PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced a new task force Monday intended to protect city businesses and homeowners from theft.
In 2023, Philadelphia police saw an increase in retail theft by about 27% from the year prior. With hopes of lowering those rates, Krasner introduced the Organized Retail and House Theft Task Force, funded by City Council.
He said the task force will team up with Philadelphia police to combat fencing operations, in which people buy or receive stolen items to resell them. They will also work with community and business owners.
Krasner says updates are coming to the retail theft policy and are expected before the end of the month. He says this is needed because of false narratives surrounding how the office handles retail thefts below a certain value.
They will also crack down on home title theft , a type of real estate fraud in which people steal a person’s identity then steal the deed to their property without their knowledge.