• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • The power of teamwork
      Stay awake and alert on the job
      The worst rank in law enforcement
      Firearms maintenance
      Why fries need salt
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • Florida off-duty deputy rescues baby dolphin
        Good Samaritan praised for freeing officer from chokehold in struggle...
        “We’re told nothing”: Chicago police officers work to assist...
        Multigenerational family of police officers honored for their service...
        Portland police reinstate traffic enforcement unit, but advocates...
    • Labor
      • Southern California police agencies continue to face staffing...
        Phoenix City Council approves new police union contract with pay...
        Los Angeles County sheriff requests funding for recruitment, equipment
        “It’s a scary time for Cleveland”: City attracts smallest...
        Portland State University rearms campus police officers
    • Tech
      • California sheriff’s department pays $1.1 million to cyber...
        Bay Area businesses embrace AI surveillance protection amid crime...
        California family tracks down and recovers stolen e-bike using Apple...
        Indianapolis law enforcement team up with legislators to fight...
        Peeling the onion
    • Training
      • Understanding privacy coins
        Unlock your potential
        Crisis intervention team training
        What’s the best way to train law enforcement leaders?
        Ohio police officer and father of autistic son launches autism...
    • Policy
      • Tennessee governor signs bill to fund school security months after...
        Washington state on brink of decriminalizing drug possession
        California AG launches investigation into Antioch police following...
        Back the Blue Act aims to enhance penalties for killing law...
        Alaska state troopers to be equipped with body cameras by end of year
    • Health/Wellness
      • Massachusetts police agencies receive grant to support mental health...
        Peacekeeper Initiative offers support and healing for retired police...
        Serenity in the saddle
        Worried about someone’s drinking?
        Thinking of pulling the pin on retirement?
    • Community
      • Washington nonprofit connects law enforcement and community through...
        A catastrophic threat
        A symbol of hope
        A legacy never forgotten
        High school students participate in job shadow day with New York...
    • Offbeat
      • Kansas burglary suspect uses ride-share app to escape while...
        A case of mistaken identity: Oklahoma police officers respond to...
        Kansas deputy pulls over man in Bud Light costume during DUI traffic...
        “Arrest them!”: Florida residents call 9-1-1 on two angry goats...
        Minnesota deputies detain escaped emu looking for love in all the...
    • We Remember
      • Honoring Fallen Heroes
        “Our hearts are broken once again”: Off-duty Chicago police...
        Choosing to serve
        A legacy of “service and sacrifice”: NYPD detective dies after...
        Philadelphia Phillies honor fallen Temple University police officer...
  • On the Job
    • Florida off-duty deputy rescues baby dolphin
      Good Samaritan praised for freeing officer from chokehold in struggle...
      “We’re told nothing”: Chicago police officers work to assist...
      Multigenerational family of police officers honored for their service...
      Portland police reinstate traffic enforcement unit, but advocates...
  • Labor
    • Southern California police agencies continue to face staffing...
      Phoenix City Council approves new police union contract with pay...
      Los Angeles County sheriff requests funding for recruitment, equipment
      “It’s a scary time for Cleveland”: City attracts smallest...
      Portland State University rearms campus police officers
  • Tech
    • California sheriff’s department pays $1.1 million to cyber...
      Bay Area businesses embrace AI surveillance protection amid crime...
      California family tracks down and recovers stolen e-bike using Apple...
      Indianapolis law enforcement team up with legislators to fight...
      Peeling the onion
  • Training
    • Understanding privacy coins
      Unlock your potential
      Crisis intervention team training
      What’s the best way to train law enforcement leaders?
      Ohio police officer and father of autistic son launches autism...
  • Policy
    • Tennessee governor signs bill to fund school security months after...
      Washington state on brink of decriminalizing drug possession
      California AG launches investigation into Antioch police following...
      Back the Blue Act aims to enhance penalties for killing law...
      Alaska state troopers to be equipped with body cameras by end of year
  • Health/Wellness
    • Massachusetts police agencies receive grant to support mental health...
      Peacekeeper Initiative offers support and healing for retired police...
      Serenity in the saddle
      Worried about someone’s drinking?
      Thinking of pulling the pin on retirement?
  • Community
    • Washington nonprofit connects law enforcement and community through...
      A catastrophic threat
      A symbol of hope
      A legacy never forgotten
      High school students participate in job shadow day with New York...
  • Offbeat
    • Kansas burglary suspect uses ride-share app to escape while...
      A case of mistaken identity: Oklahoma police officers respond to...
      Kansas deputy pulls over man in Bud Light costume during DUI traffic...
      “Arrest them!”: Florida residents call 9-1-1 on two angry goats...
      Minnesota deputies detain escaped emu looking for love in all the...
  • We Remember
    • Honoring Fallen Heroes
      “Our hearts are broken once again”: Off-duty Chicago police...
      Choosing to serve
      A legacy of “service and sacrifice”: NYPD detective dies after...
      Philadelphia Phillies honor fallen Temple University police officer...
  • Between the Lines
    • The unspoken truth behind the recruitment and retention crisis
      The police reform goal: use of force without options
      The imprisonment of law enforcement technology
      Persecution of the LEO is classic schadenfreude
      The rule of law is worthless without order
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

On the Job

Shoplifting surges after California raises felony threshold for stolen goods; impacts retailers

APB Team Published July 21, 2021 @ 4:00 pm PDT

iStock.com/monstArrr_

California retailers have been forced to close stores and limit their hours amidst a shoplifting surge following a California law that raised the threshold for theft felonies from $450 to $950 dollars in stolen goods.

According to a Fox News report, organized gangs are stealing branded items from stores in spite of security to be resold on the street, online or returned for gift cards.

In San Francisco, five Target locations have reduced operating hours, closing at 6 p.m. instead of the usual 10 p.m., with other major retailers following suit.

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said the thieves are careful that the worth of shoplifted goods falls below the felony threshold so that officers cannot take action for misdemeanor theft. In order to make private persons arrests, stores must hire security guards.

A Target spokesperson said that for over a month the company has been experiencing an “alarming” increase in shoplifting incidents at its San Francisco stores. He also mentioned that other retailers, such as H&M, Gap, Marshalls and Walgreens have reduced their hours as well.

“Target is engaging local law enforcement, elected officials and community partners to address our concerns. With the safety of our guests, team members and communities as our top priority, we’ve temporarily reduced our operating hours in five San Francisco stores,” he said in a company statement.

Shoplifting in San Francisco has been a recurring problem for retailers over the last several years.

The San Francisco Chronicle released a report in May citing the closure of 17 Walgreens stores in the city over the last five years. According to regional vice president for pharmacy and retail operations in California and Hawaii Jason Cunningham, theft in S.F. Walgreens stores are four times the average in stores across the rest of the country. He said that Walgreens spends 35 times more on security in S.F. than in other areas.

Following a recent viral video of thieves running out of the Union Square Neiman Marcus with stolen designer handbags, the California Retailers Association President Rachel Michelin called for action from local leaders as well as greater community support for law enforcement.

“The answer is not what the mayor said last week, which was retailers just need to hire more security guards. That’s not going to solve the problem. Security guards are there to observe and report. They’re not there to stop crime. That’s law enforcement. We have to figure out a way in San Francisco for law enforcement and local officials to work together,” she said.

San Francisco Chief of Police William “Bill” Scott. San Francisco Police Department

And it’s not just California – a surge in shoplifting crimes has been seen across the country in states like Washington and New York.

Retailers blame low morale and reduced staffing during the pandemic, soft penalties for shoplifters, as well as a “hands off” policy to avoid violent conflict with the criminals as reasons behind the shoplifting crimewave. 

Many police officers have been afraid to take drastic action against shoplifters to avoid complaints and further unrest.

To cope with the crime spree, some stores are hiring off-duty police officers in addition to security guards for tougher security.

In addition, the shoplifting trend has led to a substantial loss in profits for retailers.

Brendan Dugan, director of organized retail crime and corporate investigations at CVS, said professional crime accounts for 85% of the company’s dollar losses. He said that San Francisco is one of the “epicenters” for organized retail crime.

Since 2015, retailers in the Bay Area reported a 60% increase in dollars lost due to stolen goods.

Categories: On the Job Tags: San Francisco, felony threshold, Police, Law Enforcement, California, Shoplifting

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Florida off-duty deputy rescues baby dolphin
  • Washington nonprofit connects law enforcement and community through acts of kindness
  • Good Samaritan praised for freeing officer from chokehold in struggle at New Jersey mall
  • “We’re told nothing”: Chicago police officers work to assist refugees amidst migrant crisis without help from city
  • Multigenerational family of police officers honored for their service by Denver Police Museum
  • Massachusetts police agencies receive grant to support mental health and stress management programs
  • Tennessee governor signs bill to fund school security months after deadly Nashville mass shooting
  • Southern California police agencies continue to face staffing shortages amid national reckoning on policing
  • Portland police reinstate traffic enforcement unit, but advocates continue push for more speed cameras
  • Kansas burglary suspect uses ride-share app to escape while surrounded by officers

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

July 23, 2021

Stay awake and alert on the job

Stay awake and alert on the job

July 20, 2021

The worst rank in law enforcement

The worst rank in law enforcement

July 19, 2021

Firearms maintenance

Firearms maintenance

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Options | Notice at Collection | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.