SAN Francisco has created a new way for businesses to combat shoplifting as crime continues to plague the city.
Theft continues to run rampant in the California city, with many stores closing their doors due to rampant crime.
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Many retail giants, including CVS, Target, Walgreens, Macy’s, and Gap, have fallen victim to rampant crime.
Videos have been captured of what is called a “takeover-style” robbery, which involves masked thieves rushing into a store, taking with them whatever they can carry, and illegally reselling it on the streets.
San Francisco Police have tried to repress crime and have recently implemented what they call “blitz operations.”
Police will now set up a sting, or an undercover officer, in a business with space to hide an officer, according to The San Francisco Standard.
All store owners need to do is email sfpd.retailtheft@sfgov.org to get a copy at their location.
POSITIVE RESULTS
The new anti-theft measure began in autumn 2023 and proved successful, resulting in 200 arrests by the end of the year.
Last week San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said they have arrested “well over 400 people this year alone.”
The department uses a $15.3 million state grant that targets organized retail crimeto finance its operations.
“The retail theft grant the city received last year is being put to good use, and many of these blitz operations are funded by that grant,” Scott said at the city’s most recent event. Police Commission hearing.
However, the department’s response to the retail theft comes at a time when the SFPD is under scrutiny for slower response times — despite fewer calls being made.
Officials say this reflects how the department prioritizes enforcement at stores that request it and how SFPD has moved away from self-initiated calls — when an officer sees a crime and calls.
The department’s self-initiated calls fell 56% from 2019 to 2022, according to the SFPD.
BEGGING FOR HELP
However, some smaller stores feel neglected by the department’s activity.
“We probably already face the same problems as others business neighborhoods,” said Carole Yenne, head of the Noe Valley Merchants and Professionals Association.
“The police are called and sometimes they arrive in three minutes, sometimes it takes much longer, hours, even overnight.”
How does the program work?
The San Francisco Police Department has launched a new program to crack down on the robbery that has destroyed the great city.
Police officers are implementing “blitz operations” that require sting operations or undercover officers to be deployed in crime-hit locations.
Uniformed and plainclothes police officers are stationed at or nearby stores to quickly capture anyone stealing and recover stolen property.
Store owners should email their location to sfpd.retailtheft@sfgov.org.
“Our city will not tolerate criminals looting our businesses,” said Police Chief Bill Scott.
“Not only are these crimes devastating to our business community and local economy, but we have often seen these crimes escalate into violence.
“I want to thank our hard-working employees who ensure our city is a safe place for businesses and shoppers.”
Several companies in your association have been constantly targeted by thieves, including one incident in which criminals used a truck to run over the building, causing the jewel business to close permanently.
“The building owner was without a tenant for months while he repaired the building,” Yenne said.
“O business owner gave up after a lifetime of being a Small business owner.”
Last week, a store in Noe Valley was hit twice by teenagers in a wave of shoplifting.
“The cost to the business was thousands of dollars,” Yenne said.
“But in this climate of insurance issues, it is difficult to make insurance claims without the fear of a huge increase in premiums.”
US Sun has reached out to SFPD for comment.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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