Retail theft has been an ongoing issue in Los Angeles County, with shoplifting rates increasing by roughly 80 percent from 2022 to 2023.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department implemented a new task force to curb the growing number of retail thefts in September of 2023.
The Major Crimes Retail Task Force is conducting undercover sting operations at local big box stores to catch suspects in the act.
“Target and Walmart are big targets here for people coming in conducting thefts,” LASD Miguel Kanemoto told KTLA 5’s Rachel Menitoff during a sting in Rosemead.
Menitoff was on hand with deputies during the operation. Kanemoto explains that LASD is changing its tactics to combat retail theft.
“They just monitor them on video surveillance. And then watch them as they’re inside the store to see if they’re going to conceal anything,” Kanemoto said. “They also identify people who may come in with an empty backpack or empty bag.”
This recent sting resulted in 16 arrests, with multiple suspects being caught with thousands of dollars of merchandise. Kanemoto says thieves target products like hygiene products, electronics, and more items that are located near the front of the store.
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Deputies catch a shoplifting suspect at a shopping center in Rosemead during a retail theft sting on April 19, 2024. (KTLA) -
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department draw their weapons after a shoplifting suspect tried to flee during a retail theft sting in Rosemead on April 19, 2024. (KTLA)
Beyond impacting the business that is being targeted, retail theft also hurts customers. Some shoppers who visited the shopping plaza in Rosemead say store employees are growing tired of the increase in shoplifting.
“Even the cashier tells us, there’s a lot of stealing in the store, a lot of it,” Walmart customer Jesse Frescas said. “And they can’t stop it.”
One suspect arrested during the sting had an outstanding warrant. Capt. Jorge Meza of the Temple Sherriff’s Station says many of the suspected thieves arrested are repeat offenders.
“There’s a couple of individuals that we did arrest and we actually arrested them at similar operations at other shopping centers,” he said.
Since LASD created the task force, more than 600 suspects have been arrested for crimes related to shoplifting. Deputies have also recovered nearly $9 million in stolen merchandise.