Salinas Police looking to get $3.5 million to fight organized retail theft approved by the city

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) update Oct. 5, 5:48 p.m.- - Salinas City Council will be voting Tuesday night on whether or not to approve the use of more than $3.5 million in state grant money on an organized retail crime program.

"The last four years have been very rough. A lot of grab and runs, just a lot of people coming in and grabbing piles of stuff at a store," said Edith Sanchez, manager of Boot Barn in Salinas.

Edith Sanchez says she has lost thousands of dollars worth of merchandise has been stolen.

"It's upwards of like $80,000 in a year. So it's very impact on the business," said Sanchez.

According to the Salinas Police Department, over the last 18 months, Salinas has experienced a rise in organized retail theft.

Other stores like El Primo say theft happens so often, they have pictures of people who come in often to steal.

"We even have pictures like on the windows. We know who they are because they do come and do it even like one at a time," said Daisy Servin, Manager of El Primo.

The Salinas Police Department may soon have more money in their hands to help businesses like Boot Barn which lose thousands of dollars a year.

"We're targeting organized crime, which we have seen many instances in Salinas," said Sgt. Gonzales with Salinas Police. "And the amount that's being taken from these businesses is significant, thousands and thousands of dollars."

The $3.5 million will be used for merchandise tracking systems, license plate reader cameras, and computer forensic tools.

The grant will also be used to hire two civilian investigative specialist positions.

"So our overall goal is to deter organized retail theft, identify and apprehend some suspects, recover stolen vehicles to improve the safety of Silanas businesses, to increase economic activity," said Tonya Erickson, Police Services Administrator for SPD.

At the heart of fighting retail theft is the ORC program which stands for organized retail crime. Their mission will be to improve investigations and apprehend suspects that participate in organized retail crime.

The team will be led by the detective sergeant.

"We're excited because we feel like maybe there's going to be something positive coming out of this to recover some of the lost assets for sure," said Sanchez.

All funds will be allocated in annual installments over the next three years. The ORC team will work with repeat and high-risk retail targets to develop and implement prevention strategies as needed according to SPD.

Salinas Police proposes using part $3.5 million to fight organized retail theft on civilian task force

Update Oct. 5, 5:48 p.m.- Salinas City Council could potentially approve the use of over $3.5 million in state grant money for the Salinas Police Department to help fight organized retail crime.

On Tuesday, the city council will vote to approve the forming of a Salinas Police proposed Organized Retail Crime and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Program.

The use of merchandise tracking systems, license plate reader cameras, and computer forensic tools and equipment will be used. The grant will also be used to hire two civilian Investigative Specialist positions.

"The responsibilities of the Investigative Specialists will include, but are not limited to, providing support to the detective and officers by assisting in the investigation of organized retail crime and motor vehicle thefts, securing and collecting evidence and property, examining the volumes of video and digital evidence, assisting in the Computer Forensics Lab as appropriate, locating and interviewing victims and witnesses, and documenting findings in reports," said Salinas Police in a proposed statement to the city council.

The effectiveness of the positions will be evaluated throughout the grant's three-year life and funding will not exceed that time frame.

The grant will also fund an external evaluation and financial audit.

Salinas Police receives more than $3.5 million to combat organized retail crime

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) The Board of State and Community Corrections on Thursday unanimously approved sending over $267 million to 38 law enforcement agencies and 13 district attorney offices to help fight retail theft.

Salinas Police will receive $3,573,307 over the course of three years to develop an Organized Retail Crime (ORC) and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Program. The three-year grant period will begin on Oct. 1, 2023.

ORIGINAL STORY

The state is set to invest the largest-ever single amount to combat organized retail crime in California history this week — sending over $267 million to 55 cities and counties. The money will be used to hire more officers, make more arrests and secure more felony charges against suspects.

Salinas Police has been recommended to receive $3,573,307 to develop an Organized Retail Crime (ORC) and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Program. This team would be made up of "detectives, sworn officers, and civilian Investigative Specialists who will focus on increasing investigations, apprehensions, and recovered property."

Their efforts would be technologically supported using merchandise tracking systems, license plate reader cameras, forensic equipment and data extraction tools.

"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. When shameless criminals walk out of stores with stolen goods, they’ll walk straight into jail cells," said Governor Newsom.

The funding is set to be approved at the next Board of State and Community Corrections meeting on Thursday. All funds will be allocated in annual installments over the next three years. The first installment could be dispersed as early as October 1, 2023.