Twin Cities Police Arrest 25 In Major Retail Theft Operation

A Twin Cities police department took to social media yesterday to announce that 25 individuals had been arrested in connection with an ongoing operation to deter retail theft at malls. The department stated that 25 people were arrested in connection with the focused enforcement, with 9 getting felonies.

Retail theft is an ongoing issue that not only affects the company, but in the long run it affects you and me as consumers. When retail theft gets out of hand we see prices increase across the board to cover the 'shrinkage' that is occurring with the theft.

Retail crime is a big problem here in Minnesota as the legislature passed a bill to fight it, and Minnesota has established its force to address the theft. The Minnesota Organized Retail Crime Association states that "retailers in Minnesota lost $1.453 billion in revenue to theft in 2022, which was $328.61 per capita."

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Retail theft is one of the reasons we are seeing stores going away from the 'self-check out' model, as many times these thieves will scan a much cheaper item in place of a more expensive item, pay for the cheaper item, and then leave with the more expensive item. For example, someone might come to the check-out stand with a video game and a console, scan the game, and walk out with the console.

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Here's what the Roseville Police Department accomplished in December at one of the busiest malls, Rosedale, in the state.

Earlier this month, our department conducted a focused enforcement detail in our retail areas to tackle theft and other criminal activity.

During the operation, 25 arrests were made, including 9 for felony-level offenses, and nearly $3,000 worth of stolen merchandise was recovered and returned to local businesses.

This success was made possible through exceptional collaboration with various partners. Several local law enforcement agencies provided vital support with personnel, and a prosecutor from the Ramsey County Attorney's Office was on-site to make real-time charging decisions, streamlining the process. Alongside our Officers’ immediate responses to criminal activity, Detectives and our Investigative Analyst ensured prompt investigative follow-up, and our Records staff managed efficient case documentation.

We also want to extend our gratitude to our loss prevention partners, whose invaluable support was crucial to the operation’s success. Their dedication and teamwork played a key role in making our retail areas safer for shoppers, businesses, and the entire community.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this impactful effort!

The online post states that nearly $3,000 in merchandise was recovered and returned as a result of the enforcement.

You can learn more about MnORCA, here.

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