California officials recently released data on combating organized retail crime, with nearly 500 arrests made and over $4 million worth of stolen goods seized across the state so far this year.
According to a statement from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, as of Wednesday (April 17th), the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force conducted 185 investigations this year, resulting in the arrest of 474 individuals and the recovery of 160,041 stolen items.
It is estimated that these stolen goods amount to nearly $4.2 million, which is nearly half of all the recovered items from the Task Force in 2023. The Governor’s office added that at the current rate, this year’s enforcement actions will surpass any previous year.
In a statement, Newsom said, “California will continue to lead more enforcement actions, make more arrests to ensure the safety of our communities. It is through the coordinated efforts of our law enforcement partners – police, sheriffs, and local prosecutors – that the state continues to curb this unacceptable crime.”
State officials stated that since its establishment in 2019, the Organized Task Force has been involved in nearly 2,500 investigations, resulting in the arrest of over 2,500 suspects and the recovery of over 770,000 stolen items valued at approximately $42.3 million.
责任编辑（Editor in Charge): Song Jiayi