California delivers major blow to organized retail theft, recovering $76.2 million in stolen goods since 2019

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Jul 22, 2026

California delivers major blow to organized retail theft, recovering $76.2 million in stolen goods since 2019

California is dismantling the organized retail theft networks that prey on working families, small businesses and communities.

What you need to know: California continues to hold organized retail crime accountable, recovering more than $76 million in stolen merchandise while arresting more than 5,300 suspects since 2019.

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that California has recovered more than 1.6 million stolen items valued at over $76.2 million through the California Highway Patrol's Organized Retail Crime Task Force since its creation in 2019. Working alongside local law enforcement and retailers, the task force has arrested more than 5,300 suspects, disrupted organized theft rings, and helped protect businesses and consumers across California.

We're going after organized retail theft from every angle—investigations, arrests, prosecutions, and partnerships. Criminal organizations should know – we do not tolerate criminals here.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Teaming up to take down criminal organizations

Since the inception of the ORCTF, CHP-led operations and allied agency partners have helped to reel in organized theft rings, support retailers and keep crime out of California communities:

• 4,718 investigations
• 5,330 arrests
• 1,627,405 stolen items recovered
• $76.2 million in stolen goods recovered

In 2026 so far:

• 329 investigations
• 315 CHP arrests
• 67,689 stolen items recovered
• $6.3 million in recovered stolen property

In June 2026 alone:

• 65 investigations
• 105 CHP arrests (87.5 % increase from June 2025)
• 2,461 stolen items recovered
• More than $1.28 million recovered (125.4% increase from June 2025)

"The progress we've made since establishing the Organized Retail Crime Task Force in 2019 demonstrates the power of partnership," said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. "Working alongside our allied law enforcement agencies, retailers, prosecutors, and the public throughout the state, we've disrupted organized theft networks, recovered millions of dollars in stolen merchandise and held offenders accountable. While there is more work ahead, these partnerships continue to strengthen our ability to protect California's businesses, employees, and consumers."

ORCTF Border Division's Blitz Operations on June 22nd and on June 26th.

Notable Operations

Recent CHP-led operations have recovered thousands of stolen items by targeting coordinated theft crews, fencing operations and repeat offenders across the state.

Thousands of stolen trading cards recovered. On June 16, investigators served a search warrant at the home of a suspect linked to multiple Target thefts across Southern California. Officers recovered thousands of stolen trading cards valued at approximately $15,000, along with two firearms—including one reported stolen. The case is being reviewed for potential gang enhancements.

Retail theft operation leads to 13 arrests. On June 26, CHP partnered with Nordstrom, Nike, GAP, and Abercrombie at the Outlets at Orange, resulting in 13 arrests and the recovery of 87 stolen retail items valued at more than $4,100.

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ORCTF execute a search warrant on June 19 as part of an investigation into a suspect accused of selling counterfeit Porsche equipment.

California's public safety strategy is delivering results

California's efforts to crack down on organized retail theft are part of a broader public safety strategy that is driving crime down across the state. According to the Department of Justice's data between 2024 and 2025:

• Homicide rate decreased 18.6%, with reported homicides falling from 1,666 to 1,374.
• Robbery rate decreased 19.9%.
• Property crime rate decreased 14.3%.
• Motor vehicle theft rate decreased 25.8%, the largest percentage decline among major crime categories.
• Violent crime rate decreased 10.2%.

California continues to make meaningful progress in improving public safety, with every major statewide crime rate declining in 2025. The report also finds California recorded its lowest homicide rate since statewide data collection began in 1966, reflecting years of coordinated investments to make communities safer.

And, since Governor Gavin Newsom took office, crime rates have declined across every major category: the homicide rate is down 20%, robbery rate is down 31%, property crime rate is down 24%, motor vehicle theft rate is down 19%, and violent crime rate is down 3%.

The Task Force works closely with local police departments, sheriffs' offices, district attorneys, retailers, and regional law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle organized theft networks operating across jurisdictions.

Historic state investment to support local communities

The Administration has also invested heavily in public safety partnerships statewide, including more than $2.1 billion to support organized retail theft enforcement, prosecution efforts, local crime suppression initiatives, and collaborative law enforcement operations. In 2023, as part of California's Public Safety Plan, the Governor announced the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.

California has paired record investments in local law enforcement with stronger tools to combat organized retail theft. The state has invested more than $267 million across 55 communities to help local agencies investigate organized theft networks, deploy new technology, hire officers, and prosecute offenders.

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In 2024, Governor Newsom signed the most significant bipartisan legislation in modern California history to strengthen enforcement against retail theft, property crime, smash-and-grab robberies, and auto burglaries—providing law enforcement and prosecutors with new tools to hold offenders accountable.

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