CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is cracking down on organized retail crime ahead of the holiday season.
The department, along with eight surrounding law enforcement agencies, launched the Organized Retail Crime Task Force on January 16.
The task force investigates retail theft crimes committed by chronic offenders which have resulted in violence or high-value loss to retailers.
Since launching the task force, police said there has been a combined $884,000 worth of property stolen in the 825 cases the task force has investigated.
Police said the task force has cleared 445 cases and recovered $81,000 worth of stolen property. Some of those cases have resulted in multiple cases.
"These aren't your garden variety shoplifters," said Captain Brad Koch. "These are organized professionals responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in retail theft."
Sergeant Jeff Brown, who supervises the Organized Retail Crime Task Force, said these crimes not only impacts the retailer, they affect consumer cost.
"We're seeing thefts, you know, starting at a thousand dollars upwards," Brown said. "I've seen a couple that have been $15,000 to $20,000 that have come through our larger box stores."
Police said the task force started initially in response to thefts at clothing and big-box hardware stores. Now police are seeing more thefts at health and beauty stores plus convenience stores.
Brown said you should never get involved if you witness a retail theft. Police asked the public to be good witnesses and get a good ID on the suspect for the investigation that will follow.