Local Governments Awarded $270 Million to Fight Retail Theft

Some 50 localities are set to receive nearly $270 million in grants to help fight retail theft.

The state’s Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) approved Organized Retail Theft Prevention funding for 38 law enforcement agencies and 13 county district attorney’s offices on Thursday. The money will be used for various crime-fighting tools and programs, including advanced surveillance technology and license plate tracking, loss prevention training, new task forces and data sharing.

The funding, which is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Real Public Safety Plan, represents the largest-ever single investment in retail crime prevention.

“Enough with these brazen smash-and-grabs,” said Newsom. “With an unprecedented $267 million investment, Californians will soon see more takedowns, more police, more arrests, and more felony prosecutions. When shameless criminals walk out of stores with stolen goods, they’ll walk straight into jail cells.”

In order to be approved for the grants, applicants had to show there were policies in place to protect privacy and prevent racial or ethnic discrimination.

One city missing out on the funds is Oakland. That's because officials missed the deadline to apply. Some are calling for heads to roll. Oakland is currently facing a budget deficit. Robberies and burglaries are up 20% and 35% respectively. If anyone needed these funds, it's Oaktown. This blunder follows errors by the city clerk's office that affected two local elections, as well as infighting over the city's next police chief.   

Find a full list of the grant awards below and read more from the BSCC.