Citrus Heights PD plans ‘high visibility’ enforcement to combat holiday theft

Sentinel staff report–
Citrus Heights police are giving would-be criminals “fair warning” that the department has heightened efforts in place through the end of the year in an effort to protect retailers and shoppers from becoming the victims of theft.

“For the next six weeks or so, leading through the holidays, we will have an increased patrol, traffic and our impact detective teams responding in [the Sunrise Marketplace and Auburn Boulevard business corridors] doing high-visibility crime prevention and looking for ways to help further protect and make our retailers safe as well as those that shop there,” Lieut. Wesley Herman told city leaders during a Nov. 9 City Council meeting.

In response to a question from the mayor, Herman also confirmed that a bait program is still active and police “will be using that throughout the holidays.” Looking toward the audience, the lieutenant added with a smile: “so consider that your fair warning.”

During the same meeting, police shared plans to use a new $2.7 million grant to help combat organized retail theft, with funds going to install new license-plate reading cameras and hire a new part-time detective dedicated to investigating retail theft.

Vice Mayor Bret Daniels said retail theft is “absolutely killing businesses,” and Mayor Tim Schaefer called such thefts “out of control.”

“It doesn’t take much if a business is right on the edge and somebody does a big grab and run,” said Daniels. “It could put them out of business.”