Current location:Worldly Web news portal > business
How Los Angeles police are fighting back against organized retail theft
Worldly Web news portal2024-05-07 20:22:41【business】0People have gathered around
IntroductionHow Los Angeles police are fighting back against organized retail theft 08:27
While flash mob robberies are all over social media this holiday season, these unruly thefts might not be as common as they seem.
Nonetheless, the Los Angeles Police Department has officers working around the clock to stop the organized rings behind these heists — especially after Chief Michel Moore personally witnessed one during his day off.
"A grab and run happened where an individual came in and took about 20 pairs of jeans, you know, right before me," Moore said.
Moore chased after the robber. While he couldn't catch up to him, the suspect dropped the items and hopped into a car.
"We got the items back," Moore said.
Just a few months ago, Southern California saw a sudden spike in flash mob robbery scenes. In 24 days in July and August, there were seven instances of people running in and stealing anything they could get their hands on — many times security is seen standing by, bewildering some.
Moore said he hopes security guards are witnessing the crimes to help officers track them down. Three months ago, Moore reinvigorated the department's organized retail crime unit. Now, three dozen investigators are working all day to catch these thieves.
They are worth with five other agencies across Southern California, including the Torrance Police Department. Detective James Wallace and his fellow officers set up countless "blitz" operations, identifying possible strikes at stores. One of the stores that he and his team recently staked out, was a retailer that has been hit more than 200 times.
There, Wallace and his fellow undercover officers roam inside and outside of the store, waiting to catch the crooks in action.
"We're making arrests of the right people," said LAPD Capt. Alfonso Lopez. "We're shutting down crews."
However, LAPD officials said that despite the sudden saturation of the viral images and videos, detectives have seen a different reality since August. Since then, the task force set up to combat retail theft has arrested 66 key people involved in multiple crimes. Lopez believes that police are winning this battle, and believes many businesses will agree.
And winning doesn't come easy. For example, on the very day this task force spent hour after hour setting up an operation at a local store, miles away in Watts, a crew was robbing a Nike store.
"You know, unfortunately, a lot of these undercover operations is sort of a roll of the dice," Wallace said.
Since Thanksgiving, investigators have seen another crime surge, shocking some officers.
"It's shocking. I don't recall ever seeing the number we've seen in the recent years," LAPD Lt. Michael McComas said.
However, this setback has not deterred officers, who understand that this trend won't be gone in a flash. Even though they have a daunting task in front of them, investigators know that each arrest they make will give shoppers some peace this holiday season.
"We're going to do our best to track down who did it and convince them that's not the best behavior," Wallace said.
For perspective, LAPD said that overall thefts are down about 1% when compared to pre-COVID levels in 2019. These flash mob robberies only account for a tiny fraction of these thousands of cases. Since they began tracking the crimes in July, police said they had received 167 reports and arrested 98 people.
One retailer, WSS shoe store, said that there has been "notable progress" from LAPD's blitz operations. The state has also taken notice with the California Assembly forming a select committee which will meet for the first time on Tuesday.
More from CBS News
Address of this article:http://navassaisland.mybodyonelife.com/content-31d799968.html
Very good!(82791)
Related articles
- China's software industry logs steady growth in Q1
- Lucy Boynton reveals why her Barbie character barely has any screen time
- Photographer at Prince Andrew's car
- Global democracy rankings: Australia in top 10 nations
- Detroit man sentenced to 80 years for fatal shootings of 2 West Virginia women
- Life's little luxuries: Facial massage tools
- I'm a gardening expert
- Masterful meals: Roast pheasant with a chestnut and cider cream sauce
- Yadav unbeaten ton helps Mumbai end losing streak in IPL
- Serial mistress, 54, enjoys luxurious £5,000 trip to Costa Rica
Popular articles
Recommended
GOP secretary of state who spoke out against election denialism wins JFK Profile in Courage Award
ALISON BOSHOFF: Yo ho ho! Johnny Depp to launch his own brand of Caribbean dark rum
Signs of sharp wit! These funny notices left customers in fits of laughter
Why Kate Middleton waited to announce her cancer diagnosis
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama named NBA Rookie of the Year
I get shamed by other mothers for being naturally pretty with a good figure
How 'hands
Sydney Mardi Gras asks police not take part in Saturday's parade
Links
- New York scores four straight goals to beat Ottawa 4
- Emerging trends for upcoming May Day holiday
- Castillo throws 7 shutout innings and then Mariners bullpen hangs on for 3
- The Islamic State group says it was behind a mosque bombing in Afghanistan that killed 6 people
- Rojas and Castellanos homer in the 9th, leading the Phillies to a 7
- Harvey Weinstein's $300million net worth plummets to $25million since his 2017 downfall
- Drury, Noesen help Hurricanes beat Islanders 6
- Beyonce's mom Tina Knowles eviscerates Charles Barkley and Shaq for calling Texas' beaches 'dirty'
- Rangers' Jon Gray holds Nationals to 3 singles over 8 innings in a 7
- It wasn't me, Rylan Clark insists after police release e