California’s organized retail crime efforts result in 33,000+ stolen goods recovered in two months

What you need to know: Governor Newsom announced California Highway Patrol officers have recovered more than 33,000 stolen goods in organized retail crime sting operations so far in 2026.

SACRAMENTO - As part of the state's aggressive efforts to combat organized retail theft and protect businesses and communities, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced state officials have recovered more than 33,000 stolen items so far in 2026. Sending a clear message to all Californians that organized crime has no place in our society, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force, led by the California Highway Patrol, has resulted in 75 investigations, made 35 arrests, and recovered 33,354 stolen items worth over $3.3 million in two months.

Sending a clear message to all Californians that organized crime has no place in our society, the Organized Retail Crime Task Force, led by the California Highway Patrol, has resulted in 75 investigations, made 35 arrests, and recovered 33,354 stolen items worth over $3.3 million in two months.

Organized retail theft is not a victimless crime - it drives up costs for families, harms small businesses, and threatens workers. That's why we created the Organized Retail Crime Task Force and continue to strengthen it. Our proactive enforcement efforts are making a real difference - holding criminal networks accountable and helping keep our communities safe.

Governor Gavin Newsom

This task force works closely with local law enforcement, district attorneys, and retail partners to identify and dismantle organized theft rings operating across jurisdictions. Investigations often involve coordinated enforcement actions, surveillance operations, and partnerships with retailers to track stolen merchandise and disrupt resale operations.

"For more than six years, the California Highway Patrol has invested significant resources into combating organized retail crime, and our commitment has only grown stronger," said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. "These are organized criminal operations, and we are working with our law enforcement and retail partners statewide to identify those who are involved, build the case, and bring them to justice."

In February alone, due to a significant enforcement action, CHP-led operations resulted in 28 investigations and 19 arrests, while recovering 30,982 stolen items valued at more than $3.15 million.

Earlier this year, the Governor had announced that since 2019, organized retail crime investigations at the local and state level have increased by 3,000%, from 24 in 2019 to 734 in 2025, thanks to record state funding and new efforts.

Since its launch in 2019, the task force has made a significant impact statewide:

• 4,489 total investigations and allied agency assists
• 5,061 arrests
• Nearly 1.6 million stolen items recovered
• More than $73 million in stolen goods recovered

Taking down retail theft operations, helping Californians

In November 2025, CHP officers received a tip about a counterfeit merchandise operation in Southern California. Through undercover purchases and surveillance, investigators traced the illegal activity to a warehouse in El Monte. On February 25, 2026, CHP officers executed search warrants at two warehouse locations, which resulted in three arrests and the seizure of approximately 30,000 stolen items valued at nearly $3 million.

On February 3, 2026, CHP served a search warrant at a Merced residence involving a former Kohl's loss prevention employee. The operation resulted in one arrest, charges against an accomplice, and the recovery of 58 items.

New data show crime is down

According to new datafrom the Major Cities Chiefs Association, crime is down nearly across the board in California year-over-year.

• Homicides: ↓ 18%
• Robberies: ↓ 19%
• Violent crime: Down in every major city reporting data
• Largest drops: Oakland (↓25%) and San Francisco (↓21%)

Compared to 2019 (the last pre-pandemic year), violent crime across the same large California city police departments tracked in the MCCA year-end surveysis down about 12% in 2025 - driven by robberies down about 29% and homicides down about 12%. Not every major jurisdiction is seeing California's same results: violent crime increased in Atlanta (+17%), with robbery up (+27%), and homicides rose in El Paso (+25%) and Omaha (+37%).

California's significant public safety investments

California has invested $2.1 billionsince 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety. In 2023, as part of California's Public Safety Plan, the Governor announced the largest-everinvestment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual 310%increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations acrossthe state to fight crime and improve public safety.

Last year, Governor Newsom signed into law the most significant bipartisan legislation to crack down on property crime in modern California history.Building on the state's robust laws and record public safety funding, these bipartisan bills offer new tools to bolster ongoing efforts to hold criminals accountable for smash-and-grab robberies, property crime, retail theft, and auto burglaries. While California's crime rate remains at near-historic lows, these laws help California adapt to evolving criminal tactics to ensure perpetrators are effectively held accountable.

As part of the largest-ever state investment to fight organized retail crime, Governor Newsom announced in 2023 that the state allocated$267 million to 55 communities to help them combat this issue. These funds have allowed cities and counties to hire more police officers, make more arrests, and pursue more felony charges against suspects.