Sacramento, California Local News
San Joaquin County DA launches program to combat retail theft
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San Joaquín County is taking steps to curb retail theft. On Friday, the District Attorney’s Office and the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce announced the launch of their Stockton Takes Action Against Retail Theft Program.STAART is the latest attempt to end retail theft and it includes stronger actions like prosecution against those found committing the crimes.Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce CEO Timm Quin told KCRA they’ve seen enough business closures.”The biggest concern is the livelihood of these businesses. People are coming in and taking things, and especially smaller businesses — that’s their livelihood,” Quin said.Chris Podesto, who supervises 24 grocery stores, including Food 4 Less and Rancho San Miguel, said they’ve lost about $8 million in the last year.Podesto was also present at this announcement and told KCRA that while they don’t want to raise prices and pass those on to customers.”Theft is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my 40-year career,” Podesto said.District Attorney Ron Freitas spoke before loss prevention officers from major retailers and informed them that through STAART, they’d also be unveiling new technology to identify ‘serial shoplifters’ in the community.”A technology we’re looking for with the FasTrak App in a reporting system that we can report directly to the DA’s office, and if they have enough to prosecute, then they can do that; bypass some of the issues that take a while to get things done,” Quin said.While true data on organized retail theft is scarce, the STAART announcement was well received.”It’s good news for all of our employees who are traumatized by the theft, and it’s good for us financially, so we keep costs and our groceries down,” Podesto said.Educational workshops will begin this month, with the first happening on April 24. The workshops will include information on being a good witness and filing a police report.About 850 businesses are members of the Chamber of Commerce. However, workshops will be open to everyone, including nonmembers.Before this announcement, leaders in San Joaquín met with the Yolo County District Attorney’s office, which announced their FastPass to Prosecution last month. This program aims to close the gap between the retailer and the DA’s office by taking police officers or deputies out of the picture.
San Joaquín County is taking steps to curb retail theft. On Friday, the District Attorney’s Office and the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce announced the launch of their Stockton Takes Action Against Retail Theft Program.
STAART is the latest attempt to end retail theft and it includes stronger actions like prosecution against those found committing the crimes.
Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce CEO Timm Quin told KCRA they’ve seen enough business closures.
“The biggest concern is the livelihood of these businesses. People are coming in and taking things, and especially [for] smaller businesses — that’s their livelihood,” Quin said.
Chris Podesto, who supervises 24 grocery stores, including Food 4 Less and Rancho San Miguel, said they’ve lost about $8 million in the last year.
Podesto was also present at this announcement and told KCRA that while they don’t want to raise prices and pass those on to customers.
“Theft is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my 40-year career,” Podesto said.
District Attorney Ron Freitas spoke before loss prevention officers from major retailers and informed them that through STAART, they’d also be unveiling new technology to identify ‘serial shoplifters’ in the community.
“A technology we’re looking for with the FasTrak App in a reporting system that we can report directly to the DA’s office, and if they have enough to prosecute, then they can do that; bypass some of the issues that take a while to get things done,” Quin said.
While true data on organized retail theft is scarce, the STAART announcement was well received.
“It’s good news for all of our employees who are traumatized by the theft, and it’s good for us financially, so we keep costs and our groceries down,” Podesto said.
Educational workshops will begin this month, with the first happening on April 24. The workshops will include information on being a good witness and filing a police report.
About 850 businesses are members of the Chamber of Commerce. However, workshops will be open to everyone, including nonmembers.
Before this announcement, leaders in San Joaquín met with the Yolo County District Attorney’s office, which announced their FastPass to Prosecution last month. This program aims to close the gap between the retailer and the DA’s office by taking police officers or deputies out of the picture.
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