brief
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California’s two-year crackdown on organized retail theft resulted in 29,060 arrests and $226 million in stolen goods recovered through September 2025.
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Bolstered by a historic $267 million investment, local agencies and district attorneys have referred nearly 23,000 cases for prosecution.
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Recent figures highlight a nearly 19% increase in recovered assets over the last quarter, with a total of $36 million returned to asset businesses.
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that continued investments to disrupt California’s criminal networks have resulted in more than 29,000 arrests for organized retail theft over the past two years.
Backed by the largest public safety investment in the state’s history, local law enforcement agencies are using new technology and increasing staff to crack down on sophisticated theft rings.
What do we know?
Between October 2023 and September 2025, the state-funded operations led to 29,060 arrests and 22,896 cases being referred for prosecution, according to a statement released by Newsom’s office.
Central to this effort is a $267 million grant package distributed to 55 communities through the Board of State and Community Improvement (BSCC).
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The funding has enabled 38 law enforcement agencies with advanced equipment and 13 district attorney’s offices to implement “vertical prosecution” programs, where a single prosecutor handles a case from start to finish.
In the most recent quarter (July-September 2025), officers recovered approximately $36 million in stolen goods. This increase contributed to a total of $226 million in recovered assets since the program began – an increase of nearly 19% in just three months.
timeline
2019: Governor Newsom establishes CHP Organized Retail Crime Task Force.
2023: California has announced the largest investment in combating organized retail crime as part of a public safety plan.
October 2023: BSCC begins distributing $267 million in grants to local communities.
August 2024: Newsom signs historic bipartisan legislative package to strengthen penalties for property crimes and “smash-and-grab” robberies.
September 2025: The reporting period ends with a record $226 million seized and more than 29,000 arrests.
What are they saying?
“We’re sending a clear message: Organized retail crime has no place in our community,” Newsom said.
“Through strong partnerships with local law enforcement, we are disrupting criminal enterprises, protecting small businesses, and ensuring that those responsible face consequences for their actions.”
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BSCC Board Chair Linda Penner added, “ORT grants are providing local law enforcement with the tools they need to strategically dismantle retail crime networks. With thousands of arrests and millions of dollars in seized items, we are successfully building a safer environment for California businesses and residents.”
what now
The state expects the number of convictions to increase as vertical prosecution teams clear the backlog of cases.
The 2024 bipartisan legislation provides new tools for the next phase of enforcement, allowing different victims and counties to meet crime thresholds for collecting stolen goods.
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Meanwhile, the California Highway Patrol’s task force remains active, having conducted more than 4,300 investigations since 2019.
what you can do
Small business owners and residents can stay informed about local public safety initiatives by visiting the BSCC website to view grant progress summaries and maps.
Suspicious activity or organized retail theft should be reported directly to local law enforcement or through the CHP’s Organized Retail Theft Reporting Portal.
source
The information in this report is based on official statements and data released by the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC).
