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Newsom allocates $267M grants to combat retail theft.

California Allocates $267‍ Million to Combat Smash-and-Grab Robberies

With videos going viral‌ showing ‌smash-and-grab robberies at luxury retailers and businesses statewide reporting high levels of criminal activity, California ⁣Gov. Gavin Newsom⁤ announced on September 12 that more than $267 million⁤ in grants is slated for distribution to 55 cities and counties to facilitate ‍arrests ⁣and ⁢help address such issues.

“Enough with ⁣these⁢ brazen ‌smash-and-grabs. With an unprecedented $267 million ​investment, Californians will soon see more takedowns,‌ more‌ police, ​more arrests,​ and more felony prosecutions,” Mr. Newsom said ‍in ⁣a press release announcing the funding. “When shameless criminals walk out of stores with stolen goods, they’ll⁤ walk straight into jail ​cells.”

Sheriffs’⁢ and police departments‍ across the state, and one probation department, applied for the funding and are in line for grants of up to⁤ nearly $24 million each.

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The money is⁣ intended to ​increase arrests by utilizing surveillance technology,⁤ establishing new task forces, training loss prevention officers and retail theft investigation units,⁢ and⁤ improving communication ⁤and cooperation with businesses and⁤ community members, according to the press release.

While​ focused on organized retail theft, vehicle and catalytic converter thefts are also targeted ⁤by the grant proposals.

Grants will be provided through​ the⁣ Organized Retail Theft Prevention Program—established by the state⁣ in 2022—and overseen by the Board of State and Community Corrections, with a ‌vote scheduled for September‍ 14 to​ approve the funding recommendations.

Leading the funding ‍allocation proposals is⁣ Los Angeles’ $31 million, with the⁣ sheriff and police department each potentially receiving more than $15.5 million, according to the ‌board’s project summaries document (pdf).

California ‌Governor Gavin Newsom ⁤speaks with ‌reporters at a VA facility in Brentwood, Calif., on Nov, 10, ‍2021. (John Fredricks/The​ Epoch ⁤Times)

Orange County asked for approximately $15​ million⁣ to fund its sheriff’s efforts to install surveillance cameras and to create a catalytic‍ converter etching program—where ⁤vehicle identification‌ numbers are etched onto ⁢devices​ to discourage theft by making the items potentially trackable by investigators.

The ⁢Irvine Police‍ Department requested more than $5 million to create a data collection center, driven by advanced technology, to help ⁣reduce not ⁢only retail but motor vehicle ⁣theft as well.

Additionally,‌ Anaheim Police reported a 47 percent increase in retail theft​ crimes over the last 18 months and⁤ requested more than $6 million to establish a task force and boost ⁢investigations by 500 percent.

Fresno Police filed⁣ a multi-agency proposal that⁣ brings the department together with the Clovis Police and Fresno County Probation‌ departments, and the ⁤Fresno County District Attorney’s Office to establish⁤ what is being called the Fresno Metropolitan Area Organized Retail Task Force asking for more than $23 million in grants.

San Francisco ⁤Police would receive more than $15⁣ million for ⁣“blitz operations” focused ​on ⁤retail crime in commercial areas including Union Square, investigations of stolen items being sold on the street, ‌increased training,⁤ and community engagement.

District attorneys across the ​state will also ⁢receive​ access to grant‌ money, ⁢with​ those in‌ 13 counties—including Orange, Riverside, ‌Sacramento, and San Francisco—currently recommended for funding of‌ amounts‌ up to approximately $2 ​million ‍each.

A file photo of Orange County Sheriff’s⁣ Department deputies in Yorba Linda, Calif., on Oct. 4, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón⁢ did not receive a grant, though it is unclear if‍ his office⁢ applied for funding.

Such‍ grants​ are⁣ designed to help create‍ what are known as “vertical ​prosecution programs”—where a prosecutor is assigned to theft cases from start to​ finish, allowing for a single point of contact and‌ meant to improve communication and expedite the process. To be eligible⁣ for funding, at least⁣ one deputy district attorney and one investigator must dedicate their time to prosecuting organized retail theft cases, according to the program’s guidelines.

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