OAKLAND, Calif. – California leaders said Tuesday that the state’s retail theft prevention grant is making a dent in the fight against organized retail crime, an issue that has plagued businesses and retailers for years.
In 2023, organized theft surged by double digits. That spike prompted the governor’s office in September of that year to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to dozens of cities and counties to crack down on retail crime.
Among the recipients were the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and the county district attorney’s office. State officials say those funds have led to more arrests, more prosecutions, and fewer stolen goods.…