Board of State and Community Corrections
(BSCC)
Organized Retail Theft Prevention
Grant Program
Item 4.1
San José Police Department
Request Overview
October 24, 2023
Lt. Brent McKim, San Jose Police Department
2 Background
Organized Retail Theft:
Definition (490.4 PC): Two or more people acting in concert to steal merchandise with the intent to sell, exchange, or return the merchandise for value.
Nationwide:
• $125.7 Billion in economic losses
• $39.2 Billion in lost wages
• 8 out of 10 retailers reported increased incidents of violence and aggression this past year
California:
• $19 Billion in economic losses to retailers
• Retailers closing stores in major cities
* Statistics from US Chamber of Commerce
3 Background
Retail Theft:
San José:
• 2021 Reported Retail Theft Cases: 4,610
• 2022 Reported Retail Theft Cases: 5,756
• 25% increase from 2021 to 2022
California State Budget Act of 2022: Organized Retail
Theft Prevention Grant Program through Senate Bill 154 to prevent and respond to organized retail theft.
July 7, 2023 - SJPD Submitted a Grant Proposal for $8.49 million for October 2023 through December 2026.
• Over 100 applicants
September 14, 2023 – BSCC approved the grant.
• One of 38 grantees
4 Project Description
Project Goals:
• Reduce organized retail theft within the City
• Increase successful criminal prosecutions
• Collaborate with allied agencies and retail partners
Project Components:
• Investigative Resources
• Field Resources
• Technology Resources
5 Project Funding
Budget Category 2023 – 2024 2024 – 2025 2025 – 2026 Total Salaries, Benefits and
Overtime $1,360,679 $1,428,713 $1,500,152 $4,289,544
Equipment $1,100,000 $1,264,597 $1,264,596 $3,629,193
Data Collection/Evaluation,
Training, Services/Supplies
$330,000 $120,306 $120,306 $570,612
Total $2,790,679 $2,813,616 $2,885,054 $8,489,349
6 Project Description
Investigative Resources
• Organized Retail Theft Detail
• Financial Crimes Unit
• 1 Full-Time Forensic Analyst (non-sworn)
• 4 Part-Time Investigator/Analysts (non-sworn)
• Investigate cases, gather intelligence, provide outreach to retail partners, track crime statistics and patterns, identify hotspots, identify and document best practices, etc.
• Collaborate with the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution • Provide training and intelligence to patrol and loss prevention • Detectives (Sworn) Overtime
• Apprehension and arrest of suspects, search warrants, suspect interviews, etc.
7 Project Description
Field Resources
• Overtime Patrol Officers (Sworn)
• Proactive patrol and retail crime enforcement
• Deployed at malls and other hotspot locations
• Timely response to critical Organized Retail Theft events • Deterrence and prevention
• Overtime Community Service Officers
• Timely response to cold crimes
• Thorough initial investigations
• Documentation and Investigation
8 Project Description
Technology Resources
• 300 Automated License Plate Readers
• Assist in identification and apprehension
• Strategically deployed for retail theft prevention, apprehension and prosecution
• Additional Forensic Technology
• Latent Fingerprints workstation
• Forensic Software and workstations
• Vehicles and Radios, etc.
QUESTIONS