California Cracks Down on Organized Retail Theft with $226M in Recovered Goods

State funding and partnerships with local law enforcement lead to 29,060 arrests and millions in recovered stolen goods over two years

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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As a result of state investment and Governor Gavin Newsom's commitment to disrupting criminal activity, local law enforcement agencies in California arrested 29,060 suspects and recovered over $226 million in stolen goods related to organized retail theft over a two-year period from October 2023 to September 2025. Through grants and partnerships, law enforcement has been able to strategically dismantle retail crime networks, support the retail community, and combat retail crime across the state.

Why it matters

Organized retail theft has been a growing problem in California, impacting small businesses, public safety, and the overall economy. The state's investment in combating this issue through funding, legislation, and partnerships with local law enforcement demonstrates a commitment to protecting communities and holding criminals accountable.

The details

The state's organized retail theft grants have provided 38 law enforcement agencies with over $242 million in funding to purchase new equipment, launch enhanced enforcement operations, hire new staff, and establish partnerships with the retail community. This has led to thousands of arrests and the recovery of millions of dollars in stolen goods. Notable cases include the arrest of an armed robbery suspect in Delano, a decrease in auto thefts in Garden Grove, the arrest of gang members involved in thefts in Irvine, and the recovery of $1.4 million in stolen goods by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

  • From October 2023 to September 2025, law enforcement agencies have been involved in these efforts.
  • Most recently, from July to September 2025, local law enforcement agencies conducted over 3,300 arrests and recovered nearly $36 million in stolen goods.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California who has made a sustained commitment to disrupting criminal activity and investing in public safety.

Linda Penner

The Chair of the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), which has provided the organized retail theft grants to law enforcement agencies.

California Highway Patrol

The state's Organized Retail Crime Task Force, which has been involved in over 4,300 investigations, leading to the arrest of over 5,000 suspects and the recovery of over 1.5 million stolen goods valued at nearly $70 million.

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What they’re saying

“The ORT grants are providing local law enforcement the tools necessary to strategically dismantle retail crime networks. With thousands of arrests and millions of dollars in recovered goods, we are successfully building a more secure environment for California's businesses and residents alike.”

— Linda Penner, BSCC Board Chair (avdailynews.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

California's investment in combating organized retail theft through funding, legislation, and partnerships with local law enforcement has led to significant results, including thousands of arrests and millions of dollars in recovered stolen goods. This demonstrates the state's commitment to protecting communities and holding criminals accountable.