By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
FRESNO, Calif. — Since 2019, the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has recovered $30.7 million in stolen merchandise throughout the state, CHP said in an announcement.
CHP said coordinated operations like three recent Central Valley “Blitz” operations, which led to the arrests of more than 50 suspects, is one example of the cooperative strategies the CHP is using to help catch retail criminals and give retailers back their stolen goods.
The three-day operation was conducted Friday through Sunday in Fresno and Kern counties. Around 700 items were recovered, with an estimated worth of $58,000, KMPH reports.
1,200 arrests
CHP assistant commissioner Ceto Ortiz and Rodney Ellison, commander of the central division, announced during a press conference that the collective statewide endeavor throughout the past few years has led to the apprehension of over 1,200 individuals, according to the Fresno Bee.
The intensive operation has also led to the reclamation of $30 million worth of merchandise, initiating nearly 2,000 probes into organized criminal activities.
Ortiz emphasized that curbing the smash-and-grab strategies employed by retail thieves stands as a paramount objective for Governor Gavin Newsom.
“When you have more than 50 people arrested (in Fresno), that’s good police work,” Ortiz said during a news conference. He highlighted that an “unacceptable” viral video depicting a flash mob engaging in looting at stores in Southern California has garnered the focus of both the CHP and the broader public.