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In response to an increase in the reports of retail thefts earlier this year, the Ellensburg Police Department conducted several enforcement emphases with local stores over the past several months. This resulted in 16 arrests related to shoplifting, with a total recovered stolen merchandise value of $1,700.
In separate investigations of organized retail theft, officers successfully investigated two fraud incidents involving the trafficking of stolen property. One investigation resulted in the arrest of three individuals on various fraud and organized retail theft charges totaling $19,000. The second case resulted in the arrest of an individual trafficking stolen rental machinery equipment across several states totaling $30,000.
Retail theft has been on the rise across the country and many of our local stores continue to work with us to help prevent both shoplifting and instances of fraud, like purchasing store cash cards with stolen bank cards. We appreciate the support from local retailers and will continue our efforts to reduce retail theft. We will continue our covert efforts over the holiday season including retail theft reduction, package theft emphasis and proactive burglary patrols.
Original source can be found here.
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