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<\/p>\nBAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 It\u2019s a small team with big results. The Bakersfield Police Department\u2019s retail theft unit is earning high praise after recovering thousands of stolen items in a single year.<\/p>\n
No more just going through self-checkout without scanning every item. No more walking out of stores without paying. Within the last year, hundreds of arrests have been made, and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen merchandise have been returned to retailers.<\/p>\n
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The Bakersfield Police Department\u2019s retail theft unit recovered thousands of dollars\u2019 worth of stolen merchandise in its latest yearly report. \/BPD<\/p>\n
\u201cThese people steal a large dollar amount of goods,\u201d said BPD Sgt. Chad Garret. \u201cThat business suffers a loss, and a lot of times those losses get passed on to the consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n
2 Palmdale residents arrested in Kern County in undercover copper wire theft operation <\/a><\/p>\n Organized retail theft has been a long-standing problem in California. But in Bakersfield, police are fighting back, saying theft hurts everyone. BPD\u2019s retail theft team is made up of only eight people \u2013 one sergeant, six detectives, and one person in an administrative role.<\/p>\n The latest report shows nearly 500 arrests and more than 6,000 items recovered \u2014 worth about $137,000 \u2014 all in a single year and with its partnership with retailers.<\/p>\n \u201cThey give us real-time information about the offender in the store,\u201d Garett said. \u201cWhat they\u2019re wearing \u2014 pictures \u2014 and that allows us to safely apprehend them in the parking lot when they\u2019re actually committing these offenses.\u201d<\/p>\n Garrett invites retail bosses to monthly meetings to work together in fighting crime.<\/p>\n \u201c(When) this person goes and steals from Ross, they don\u2019t only go there. They go to HomeGoods. They go to Target. They go to all these other stores,\u201d Garrett said.<\/p>\n Some of the most popular items to steal include laundry detergent because of its resale value, cleaning supplies, and even hygiene products, which are now locked in cases at several retailers. Businesses are glad law enforcement is taking this seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cTruly, politicians and law enforcement are starting to understand,\u201d said Vice President of Asset Protection at Home Depot, Scott Glenn. \u201cThese aren\u2019t insurance claims, these aren\u2019t covered, these aren\u2019t things that businesses can absorb. This is an impact on businesses in their communities that impacts their ability to serve their constituents.\u201d<\/p>\n