California Task Force Recovers More Than $76 Million in Stolen Goods and Arrests Over 5,300 Suspects in Retail Theft Crackdown

SACRAMENTO, CA — California officials say a state retail theft task force has recovered more than $76.2 million in stolen property and arrested more than 5,300 suspects since it began in 2019. Governor Gavin Newsom said the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has also tracked down more than 1.6 million stolen items during that period.

The governor’s office said the multi-agency effort has been used to disrupt organized theft rings and protect businesses and shoppers across the state.

Year-to-Date Activity

So far in 2026, the task force has carried out 329 investigations, made 315 arrests, seized 67,689 stolen items and recovered $6.3 million in stolen property, according to state officials. In June alone, investigators opened 65 cases, made 105 CHP arrests and recovered 2,461 stolen items.

Officials said the value of property recovered in June topped $1.28 million, which they described as a 125.4% increase from the same month last year. CHP also said June arrests were up 87.5% from June 2025.

Recent Southern California Cases

The CHP highlighted several recent enforcement actions tied to the effort. On June 16, investigators served a search warrant at a suspect’s home in a case tied to multiple thefts at Target stores across Southern California.

Authorities said they recovered thousands of stolen trading cards worth nearly $15,000 and seized two firearms, including one reported stolen. The case is being reviewed for possible gang enhancements.

Retailers And Police Working Together

Another operation on June 26 involved the CHP working with Nordstrom, Nike, GAP and Abercrombie at the outlets at Orange. Officials said that operation led to 13 arrests and the recovery of 87 stolen retail items valued at more than $4,100.

State leaders said the task force relies on local police, sheriffs, district attorneys, retailers and other regional partners to identify and dismantle theft networks.

Crime Trends In California

Officials framed the retail theft campaign as part of a broader public safety push. The California Department of Justice said data from 2024 to 2025 showed declines in homicide, robbery, property crime, motor vehicle theft and violent crime.

According to the report, California’s homicide rate fell 18.6%, robbery dropped 19.9%, property crime decreased 14.3%, motor vehicle theft fell 25.8% and violent crime declined 10.2%. The report also said the homicide rate reached its lowest level since statewide record-keeping began about 60 years ago.

TNSO covers California, Nevada, and Arizona as the story unfolds.