California's Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) has recovered over 1.6 million stolen items valued at more than $76.2 million and arrested over 5,300 suspects since its inception in 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom announced today. This significant effort aims to dismantle organized retail theft networks impacting working families, small businesses, and communities across the state.
Governor Newsom emphasized the state's comprehensive approach, stating, "We're going after organized retail theft from every angle—investigations, arrests, prosecutions, and partnerships. Criminal organizations should know – we do not tolerate criminals here." The California Highway Patrol (CHP)-led task force has conducted 4,718 investigations, recovering the substantial amount of stolen merchandise.
In 2026 alone, the ORCTF has initiated 329 investigations, leading to 315 CHP arrests and the recovery of 67,689 stolen items worth $6.3 million. June 2026 saw a notable surge, with 65 investigations, 105 CHP arrests—an 87.5% increase from June 2025—and over $1.28 million in recovered goods, marking a 125.4% increase from the previous year.
CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee highlighted the success of collaborative efforts, saying, "The progress we’ve made since establishing the Organized Retail Crime Task Force in 2019 demonstrates the power of partnership." Recent operations include recovering thousands of stolen trading cards valued at $15,000 and 13 arrests at the Outlets at Orange, recovering over $4,100 in stolen items.
These efforts are part of California's broader public safety strategy, which has seen a decline in major crime rates between 2024 and 2025, including an 18.6% decrease in homicides and a 14.3% decrease in property crime. The state has invested over $2.1 billion in public safety partnerships, including $267 million across 55 communities to combat organized retail crime and support local law enforcement.