In recent years, before and after the shopping frenzy of “Black Friday”, residents in Southern California have always been accustomed to news of rampant group crimes targeting retail stores. However, this year’s lead-up to “Black Friday” has been surprisingly calm, with these criminals being gradually taken down, including the recent capture of 7 suspects in Ventura County.
Last Saturday (November 22), the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office mobilized various resources and collaborated with local outlet retailers and security personnel to apprehend a gang of thieves, seizing a large amount of stolen goods, burglary tools, and drug paraphernalia. They are facing charges ranging from retail theft, burglary, forgery, possession of controlled substances, to drug paraphernalia possession. This operation successfully eradicated a criminal tumor in the local community.
According to a press release by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at the beginning of November, the CHP’s Valley Division’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) conducted a cross-regional investigation based on leads provided by The Home Depot, leading to the arrest of multiple gang members from both Northern and Southern California. Over $300,000 worth of merchandise, tens of thousands of dollars in cash, and 12 firearms were recovered.
Governor Newsom stated on social media that in just the months of September and October, California saw a 54% increase in organized crime investigations, a 134% rise in arrests, and a staggering 2,600% increase in recovered stolen goods.
As per a recent press release by the Governor’s office, Newsom recommended that the Board of State and Community Corrections allocate $242 million in funding for Organized Retail Theft (ORT) to 38 law enforcement agencies, aiming to enhance law enforcement action, hire new staff, purchase equipment, and establish partnerships with the retail community.
Throughout this year, under the leadership of the CHP, the California ORCTF, along with state, local, and federal cooperation, has been combatting retail crime across the state. According to a November 26 government press release, authorities conducted 677 investigations, arrested over 1,200 individuals, and recovered stolen goods totaling over $9.3 million.
Data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association of the US indicates that compared to the previous year, in 2025, violent crime rates in major cities of California decreased by 12%, with the most significant drops in Oakland (25%) and San Francisco (21%).
Captain Sean Dury of the California Highway Patrol emphasized that people should have a safe shopping environment, free from the fear of crime, and businesses should be protected from harm. He stated, “The statewide ORCTF is closely collaborating with law enforcement partners and retail loss prevention experts, utilizing intelligence-driven proactive measures to prevent such crimes. This work is crucial as organized retail crime not only steals goods but also undermines community safety.”
In Los Angeles County, organized retail crime groups have also been significantly subdued. Besides increased arrest efforts, changes in prosecution policies and the new district attorney’s zero-tolerance stance towards criminals have played a crucial role in curbing rampant shoplifting incidents.
Starting in the first half of this year, District Attorney Nathan J. Hoffman of Los Angeles County altered the previous administration’s policy of “catch and release.” It was believed that the prior policy underplayed crime, including categorizing suspects stealing under $950 as misdemeanors, leading to immediate release post-arrest, creating a vicious cycle. Consequently, voters decisively ousted the previous administration in the last election.
Now, repeat offenders face serious charges, making it difficult for them to return to the streets and commit further crimes. Hoffman has reiterated multiple times that breaking the cycle of catching and releasing habitual offenders back onto the streets is the district attorney’s top priority. He has distributed warning stickers in multiple languages to businesses to deter crime, marking these establishments as protected, with all thefts being prosecutable.