Public Safety, Finance & Strategic Support
Committee (PSFSS)
Organized Retail Theft Prevention
Grant Program
Overview & Update
November 21, 2024
Agenda Item (d)1.
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
Losses:
• Stores catch shoplifters roughly 2% of the time
• Average shoplifter arrested once out of every 100
incidents
• Nationwide: $121.6 billion in economic losses in 2023 • California:
• $8.72 billion in revenue in 2022
• $1.32 billion in lost sales tax revenue in 2022
* Statistics from Capital One Research
3 Background
Board of State & Community Corrections (BSCC) Grant:
• 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
• September 14, 2023: BSCC approved the grant
• October 24, 2023: City Council presentation and grant approval Project Goals:
• Reduce organized retail theft within the city
• Increase successful criminal prosecutions
• Collaborate with allied agencies and retail partners
4 Project Description/Results
Investigative
Resources
Field
Resources
Technology
Resources
Organized Retail Theft Detail (Financial Crimes Unit):
• Investigate cases, gather intelligence, provide outreach to retail partners, track crime statistics, identify hotspots, identify best practices, collaborate with the DA’s Office for prosecution • 1 full-time Forensic Analyst (non-sworn)
• 4 part-time investigators (non-sworn) (BSCC approved increase to 6) Overtime (sworn) Detectives:
• Apprehension & arrest of suspects, search warrants, suspect interviews, etc.
Overtime Patrol Officers (sworn):
• Proactive patrol and retail crime enforcement, deployed at malls and other hotspot locations • Timely response to critical ORT events, deterrence and prevention Overtime Community Service Officers (CSOs):
• Timely response to cold crimes, thorough initial investigation, and documentation Results: Q3 & Q4 FY 2023 – 2024: 537 patrol events
300 Automated License Plate Readers (FLOCK):
• All 300 have been installed, assist in identification and apprehension • Strategically deployed for retail theft prevention, apprehension and prosecution Additional Forensic Technology:
• Latent fingerprints workstation – installed in Central ID • Forensic & software workstation - installed and analyst trained • Vehicles and radios, etc. - purchased
5 Project Impact
Overall Retail Theft Incidents Reported Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total FY 2022 - 2023 829 972 819 929 3,549
FY 2023 - 2024 1,127 1,210 983 1,113 4,433
Overall Retail Theft Cases Filed/Submitted Total
FY 2022 - 2023 961
FY 2023 - 2024 1,428
ORT Investigator Cases Filed/Submitted Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total FY 2023-2024** 0* 11 102 92 205
FY 2024-2025** 245
* ORT Detail did not exist in Q1 FY 2023-2024
**Includes cases worked by officers for overtime using grant funds 6 Success Stories
Case 24-071-0567
• March 2024
• Target (The Plant) - theft of $700 alcohol - arrested • 39 prior thefts – reported and unreported – 17 additional cases • Six counts of Grand Theft plus enhancement (awaiting trial) Case 23-347-0534
& 24-173-0899
Case 24-102-0488
• December 2023 & June 2024
• Two suspects – 23 thefts from Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Dicks Sporting Goods • Charges
• Suspect 1 – 17 counts of Grand Theft plus enhancement • Suspect 1 – 90 additional thefts – 23 Grand Theft charges (awaiting trial) • Suspect 2 – 3 counts of Grand Theft plus enhancement
• April 2024
• Dick’s Sporting Goods - $1800 Stanley Tumblers
• Vehicle description - used ALPR to obtain plate
• Photo line-up conducted on registered owner - positive ID • Felony charges filed – suspect at-large in Fresno Area • ORT Detail coordinating with Fresno PD for arrest.
7 Plans
FY 2024-2025 ORT Detail Plans:
• Hire the second of two new ORT investigators approved by BSCC
• Increase participation in sting operations to increase ORT arrests
• Implement online reporting by retail organizations
• Rollout a pilot retail location at the Plant Shopping Center in December 2024
• Rollout two additional retail locations in the third quarter of FY 2024-2025
• Track ORT ALPR use by working with the system vendor to extract the appropriate data
• Look for ways to utilize unspent funds to achieve goals
QUESTIONS