Sacramento County sheriff’s detectives arrested 50 suspects on July 13 and 14 during a weekend theft crackdown at a Target store located at 5001 Madison Avenue in Sacramento, California.
Of those arrested, nine were minors, and about half had prior arrests for theft, according to Detective Ryan Drummond of the sheriff’s Property Crimes Bureau. “Approximately 15 of the individuals had been previously arrested by our team in earlier operations,” Drummond noted. “It’s a recurring issue for us. They receive a citation but can then go to another store and continue stealing.”
During the operation, plainclothes detectives collaborated with Target security to monitor both inside and outside the store. Four individuals with outstanding warrants from previous citations were booked into the Sacramento main jail, while two suspects attempted to flee and were apprehended following a foot pursuit. The remaining suspects were cited and released.
The crackdown is part of an ongoing effort by the Sheriff’s Department, bolstered by a $9.4 million state grant aimed at combating organized retail theft, said Sgt. Tiffany Pfau of the Property Crimes Bureau. The Madison Avenue Target was specifically chosen due to its high incidence of thefts, being situated near a freeway and several apartment complexes.
Despite recent viral videos showing “flash mob” thefts, the suspects in this operation were not part of such groups. They were primarily stealing items like makeup, swimsuits, toasters, and comforters, which are easily resold online, according to Pfau. “They aren’t stealing necessities like food or baby formula,” Pfau stated. “These are opportunistic thieves exploiting weak laws.”
The Sheriff’s Department emphasizes the need for tougher legislation to address retail theft effectively. “Right now, it’s a ‘free for all’ system,” Pfau said. “Sheriff Jim Cooper is deeply concerned about retail theft. Our priority is to see stronger penalties enforced.”
In November, Californians will vote on whether to repeal parts of Proposition 47—a law passed in 2014 that reclassified certain low-level crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. This law currently allows individuals caught stealing less than $950 to be cited with a misdemeanor and released. The proposed ballot initiative, known as the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, seeks to increase penalties for repeat theft offenders and encourage participation in drug treatment programs.
Some state lawmakers, including Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, argue that repealing parts of Proposition 47 could lead to mass incarceration and prison overcrowding.
