“The shameless smash and grabs need to be stopped,” said Board Chair Janice Hahn, who co-authored the motion with Supervisor Hilda Solis.
“These are not petty thefts — these are organized violent operations that rob businesses of thousands upon thousands of dollars in merchandise, physically damage stores, and traumatize retail workers,” Hahn said. “This is a priority and with this $15.6 million grant, the Sheriff’s Department will have new resources to prevent these smash-and-grabs and root out the criminal organizations behind them.”
Organized thefts targeting large retailers and smaller jewelry and clothing stores have become a major problem across Los Angeles County this year, with criminals gathering in large numbers and using multiple vehicles to commit robberies in broad daylight, usually wearing masks, and fleeing before authorities arrive. The LASD will use the funding to support the department’s recently created Organized Retail Theft Task Force.
“These brazen organized retail theft sprees are hurting business communities across the county and retail companies are losing billions of dollars annually,” Sheriff Robert Luna said. “Our Retail Theft Task Force through our Major Crimes Bureau is focused on reducing these crimes by targeting these crews and aggressively pursuing not just those who commit the theft, but everyone in the criminal chain. This Organized Retail Theft Grant will allow us to continue to investigate retail theft crimes and provide dedicated staff and equipment necessary to continue to combat these thefts.”
The task force will consist of one lieutenant, three sergeants and 30 detectives dedicated to preventing and addressing organized retail theft, including smash-and-grabs, catalytic converter thefts and cargo theft. The task force, which will also be supported by civilian professional staff, will be divided into three geographic teams, and will collaborate with other law enforcement agencies, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, and local businesses.
A recent survey from the National Retail Federation found that organized retail crime has increased by 26% since 2000.
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Web Scouring Investigator, A. Smith says
AVTIMES STAFF SAID: “A recent survey from the National Retail Federation found that organized retail crime has increased by 26% since 2000.”
I mercilessly scoured the NRF website for this statistic. I could not find it. It is either false or cited as an inferred percentage based in absolute values of loss due to ORT, rather than based in the inflated value of 2023 dollar compared to 2000 dollars (to wit: $1 in 2000 has the buying power of 55 cents in 2023.) It would be helpful if the source for the cited NRF calculation were disclosed.
At the NRF site, I DID find THIS …from a Blog post by David Johnston 9-22-2023:
“Some reporters fixed on the topic of shrink rates, even suggesting retailers could be using shrink as a crutch for lagging sales, poor inventory planning or other misses across the business.
They highlighted historically stable year-over-year shrink rates or overall low percentages against total sales to argue these retail shrink rates do not indicate the increased level of theft being reported by the retail community”
get that? …historically stable year-over-year shrink rates or overall low percentages against total sales. Thus, NRF has been called to answer for what could be a manufactured crisis.
WHY are retailers concerned? The relentlessness of capitalism to seek efficiency…that is… Amazon, Ebay, etc.
The margins of traditional retail are being eroded by online retail, and commercial property is at record high vacancy. That is a ‘doom loop’ for a traditionally American form of commerce. It is visibly being dismantled.
In the same Blog post by Mr Johnston, a more realistic concern, redirecting from their traditionally acceptable loss ratios to a further vector in the erosion of mall/location based shopping: “Shrink does not indicate the true nature of what is happening across the retail industry. We need to stop squabbling over financial indicators and focus on the real issues of rampant theft, rising violence and constant concerns over the safety and security of the retail marketplace.”
That is, lever the fear of shopping at the mall to prop up against a more efficient form of distribution. Its a bid for protectionism of commercial property and walkabout retail, a direct affront to capitalist doctrine.
Ledesma 99 says
They need to get a grip on this quickly. Before even honest shoppers get ideas.
Truth says
Kimberly’s Jewelry in Palmdale fell victim to a smash-and-grab robbery yesterday, 09/28/2023:
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/smash-and-grab-robbers-storm-palmdale-jewelry-store/
The usual Trash suspects, of course!
T. Frazier says
Save the tax dollars and just let the store owners open up cans of whoop azz like they did in that 7-11 in Stockton. You’ll see an end to this BS in no time.
Vilfredo Pareto says
NRF quote needs verification, and normalization.
Up, in raw incidents, or in dollars, or per store…?
This kind of statement- out of context- is likely to be inaccurate and very misleading
Adam Smith says
Hmmm.
A grant to do what your already supposed to be doing…
Definitely a big govt move…
‘more money down the hole should fix the problem’
Kiki says
You can clearly see who the thief’s are
LOL says
ACE CARTER says
ANOTHER TASK FORCE !
PROBLEM SOLVED !
***
THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO HAVE A GUARD WITH A SHOTGUN –
WHO WILL SHOOT THE LOOTERS IN MASS –
***
GUARDS TODAY ARE ONLY TARGETS TO BE TAKEN OUT FIRST –
***
THIS TASK FORCE SOLUTION IS SO STUPID I DON’T EVEN NEED TO LIST WHY –
***
SILLY WOMEN !
***
KRYPTONACE says
I NOMINATE THE TOUGH TALKING QUEEN OF THE INTERNET, CALLING ITSELF “ACE” AND REGULARLY APPEARING TO POST IN ALL CAPS AT THE AVTIMES.
TOUGH TALKING ACE, WITH SHOTGUN, SHOULD BE POSTED AND READY TO BLAST ANY SHOPLIFTER.
ACE WILL BE READY TO PUT HOLES INTO CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS, … ANY PERCEIVED VIOLATOR PERPETRATING PROPERTY CRIME.
LIKEWISE, ACE WILL BE READY FOR WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUITS, AND MURDER OR MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES, ALL FOR THE SAKE OF SOME RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT KEEPING SHINY THINGS ON THE SHELF.
Retail Thief says
Go woke, go broke.