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. In 2023, as part of California's 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.
In August 2024, Governor Newsom signed into law the most significant bipartisan legislation to crack down on property crime in modern California history. Building on the state's robust laws and record public safety funding, these bipartisan bills offer new tools to bolster ongoing efforts to hold criminals accountable for smash-and-grab robberies, property crime, retail theft, and auto burglaries. While California's crime rate remains at near-historic lows, these laws help the state adapt to evolving criminal tactics, ensuring perpetrators are effectively held accountable.
In addition, as part of the state's largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime, the Governor announced in 2024 that 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. So far, from October 2023 to March 2025, state funding has resulted in the arrest of more than 22,100 suspects and the referral of nearly 17,100 cases for prosecution. Through this state-funded work, law enforcement agencies have been able to recover nearly $150 million in stolen property – with years still remaining on the grant cycle.
More on The Californer
Press releases, Public safety, Recent news
Recent news
ICYMI: Coreshell Technologies wins $1 million grand prize at Startup World Cup Grand Finale, highlighting California's entrepreneurial leadership
Nov 3, 2025
News What you need to know: Coreshell Technologies, a San Leandro-based EV battery innovator, and SCALE Network participant, claimed the top prize at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, showcasing California's startup leadership on the global stage. SACRAMENTO –...
PHOTOS: Humanitarian deployment of California National Guard, California Volunteers to food banks expands to San Diego
Nov 2, 2025
News State steps up as Trump's government shutdown delays SNAP benefits to 5.5 million Californians What you need to know: Service members from California Volunteers and the California National Guard began work assisting the San Diego Food Bank with preparing and...
CalGuard sees 240% increase in fentanyl seized since June, after most of the National Guard was returned to the Governor's control
Nov 2, 2025
News What you need to know: The California National Guard has helped seize 891 pounds of illicit fentanyl in September, a 240% increase since June when the President pulled servicemembers off vital public safety missions to unlawfully militarize Los Angeles. The Guard...
Nov 4, 2025
With new laws and 800 new arrests, CHP keeps taking down organized retail theft operations statewide
What you need to know: Through the state's Organized Retail Crime Task Force, officials have made nearly 800 arrests, conducted over 500 investigations, and recovered over 150,000 stolen goods with an estimated retail value of $8.6 million in 2025.
SACRAMENTO – As the holiday shopping season approaches, Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted how California's commitment to tackling organized retail theft statewide is showing results. Leveraging nation-leading new laws and years of state investments to combat crime, Governor Newsom today announced that this year, the state's Organized Retail Crime Task Force has made nearly 800 arrests, conducted over 500 investigations, and recovered over 150,000 stolen goods with an estimated retail value of $8.6 million.
In September, officials conducted 41 investigations, leading to 35 arrests and the recovery of more than 2,050 assets worth over $415,000. The retail value of the stolen assets recovered was up 67.5% from the month prior.
With every arrest and every stolen item seized, we are sending a message loud and clear: California does not tolerate organized retail theft. It's a message we've been sending for years. Through meaningful partnerships between state and local law enforcement, we are ensuring our communities are safer and that our businesses can keep thriving.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Led by the CHP, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force works with state, local, and federal partners to tackle retail crime statewide. Between the inception of this task force in 2019 and September 30, 2025, the CHP has been involved in over 4,050 investigations, leading to the arrest of nearly 4,600 suspects and the recovery of over 1.4 million stolen goods valued at approximately $60 million.
"Our success in combating organized retail crime is rooted in collaboration with our local law enforcement partners, retailers and the communities we serve," said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. "Together, we're protecting California businesses, holding criminals accountable, and helping restore a sense of safety and confidence for everyone who lives, works and shops in our state."
Taking down fencing operations in California
While officers work across the state to take down organized retail theft rings, in recent months, their efforts have resulted in several large busts in the Sacramento area.
During a significant operation targeting potential fencing stemming from a CVS/Walgreens investigation, CHP officers and the Sacramento Police Department worked together to serve a search warrant in September, recovering 655 items and returning them to the impacted retailers. A firearm was also seized.
During another notable operation in August, the task force learned of a potential fencing operation from an investigation into thefts from ULTA Beauty. CHP officers and the Sacramento Police Department served a search warrant and recovered a large quantity of suspected stolen retail merchandise. The value and item count for the suspected stolen retail merchandise are still being determined.
A fencing operation is a criminal enterprise that buys, sells, and redistributes stolen property for a profit. The word "fence" refers to the individual or entity that acts as a middle-person between thieves and the final buyers, allowing them to convert the stolen goods into cash.
Crime suppression teams increase public safety
With crime dropping statewide, the Governor announced the next phase of his crime-fighting efforts in July — deploying new CHP crime suppression teams to work directly with local law enforcement in major cities and regions across the state: San Diego, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Central Valley, Sacramento, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The work these officers do together every day is all in service to their communities and to improve public safety overall.
More on The Californer
- Chris Holt Photography Celebrates Studio Grand Opening with One-Day Headshot Event
- Appliance EMT Launches June "Summer Rescue" Promotion
- New Luxury Single Family Homes From $976,990 in Manalapan
- Longevityresearch.ca Unveils a Unique Bayesian Causal Atlas; Saves up to 7.9 life years/patient
- K2 Integrity Acquires RiskFront AI to Deliver AI Automation for Financial Crime Compliance and Risk Operations
Crime is down in California
California is delivering on its promises – significant investments in public safety help ensure safety in communities statewide, with lower crime rates in 2024.
According to the Major Cities Chiefs Association, overall violent crime in major California cities is down 12.5% in 2025 compared to 2024. As evidenced by another data set released by the California Department of Justice, nearly every major crime category, including violent crime and homicides, dropped in 2024. Plus, California's 2024 homicide rate is now the second lowest it has been since at least 1966. The overall number of homicides decreased by nearly 12% since 2023. In addition, total full-time criminal justice personnel increased 1.9% from 2023 to 2024.
Investing in California's public safety
While Republicans in Congress pushed their "big beautiful betrayal" bill, cutting funding to vital public safety programs, California demonstrated what real public safety looks like: serious investments, strong enforcement, and real results.
California has invested $1.7 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. In 2023, as part of California's 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.
In August 2024, Governor Newsom signed into law the most significant bipartisan legislation to crack down on property crime in modern California history. Building on the state's robust laws and record public safety funding, these bipartisan bills offer new tools to bolster ongoing efforts to hold criminals accountable for smash-and-grab robberies, property crime, retail theft, and auto burglaries. While California's crime rate remains at near-historic lows, these laws help the state adapt to evolving criminal tactics, ensuring perpetrators are effectively held accountable.
In addition, as part of the state's largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime, the Governor announced in 2024 that 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. So far, from October 2023 to March 2025, state funding has resulted in the arrest of more than 22,100 suspects and the referral of nearly 17,100 cases for prosecution. Through this state-funded work, law enforcement agencies have been able to recover nearly $150 million in stolen property – with years still remaining on the grant cycle.
More on The Californer
- HousingWire acquires Keeping Current Matters, putting local market data into the tools agents use to win listings
- Vayim Receives $35,000 Investment at 2026 SDSU San Diego Angel Conference
- Rabbi Rothschild Surpasses 1,700 Days of Continuous Livestream Archiving on YouTube
- KIDZONET & Ocean Telecom Launch UK First eSIM Child Protection — EasySim AI Safe SIM Cards
- School Dental Screening Programs Conducted in Dubai
Press releases, Public safety, Recent news
Recent news
ICYMI: Coreshell Technologies wins $1 million grand prize at Startup World Cup Grand Finale, highlighting California's entrepreneurial leadership
Nov 3, 2025
News What you need to know: Coreshell Technologies, a San Leandro-based EV battery innovator, and SCALE Network participant, claimed the top prize at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale, showcasing California's startup leadership on the global stage. SACRAMENTO –...
PHOTOS: Humanitarian deployment of California National Guard, California Volunteers to food banks expands to San Diego
Nov 2, 2025
News State steps up as Trump's government shutdown delays SNAP benefits to 5.5 million Californians What you need to know: Service members from California Volunteers and the California National Guard began work assisting the San Diego Food Bank with preparing and...
CalGuard sees 240% increase in fentanyl seized since June, after most of the National Guard was returned to the Governor's control
Nov 2, 2025
News What you need to know: The California National Guard has helped seize 891 pounds of illicit fentanyl in September, a 240% increase since June when the President pulled servicemembers off vital public safety missions to unlawfully militarize Los Angeles. The Guard...
0 Comments
Latest on The Californer
- Capehart Music Treasury Is Now Producing a New Collection of Capehart Pops Orchestra Instrumentals
- SEEAG's Free "Farm Day Every Day" At Otto & Sons Nursery in Fillmore – June 27
- Mesa West Capital Originates $29.7 Million Loan for Acquisition of NC Apartment Community
- Super Lawyers Recognizes Inman & Tourgee Attorneys Mark Tourgee and Jacob Rinn
- Benchmark International Facilitated the Trans Between Jagimo Corporation, Inc. and Castleford Group
- PropAccount.com Launches PropGenie, the First Branding Studio Built for Prop Firm Operators
- Rushing Headlong: Health IT's Legacy and the Road to Responsible AI is named 2025 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Winner
- The Problem With AI Isn't Compute. It's Memory
- Countrywide Rental Supports Boaz Development Projects with Comprehensive Debris Management Solutions
- Golden Visa Countries Outpace Eurozone Growth Over Eight Years, New La Vida Analysis Finds
- Allstream Energy Partners Announced as Official Media Partner for the 2nd Annual Permian Power Conference
- Reddix AI Helps SaaS Founders Turn Reddit Conversations Into Qualified Customers
- Bid for Billions Introduces a New Approach to Technology-Driven Investment Opportunities
- Comedian Evan Wecksell Turns Real Spam Messages Into Emo Concept Album
- Jnana Yajna 2026 comes to Irvine, California, with Spiritually Enlightening Events for Inner Clarity, Stability, and Peace
- Hackshack Labs Introduces AI Conversational Bridge, Unveils Breakout Pilot Series AIdentity Crisis!
- As Pets Become Family Members, Wooffy Reimagines the Dog House for Modern Living
- Aurora Blur Launches Clinical-Grade Red Light Therapy Devices for At-Home Pain Relief and Recovery
- Navy Veteran Launches 805forsale.com to Serve Military Families in Ventura County Real Estate
- Governor Newsom visits Space Beach and highlights California's aerospace dominance