The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) has released its inaugural annual report on the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Grant Program, highlighting significant achievements in combating organized retail theft. In its first year, the program facilitated 18,382 arrests and 14,133 prosecution referrals.
Initiated by Governor Newsom in 2022, the ORT Grant Program offers two competitive three-year grants: ORT Prevention and ORT Vertical Prosecution. The ORT Prevention Grant allocated over $242 million to 38 law enforcement agencies for enhancing equipment, operations, staffing, and partnerships with retailers. Notable successes include the Fresno Police Department, which recovered $1.2 million in stolen property and reported a 38% drop in auto theft, aided by grant-funded license plate readers. This technology was instrumental in locating a carjacking suspect and safely recovering a kidnapped child.
The San Francisco Police Department arrested eight individuals linked to 23 theft incidents at Walgreens, resulting in $84,000 in stolen goods. Similarly, the San Ramon Police conducted investigations that led to warrants for two women involved in thefts totaling over $42,000 from ULTA Beauty and Sephora, along with three others responsible for $100,000 in losses at ULTA.
Fresno Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Landon praised the ORT Grant, stating it has fostered strong relationships and trust with retailers. The ORT Vertical Prosecution Grant, which provided over $24 million to 13 district attorneys’ offices, has also yielded impressive results. For instance, Sonoma County quickly arrested suspects in jewelry theft cases, recovering $16,000 worth of jewelry within 96 hours.
Yolo County introduced a “FastPass to Prosecution” program to expedite retail crime investigations and prosecutions, launched in Fall 2023. Meanwhile, Stanislaus County has focused on public education and a single contact point for retailers, achieving a 90% reduction in retail losses.
Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Scott Jamar noted that the Vertical Prosecution Grant has significantly improved communication among stakeholders. To enhance transparency and accountability, the BSCC has launched dashboards to display quarterly progress for the ORT grants.
For further details, visit the BSCC website or reach out to Communications Director Jana Sanford-Miller via email at [email protected].
